| GE B36-7 | |
| Powertype: | Diesel-electric |
| Builder: | GE Transportation Systems |
| Buildmodel: | B36-7 |
| Builddate: | 1980 - 1985 |
| Totalproduction: | 230 |
| Locale: | North America South America |
| Primemover: | GE 7FDL16 |
| Poweroutput: | early: 3600abbr=onNaNabbr=on late: 3750abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Aspiration: | Turbocharged |
| Disposition: | Most scrapped. Several in service on short lines. |
| Aarwheels: | B-B |
The GE B36-7 is a 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems between January 1980 and September 1985. 222 examples of this locomotive were built for North American railroads and eight units were built for a Colombian coal mining operation. The units were designed as successors to GE's U36B's. Of the 230 locomotives built, 180 of them were built for two Eastern railroads - Seaboard System Railroad (which became part of CSX Transportation in 1986) and Conrail.[1]
These 4-axle locomotives were powerful when introduced in 1980. When first built the units were rated at 3600abbr=onNaNabbr=on, later versions were rated at 3750abbr=onNaNabbr=on. They were designed for fast and priority service, moving intermodal and container trains.
The B36-7 was developed from the B30-7, and externally is identical to its predecessor. The first 4 B36-7s were built for the Cotton Belt in January 1980, as modified B30-7s with increased horsepower and several new design features: according to Extra 2200 South magazine these units featured General Electric's new Sentry Adhesion System, a wheel slip detection system. These 3600 horsepower units also featured the new GE 752AF traction motor, the new GTA-24 traction alternator and 83:20 fine tooth gearing.
Following the 4 Cotton Belt units, GE started official B36-7 production at its Erie, PA facility. The second order for B36-7s was built for the Santa Fe in October and November 1980. Between 1983 and 1985, Conrail, Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Seaboard System placed further B36-7 orders. Production ended in September 1985 when the final B36-7 was built for Seaboard.
| bgcolor=c0c090 | Railroad | bgcolor=c0c090 | Quantity | bgcolor=c0c090 | Road numbers | bgcolor=c0c090 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | 16 | 7484-7499 | Some of the units were sold to British Columbia Railway, Renumbered 3604-3613. | ||||
| Conrail | 60 | 5000-5059 | 5045 destroyed in the 1987 Maryland train collision and scrapped | ||||
| Cerrejon Coal Project (Colombia) | 8 | 1001–1008 | |||||
| Seaboard System | 120 | 5806-5925 | To CSX; All retired as of Dec 2009. | ||||
| Southern Railway | 6 | 3815-3820 | High hood. | ||||
| Southern Pacific Transportation Company | 16 | 7754-7769 | |||||
| Cotton Belt | 4 | 7770-7773 | |||||