The GE 70-ton switcher is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Electric between about 1942 and 1955. It is classified as a B-B type locomotive. The first series of "70 tonners" were a group of seven center cab locomotives built for the New York Central Railroad in November 1942. These units differ from the later end cab versions. Locos exported to Brazil were known as GE 64T (70 short tons equals 64 tonnes) and nicknamed "scooters".
[edit] Survivors
The Modesto and Empire Traction Company used nine of these reliable 70-ton locomotives (MET No. 600–609) on their railroad along with two former Southern Pacific EMD SW1500s. They have since retired and sold all of these locomotives except no 600.[2] The GE locomotives are also used by the Santa Maria Valley Railroad.[3][unreliable source?]
The Oregon Pacific Railroad owns the former Southern Pacific 5100 and is painted in the historic Southern Pacific scheme. It is currently out-of-service.
Ex-Norfolk Southern Railway (1942–1982) 703, GE builder #30015. ex-Southern Rwy #703, to Naporano Iron & Metal (5/78); to Lake Ontario Steel 5/78; now presently at South Simcoe Railway now powered by a Cummins VTA1710 V12 engine. http://www.steamtrain.com/, Tottenham, Ontario, Canada
[edit] Preservation
Frisco (St. Louis – San Francisco Railway) 70 ton #111 B&Y scheme at Heart of the Heartlands.[4]
Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad No. 50 resides at the B&O Railroad Museum, [Baltimore, MD] USA.
Only one of the center cab locomotives exists, former Ellwood Engineered Castings 6114B preserved by the Tod Engine Foundation [5] in Youngstown, Ohio.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
