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GE U23B

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description GE U23B Overview

The GE U23B is a four-axle B-B diesel-electric road-switcher built by GE Transportation from 1968 to 1977. It uses the U23B designation for a U-series locomotive rated at about 2,250 horsepower, with power supplied by a GE FDL diesel engine and electrical traction motors. The model was designed for North American freight rail service and was a predecessor to GE's later B23-7 road-switcher.

help GE U23B FAQ

When was the GE U23B built?

GE Transportation built the U23B from 1968 to 1977. It was a four-axle B-B diesel-electric road-switcher intended for freight and general railroad service.

How much power does a GE U23B produce?

The U23B is rated at about 2,250 horsepower. Its power comes from a 12-cylinder GE FDL diesel engine driving electrical traction motors.

What does B-B mean on a GE U23B?

B-B means the locomotive has two powered axles on each of its two trucks, for four powered axles in total. That four-axle layout is one of the clearest mechanical distinctions between the U23B and six-axle locomotives such as the EMD JT22CW.

How does the U23B compare with an EMD GP38?

Both are four-axle diesel-electric road-switchers from the late 1960s and early 1970s. The GE U23B uses a 12-cylinder FDL engine and about 2,250 horsepower, while the EMD GP38 is commonly associated with a 2,000-horsepower 16-cylinder 645 engine.

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