my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

Southern Pacific U30C

7900 - 7936

37 units delivered

The Espee's U30C's were delivered in two lots, the first 7900-7929 in 1968 being Phase II's, and the last 7930-7936 delivered in 1969 being Phase III's.

The first order had the following details:

• changeable numberboards
• 'normal' 2 pane windshield
• taper from the rear radiator to the long hood
• 2/8 battery boxes
• GSC (sideframes) trucks

The second order had the following changes:

• non-changeable numberoards
• 'L' shaped engineer's window
• rear radiator lost the taper to the long hood
• 2/6 battery boxes
• different rear air intake pattern
• Adirondack (sideframes) trucks

The trucks were interchangable, so it was possible to see a U30C with a different truck at each end...

The remaining U30C's were traded to GE for B36-7's in 1984.

8 units were leased for a short time to the L&N in the 1970's.

References:

• Diesel Era Mar/Apr 1994 Vol.5 No.2 - Usual in depth 25 page coverage of the U30C.
• Southern Pacific Historic Diesels, Volume 5, GE U Series Locomotives - by Joe Strapac.

Additional Information on this Page contributed by Bruce Conklin.