Railroaders' Nostalgia > GE U30B vs. B30-7?

Marty has been posting shots of both of these models which has piqued my curiosity about them.

My impression is that the U30B wasn't a very impressive engine overall--none of the U series seemed to be.

Did the B30-7 bring noticeable improvement to the game?

Seeking info from the guys who ran them, not posers.

Thank you for info! eljay



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/24 04:51 by eljay.

If you believe GE's advertising, yes there were improvements.

I ran both the U25s, 28, 30 33. As I recall to B30$ had an electric horn instead of an air operated one. Plus the electrical circuitry was upgraded to diodes think similar to the Tunnel motors from EMD. All the GEs were junk and on the SP they were known as a 5 year locomotive.

Posted from Android

SanJoaquinEngr Wrote:
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> I ran both the U25s, 28, 30 33. As I recall to
> B30$ had an electric horn instead of an air
> operated one. Plus the electrical circuitry was
> upgraded to diodes think similar to the Tunnel
> motors from EMD. All the GEs were junk and on the
> SP they were known as a 5 year locomotive.
>
> Posted from Android

I agree. All the GEs were junk.

Posted from iPhone

SanJoaquinEngr Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I ran both the U25s, 28, 30 33. As I recall to
> B30$ had an electric horn instead of an air
> operated one. Plus the electrical circuitry was
> upgraded to diodes think similar to the Tunnel
> motors from EMD. All the GEs were junk and on the
> SP they were known as a 5 year locomotive.
>
> Posted from Android

I remember someone chalked on a U-25B in the deadline at Los Angeles, "The only good GE is a dead one."

Brian Black
Castle Rock, CO

Consider how many GE Dash 7s are working today compared to EMD Dash 2s. That should tell you all you need to know about their improvements.

I never ran a GE that (all things being equal) I'd choose over an EMD.
 

Retired hogger, I felt that way too, until the dash 8's came out. The dash 8's, dash 9's and GE AC4400's were (I'm retired) superior to anything that EMD made after the SD 40's and 45's. Just my opinion.

Sam

Unfortunately, EMD seemed to really lose its way after the Dash 2s came out, with maybe the exception of the SD70M. I'm still a firm believer that the SD40-2 was the best locomotive built.

irhoghead Wrote:
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> Unfortunately, EMD seemed to really lose its way
> after the Dash 2s came out, with maybe the
> exception of the SD70M. I'm still a firm believer
> that the SD40-2 was the best locomotive built.

I've said that EMD blew their own brains out with the so-called high adhesion locomotives.

Regarding the SD40-2, I couldn't agree more. It did whatever you asked it to, and did it well.

The newest SD40-2 is 40 years old this year. Time marches on...    UP's SD70M's was their attempt at a "modern" SD40-2.

RetiredHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> irhoghead Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Unfortunately, EMD seemed to really lose its
> way
> > after the Dash 2s came out, with maybe the
> > exception of the SD70M. I'm still a firm
> believer
> > that the SD40-2 was the best locomotive built.
>
> I've said that EMD blew their own brains out with
> the so-called high adhesion locomotives.
>
> Regarding the SD40-2, I couldn't agree more. It
> did whatever you asked it to, and did it well.

The -2 program was the pinnacle IMO of EMD freight locomotives.

Some guys hate SD70’s but I don’t have the same dislike.

Never ran any F or E series and a few GP7 and 9 were good.

Count me in on putting the SD40-2 as the best diesel freight locomotive built in America. Loved them.

Regards

Posted from iPhone

Maybe Notch7 will jump in here. He had some E and F unit time in.

Ran a lot of them out of Tucson from 1984 to 1989 on the SP. The only thing I can remember that was good about a B30-7  was the toilet was somewhat right behind the control stand. In an EMD you would find the electrical panel in that position. If the best thing in a locomotive is the toilet placement...well I am guessing you get the idea.

The right trajectory a engineer would never have to leave the control stand with the toilet at the rear middle of the cab

sp3204 Wrote:
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> Ran a lot of them out of Tucson from 1984 to 1989
> on the SP. The only thing I can remember that was
> good about a B30-7  was the toilet was somewhat
> right behind the control stand. In an EMD you
> would find the electrical panel in that position.
> If the best thing in a locomotive is the toilet
> placement...well I am guessing you get the idea.

NSDTK Wrote:
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> The right trajectory a engineer would never have
> to leave the control stand with the toilet at the
> rear middle of the cab

It didn't work that way on a Southern Railway long hood forward B30, since the throttlestand was on the opposite side of the cab.  They were nice clean looking toilets with their brushed stainless steel interiors and the original Microfor flush toilets ordered by SOU.

Until the Dash 9's, ALL GE's were junk.  Ugh.  The U25C and U28C were the worst riding units ever, even on perfect track, except for maybe the LMX B39's that came later.  Railroading was a great career, but my heart always sank when I saw a GE on the point.  BSB

My reponse when people ask if GE makes a great product: "GE makes a great toaster".

I've had a few U's and most of the dash 7's and 8's.....I've said it before and will say again...those U's and dashes were nothing upside EMD, but they often were fun in their way. I aim to enjoy my job, lest it kill me, and try to find redeeming qualities even in worthlessness. It makes life easier to live. In fact modern GE's are nothing short of miraculous....but one after another year after year makes me yearn for anything with a conventional cab. And would be happy with a lowly U18B....