GE U50
American diesel-electric locomotive (1963–1977)
The GE U50 was an eight-axle, 5,000 hp (3,700 kW) diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation. They were twin-engined locomotives, combining two 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) diesel engines on one frame.
Configuration and history
The U50 rode on four two-axle trucks, grouped in pairs linked by span bolsters, giving a wheel arrangement of B+B-B+B. The trucks and bolsters were re-used from scrapped UP turbine locomotives built by GE during the 1950s. Owing to the wheel arrangement, the U50 was sometimes inaccurately referred to as the U50D, a back-formation from the U50C name given to the six-axle units. The name is incorrect and was never used by the manufacturer or the railroad. None of the U50s rode on D trucks in any case. It is also sometimes referred to as the U50B, but this is incorrect as well.
The U50 was built in response to the Union Pacific Railroad's requirement, issued in the early 1960s, for a 15,000 hp (11,200 kW) 3-unit locomotive intended to replace the turbines. The design was effectively two U25B locomotives on a single frame; each diesel engine and generator powered only the two trucks at the same end. Three were delivered to the UP in October 1963, and three to the Southern Pacific Railroad in May and June 1964.
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