The GE U18B diesel-electric locomotive was introduced by GE Transportation as a branch line road switcher locomotive in 1973.[1] It was the only North American locomotive powered by the 8-cylinder 7FDL engine.[2] The U18B was not a popular seller with GE only making 163 of them, and they were mostly purchased by Maine Central and Seaboard Coast Line. Due to their size, the locomotives were given the nickname Baby Boats.[1] Railroads lost interest in specialized road units entering the 1970s.[1] The U18Bs were noted for having reliability issues and being underpowered.[1] The Maine Central referred to their U18Bs as the Independence class and named their units after revolutionary war heroes.[3][1] GE included information about a B18-7 locomotive (which would have followed the U18B) in its 1978 "Series-7 Road Locomotives" service manual, but none of these updated units were ordered, sold, or built. 8 ex CSX U18Bs, nos. 9500 - 9508, can be found in service on the Pickens Railway located in the Upstate Region of South Carolina, no. 9501 being used as a parts source.[4][5]
Power typeDiesel-electric
Power typeDiesel-electric
ModelU18B
Quick facts Type and origin, Power type ...
| GE U18B |
|---|
 |
| Type and origin |
|---|
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
|---|
| Builder | General Electric |
|---|
| Model | U18B |
|---|
| Build date | March 1973 – October 1976 |
|---|
| Total produced | 163 |
|---|
|
|
| Performance figures |
|---|
| Power output | 1,800 hp (1.34 MW) |
|---|
|
|
Close
.jpg)
_(10583554173).jpg)