ATSF No. 8784 at Johnson City, Kansas in 1975. Click to enlarge.
(National Archives at College Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
GE U36C DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
The GE U36C was a 3600 hp diesel-electric locomotive model built by GE Transportation Systems.
The length of the locomotive was 67 ft 3 in (20.50 m), standard for U30C, U33C, U34CH, U36C, U36CG, C30-7 and C36-7. The U36C also had steel capped pistons.
218 units were produced between October 1971 and February 1975 for railroads in the United States and Mexico. A further 20 units of model U36CG (the passenger service variant of the U36C) were built for use in Mexico.
Rebuilds
Between 1985-1987 Santa Fe's Cleburne shops rebuilt 70 U36Cs Nos. 8700-8769 into C30-7 standards and were reclassified as SF30Cs. As of 2022, Unit 9501 has been donated to the Arizona State Railroad Museum.
Original Owners
Railroad / Quantity / Numbers / Notes
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway / 100 / 8700-8799 8700-8769 / rebuilt to SF30C's in 1985, C30-7 specs and renumbered 9500-9569
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad / 4 / 5800-5803
Clinchfield Railroad / 7 / 3600-3606 to Seaboard Coast Line 2125-2131 after traded for SCL SD45 2438-2044
Erie Lackawanna Railway / 13 / 3316-3328
Ferrocarril del Pacífico / 10 / 409-418
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México / 104 / 8900-8986, 9300-9316 8938-8957 were model U36CG
Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builder: GE Transportation Systems
Model: U36C
Build date: 1971 – 1975
Total produced: 238
Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR C-C
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Length: 67 ft 3 in (20.50 m)
Prime mover: FDL-16
Cylinders: 16
Performance figures
Power output: 3,600 hp (2,700 kW)