UP 2482 at Granger, Wyoming in 1984.
(Roger Puta, courtesy Marty Bernard, railfan 44, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
GE C30-7 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
The C30-7 is a 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems between September 1976 and May 1986 as an updated U30C with a 16-cylinder 3,000 horsepower (2,200 kW) FDL-series diesel engine. 1,137 were built for North American railroads.
GE's successor to the C30-7 was the C36-7, early versions of which were quite similar to the C30-7.
Norfolk and Western NW 8064, a GE C30-7.
(Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Variants:
C30-7A
A variant of the C30-7, 50 GE C30-7As were purchased by Conrail in mid-1984. Externally similar to the GE C30-7 model, six tall hood doors per side (in place of eight) showed it had a 12-cylinder (rather than 16-cylinder) prime mover. Both engines produced 3,000 horsepower (2,200 kW) but the C30-7A's smaller engine used less fuel. The C30-7A units were built between May and June 1984.
Chicago Freight Car Leasing Australia purchased twelve former Conrail C30-7A locomotives in 2001 and used their traction components in the rebuilding of 442 class locomotives as the GL class. These entered service in Australia from 2003.
AT&SF GE C30-7 No. 8085 in Needles, CA on April 9, 1987.
(Roger Puta, courtesy Mary Bernard, railfan 44, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Original owners
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway | 157 | 8010-8166 | Remaining units went to BNSF after the BN-ATSF merger in 1996. Most were returned to GE prior to merger and subsequently acquired by Conrail, Helm Leasing, and Union Pacific. All sold in the late 1990s to early 2000s. Many have found their way to the ALL (America Latina Logistica) Railroad in Brazil. |
| Burlington Northern Railroad | 242 | 5000-5141, 5500-5599 | BN 5500 was the first locomotive with this model, and was built in September 1976. Remaining units went to BNSF after the BN-ATSF merger in 1996. All sold in the late 1990s to early 2000s. Many have found their way to the ALL (America Latina Logistica) Railroad in Brazil. |
| Conrail | 60 | 6550-6609 | 6550-6599 were model C30-7A. 12 exported to Australia and later rebuilt into NSW GL Class locomotives. Others exported to Estonia and rebuilt for use on Eesti Raudtee. |
| Ferrocarril del Pacífico | 26 | 434-459 | |
| Louisville and Nashville Railroad | 44 | 7000-7015, 7032–7051, 7062-7069 | Delivered in Family Lines paint. |
| Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México | 305 | 6700-6799, 9600–9656, 11001-11148 | 11040-11090, 11129-11148 built from kits in Mexico |
| UBTZ | 2 | DASH7-1, DASH7-2 | Delivered with export model cabs attached to standard C30-7 bodies |
| Norfolk and Western Railway | 80 | 8003-8082 | |
| Seaboard Coast Line Railroad | 51 | 7016-7031, 7052–7061, 7070-7094 | Delivered in Family Lines paint |
| Union Pacific Railroad | 140 | 2415–2539, 2960–2974 |
Use in Estonia
In 2003 19 C30-7As were rebuilt and exported to Estonia as C30-7Ais to be used by EVR (Eesti Raudtee) which at that time was privately owned. The locos were numbered as part of Class 1500 (1558–1576) and were second-hand from Conrail/CSX/NS (USA).
In 2018, Operail (formerly EVR Cargo) announced it had completed its first conversion of the series with No. 1564. International Railway Journal reported, "Only the frames and bogies of the original locomotive were retained and the C30-M features a new centrally-positioned driver’s cab and a 1.55MW Caterpillar 3512C HD diesel engine." The converted unit has a 1520mm track gauge and weighs 138 tonnes. Operail's redesign makes the units suitable for shunting and line haul. The redesigned units are planned for internal use and export sales.
Preservation
L&N 7067 is preserved and owned by the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corporation. This unit was previously painted for Marshall University and numbered 1837.
Brazil's only surviving C30-7A, Rumo Logistca No. 7202, was restored in time for use on Rumo Logistica's annual Christmas on Rails train in December 2018. This locomotive is one of seven C30-7As built for Brazil.
GE C30-7 Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builder: GE Transportation Systems
Model: C30-7
Build date: 1976–1986
Total produced: 1,137 (including 50 C30-7As)
Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR C-C
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge / 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in), Estonia
Prime mover: 7FDL-16, 7FDL-12
Engine type: V16 (V12 on C30-7A)
Cylinders: 16 (12 on C30-7A)
Performance figures
Power output: 3,000 hp (2,200 kW)
Career
Locale: North America, Estonia, Brazil, Iran, Peru