A renumbered, repainted, and converted U30CG. (With another unit trailing.)
The GE; General Electric; U30CG is a type of six-axle, 3,000 hp diesel locomotive built during 1967 specially for the ATSF (Santa Fe) railroad with only six built.
They were originally meant to compete with the EMD FP45, but ultimately failed, with all six units scrapped in 1980.
History[]
The GE U30CG was initially a completely different version of GE's earlier U28CG as well as a modified passenger version of the U30C, only built with a cowl body. The U30CG was also one of the last passenger locomotives ever purchased by the ATSF (Santa Fe) railroad, as well as the units being some of the last to wear the 'Warbonnet' livery until the scheme was eventually revived in 1990. The ATSF also originally planned or intended to order a fleet of more units, but decided to purchase more F45 and FP45 units instead; thus, the U30CG ultimately failed the competition with the F45/FP45 from EMD, and GE decided to focus on more types of freight locomotives. (Hence the development of the Dash 7 series during the 1970's; or the turn of the decade from 1967 to 1970.)
They served their purpose on passenger trains from the time they were built; However following a derailment of a U30CG in 1969 all U28CG and U30CG were sidelined from passenger service and were permanently reinstated for freight services. Passenger service was replaced by FP45, while freight service was replaced by B36-7 in 1980.
Like the FP45, the U30CG was converted to freight service; having their steam generators removed, being repainted and renumbered.
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