General Electric 70-Ton Diesel Locomotives

by Ronald D Sims

"Never a major component of any Class I railroad roster, the General Electric 70-ton diesel “road switcher” could be found almost everywhere in American railroading, serving lines that weren't built to accommodate larger locos. It was conceived as a ¾-scale EMD SW1 switcher, to be sold with easy financing to shortlines and industries. Before and during WWII, GE did not offer a single “railroad” locomotive in its catalog. As the war wound down the military’s need for small diesel locomotives was certain to dry up, and GE needed to find a new market. Shortlines and industrial railroads required replacement locomotives that weighed seventy tons or less to meet engineer pay requirements and to operate on light rail. Given this opportunity, GE took advantage of advances in diesel performance and its cutting-edge manufacturing techniques to develop a single-engine diesel with 600 horsepower that weighed thirty tons less than an Alco, Baldwin or EMD switcher of the same power. A bare-bones machine, the proposed new GE switcher could be sold at a significantly lower price and be at home on rail too light to support a “standard” 99-ton switcher. "The culmination of Author Ron Sims' research is this handsome book that details the 200 domestic and another 200 exported variations of the familiar 70-tonner. 270+ photos, tables and diagrams illustrate examples operating from Hudson Bay to Chile’s Atacama Desert—and across the Pacific to Australia and the Philippines. The basic design was adapted to industrial use, with lower gear ratios and build-to-order weights from 65 to 95 tons. Narrow-gauge units domestic and export receive ample photographic attention. A complete production list rounds out the coverage. Custom options Largest common carrier rosters Dealers who resold them Re-engined units Preserved or display Total production 1946-59 Export and Licensee Sales Exports to Cuba, Central Romana, (Dominican Republic) 95-ton units

172 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2013