GE B36-7
Encyclopedia
The GE B36-7 is a 4-axle diesel locomotive
built by GE Transportation Systems
between 1980 and 1985. 222 examples of this locomotive were built for North America
n railroads and eight units were built for a Columbian coal mining operation. The units were designed as successors to GE's U36B's. Of the 230 locomotives built, 180 of them were built for two Eastern railroads - Seaboard System Railroad
(which became part of CSX Transportation
in 1986) and Conrail.
These 4-axle locomotives were powerful ones, creating 3600 horsepower
. They were designed for fast and priority service, moving intermodal and container
trains. Most of Seaboard's 120 units are still in service as of 2006. Conrail's units were all retired in 2000 and 2001. Notable exceptions among Conrail's units were CR 5045 and 5052, which were destroyed in the infamous wreck
of the Colonial at Chase
, Maryland
, on January 4, 1987.
One of the Cotton Belt Railroad's B36-7s was damaged in a wreck within a year of delivery and rebuilt as a B unit
. This engine did not receive a special model designation to indicate its cabless status. Railfan
s sometimes term it a B36-7(B).
CSX was the last Class 1 railroad to roster B36-7s and GE
Dash 7s in general. Though originally intended for high speed service, they spent much of their later life working on local trains in the Southeast and in the last years worked low priority MOW trains. In late 2009 CSX announced that it would retire all GE Dash 7s when they came due for their 90 day inspection. The last run of a B36-7 on the CSX system occurred in November 2009 and as of January 2010 all units are officially retired, bringing to a end the Dash 7 era on Class 1 railroads.
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
built by GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. It is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine...
between 1980 and 1985. 222 examples of this locomotive were built for North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n railroads and eight units were built for a Columbian coal mining operation. The units were designed as successors to GE's U36B's. Of the 230 locomotives built, 180 of them were built for two Eastern railroads - Seaboard System Railroad
Seaboard System Railroad
The Seaboard System Railroad was a former Class I railroad created by merging the railroads of the Family Lines System. Although sharing common ownership, the railroads of the Family Lines System used different names when conducting business...
(which became part of CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
in 1986) and Conrail.
These 4-axle locomotives were powerful ones, creating 3600 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
. They were designed for fast and priority service, moving intermodal and container
Intermodal freight transport
Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation , without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes. The method reduces cargo handling, and so improves security, reduces damages and...
trains. Most of Seaboard's 120 units are still in service as of 2006. Conrail's units were all retired in 2000 and 2001. Notable exceptions among Conrail's units were CR 5045 and 5052, which were destroyed in the infamous wreck
Chase, Maryland rail wreck
The Chase, Maryland train collision occurred at 1:04 pm on January 4, 1987, on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor main line in the Chase community in eastern Baltimore County, Maryland, United States, at Gunpow Interlocking, about northeast of Baltimore...
of the Colonial at Chase
Chase, Maryland
Chase is an unincorporated community in eastern Baltimore County, Maryland, United States.-Geography:Chase is located at . Chase is located on the waterfront of the Gunpowder River, Middle River, Dundee Creek, Saltpeter Creek, and Chesapeake Bay...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, on January 4, 1987.
One of the Cotton Belt Railroad's B36-7s was damaged in a wreck within a year of delivery and rebuilt as a B unit
B unit
A "B" unit, in railroad terminology, is a locomotive unit which does not have a driving cab, or crew compartment, and must therefore be controlled from another, coupled locomotive with a driving cab . The term booster unit is also used. The concept was largely confined to North America...
. This engine did not receive a special model designation to indicate its cabless status. Railfan
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
s sometimes term it a B36-7(B).
CSX was the last Class 1 railroad to roster B36-7s and GE
Gê
Gê are the people who spoke Ge languages of the northern South American Caribbean coast and Brazil. In Brazil the Gê were found in Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Piaui, Mato Grosso, Goias, Tocantins, Maranhão, and as far south as Paraguay....
Dash 7s in general. Though originally intended for high speed service, they spent much of their later life working on local trains in the Southeast and in the last years worked low priority MOW trains. In late 2009 CSX announced that it would retire all GE Dash 7s when they came due for their 90 day inspection. The last run of a B36-7 on the CSX system occurred in November 2009 and as of January 2010 all units are officially retired, bringing to a end the Dash 7 era on Class 1 railroads.
Original owners
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859... |
16 | 7484-7499 | |
| Conrail | 60 | 5000-5059 | |
| Cerrejon Coal Project (Colombia Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the... ) |
8 | 1001-1008 | |
| Seaboard System | 120 | 5806-5925 | To CSX; All retired as of Dec 2009 |
| Southern Railway | 6 | 3815-3820 | |
| Southern Pacific Transportation Company | 16 | 7754-7769 | |
| St. Louis Southwestern Railway St. Louis Southwestern Railway The St. Louis Southwestern Railway , known by its nickname of "The Cotton Belt Route" or simply Cotton Belt, was organized on January 15, 1891, although it had its origins in a series of short lines founded in Tyler, Texas, in 1870 that connected northeastern Texas to Arkansas and southeastern... |
4 | 7770-7773 | |