Locomotives
Reading Company, GE U30C, Class RSG-14, #6300
Background & History
During the summer and fall of 1967, the Reading took delivery of fifteen six axle locomotives, five from each major builder at the time; Alco, EMD, and General Electric. Favorable impressed with tests conducted using GE’s U25B locomotives in 1962, the Reading ordered five 3,000 horsepower U30C units. These 16-cylinder locomotives would be the only General Electric units owned and operated by the Reading.
General Electric produced 592 U30C (U-universal, 30-3,000 horsepower, C-six axles) locomotives between 1967 and 1976, the most of any model in the “U” series. The external features of the units changed independent of each model, causing some confusion when early U30C units possessed a U28C carbody, like the Reading units.
The Reading’s U30C’s were Classed RSG-14 and numbered 6300-6304. The locomotives were delivered with snowplow pilots and were the very first Reading locomotives to carry the “Bee Line Service” slogan on the sides of the long hood. The logo was applied to all 15 units purchased in 1967 to promote the novel on-line service connecting shippers and receivers with single day movements.
#6300 at Leesport Yard following its resto paint work in April 2003
(photo Courtesy Mike Shirk)
Built at GE’s Erie, PA plant, each U30C cost $261,201. The big GE’s were used on road freights throughout the system, except the Wilmington & Northern or Perkiomen branches due to light rail. The U30C’s were the heaviest single-unit diesel locomotive ever operated by the Reading weighing 405,850 lbs.
In 1976, the five Reading GE’s became part of Conrail’s locomotive roster. The Reading U30C’s were consolidated with other GE units from the Erie-Lackawanna and Penn Central Railroads and were based at Selkirk, NY. They were first numbered 6579-6583 and later renumbered 6840-6844. All five locomotives were retired on July 28, 1982. After retirement, they were acquired by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad where they did not operate, but donated traction motors for Alco C628 locomotives operating in heavy ore train service. Eventually the units were traded to GE for newer power in October 1989.
One ex Reading unit (6300) was rescued in 1991 by the RCT&HS and has been partially restored to stabilize the locomotive from further deterioration. Missing traction motors were replaced during the acquisition process.
When the unit was finally moved onto the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum site it was placed side by side with the Alco C630 5308 for comparison of competing designs. The unit was repaired cosmetically and repainted into full Reading colors including the Bee Line service logo.
Following the second repainting, the “Bee Line Service” logo was recreated on the long hood of the unit.
(Photo Courtesy Don Crabtree)
GE U30C Specifications
(As Built)
Builder:
General Electric
Erie, PA
Date Built:
June 1967
Builder’s #:
36318
Engine:
Model FDL-16
4-stroke diesel
16 cylinder
Horsepower:
3000
Top Speed:
70 mph
Weight:
405,850 lbs.
Continuous Tractive Effort:
85,800 lbs. @ 10.2 mph
Length:
67’3″
Fuel:
4000 gallons
Lube Oil:
380 gallons
Water:
300 gallons
Aspiration:
Turbocharger
Bore x Stroke:
9″ x 10.5″
Displacement:
10,688 c.i.
Idle Speed:
350 rpm
Max Speed:
1025 rpm
Transmission:
AC alternator, silicon rectifiers, DC traction motors
Brake System:
26-L, Air and dynamic