Diesel Era Staff/photos from the Kevin EuDaly collection
Burlington Northern (BN) began buying General Electric’s (GE) six-axle U30C diesel locomotives in 1972. By this date, GE had been building this 3,000-hp U-boat since 1967 and it had gone through several production phase changes (see page 50). By 1972 and BN’s interest in the model, the Phase III U30C was in production. This was the version that GE made the most copies of during the U30C’s run, which concluded in fall 1976. This 180-unit collection of U30Cs would not be the first in BN’s family, as Colorado & Southern (a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy subsidiary) took four U30Cs in 1968 (see page 46).
BN’s initial 35 units (5300-5334) arrived in early 1972; the next group that year consisted of 30 more units (5335-5364). At this early juncture, it looks like a simple set of 65 U30Cs; however, if you begin examining BN’s roster you’ll find 5800- and 5900-series members (renumbered to identify a master/slave radio control system) that started as 5300-series units. Com-pounding those changes, BN bought more U30Cs and filled in the vacated road 5300-series numbers. Spotting those U30Cs is aided by variations to the second units to occupy certain numbers. Follow along, as this article displays and sorts out BN’s U30Cs…
ABOVE: BN 5315 (GE 38256) at Lincoln, Neb., on August 20, 1973. Notice this unit’s white safety stripes along the frame appear to be missing a few. BN’s U30C fleet purchased in 1972 included Phase III characteristics, which featured a sharp edge to the wider radiator section where it connects with the hood and no tapering near the top, as provided to earlier U30Cs (like the roster’s Colorado & Southern units). —George R. Cockle photo, Kevin EuDaly collection
ABOVE: BN 5325 (GE 38355) is at the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy facility in Cicero, Ill., on June 10, 1972. This unit became BN 1776 from April 1975 until April 1980, and wore Bicentennial livery, one of several roster members to see patriotic dress in the mid-1970s. Note the modified air intake on the Great Northern unit nearby. —Charles Stumpf photo, Kevin EuDaly collection