GENERAL ELECTRIC U33B DIESEL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE - ATLAS MASTER LINE GOLD DCC/Sound
Brief history.
The GE U33B 6-axle C-C diesel locomotive is derived from the 4-axle U30B model. The design of the U33B is different due to the presence of a large radiator bulge. Produced at the same time as the U30B and U36B, this engine offered 3.300 HP with the GE FDL-V16 4-cycle 16-cylinder power unit. A total of 137 units between 12/1966 and 03/1970. The main user was the Penn Central with 81 units all inherited by Conrail. The only others owners of this "Universal series" locomotives were Rock Island and Seabord Coast Line.
Specifications / Technical data
Builder: General Electric Company
Production: 1966-1970
Total production: 137
Wheel arrangement: B-B
Gauge: 4 ft 8,5 in
Loco weight: 219.000 lb
Lenght: 18,30 meters
Power: Fuel oil
Prime mover: GE FDL-16 4-cycle 16 cylinders
Speed: 70 mph
Tractive effort: 70.000 lbs (64.000 lbs continuous at 10,7 mph)
GE U33B Rock Island #285 s/n 36969 built 05/1969 in 1972 (Locophotos.com copyright)
GE U33B Penn Central #2954 s/n 36967 built 12/1968 in 1977 (Locophotos.com copyright)
Conrail number #2896.
Conrail put into service 81 locos type U33Bs from Penn Central with assigning them series CR 2890-2970. All of Conrail's U33Bs were equipped with dynamic brakes. The unit #2896 was built brand new at the end of 1968 by General Electric and put in service for heavy freight hauling on all network. CR used this loco until the middle of the year 1985. Has received the paint blue few months after Conrail's birth.
GE U33B Conrail #2896 data
Road Number: 2896
Type: B-B diesel locomotive
Builder: General Electric
Built: 11/1968
CN: 36874
Disposition: =
Previous owner: Penn Central
Remarks: PC-2896
Assignment: =
GE U33B Conrail #2896 in 1977 at Allentown Yard, PA.
GE U33B Conrail #2896 in 1978 on Horseshoe Curve at Altoona, PA.
ATLAS MASTER LINE GOLD GENERAL ELECTRIC U33B Conrail No.2896
In AT Collection roster the model of GE U33B is a replica made by Atlas, equipped with an ESU Loksound digital decoder. The item is produced in a very good way, but some important details are missing. Atlas has made a precise commercial choice, producing many types of HO scale locomotives that are unlikely to be produced by others. With its Master Gold and Silver lines it offers very well made replicas but to give a competitive price it must, obviously, save on some details. The most demanding and perfectionist modelers (like us of PRRHO.com) need to remedy these defects with improvement work, applying the missing details. It is for this situation that there are brands producing spare parts and details on the market.
About this replica of GE U33B is necessary to work for a few hours, for a more realistic result. Here below you can see which are the improvements. Brake chains, speed detectors, snowplow and other parts as various piping are the added details. In the end, we applied a medium weathering.
