Last updated February 03, 2008
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Trainiax --> Drawings --> Locomotive Phases --> 4-axle GE Locomotives
Trainiax --> Info --> Locomotive Phases --> 4-axle GE Locomotives
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| Locomotive Phases | 4-axle GE Locomotives |

U28B
Phase 1: (Late U25B carbody) cab centered aft of front truck bolster, radiators/intakes flush with hood, raised walkway under radiators, bolted panels fore and aft of cab on right side, small fuel tank bevel
Phase 2: Cab moved forward, radiators/intakes widened, flat walkway, both bolted panels behind right side of cab, larger fuel tank bevel
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U30B, U33B, U36B
Phase 1a: (Late U28B carbody) Radiators/intakes wider than hood, raised walkway over radiators, footboards, short handrail notch in stepwell, double circular door latches, tall exhaust stack, small brake wheel, rectangular headlight casing, cab side drip rail, speed recorder cables on every axle, square brake chain pipe
Phase 1b: Shorter radiator intakes, two smaller intakes added
Phase 1c: Larger brake wheel
Phase 2a: Shorter exhaust stack (sometimes present on Phase 1c), circular brake chain pipe (sometimes present on Phase 1b-1c), rear of hood widened to match radiators, flush/flat radiator intakes, raised radiators with flush walkway, horizontal drip rail on radiators, taper ahead of radiators
Phase 2b: No taper ahead of radiators
Phase 2c: Wider left-side equipment doors, no box on left-side walkway behind cab
Phase 2d: Uneven handrail stanchion spacing
Phase 2e: Raised/corrugated radiator intakes
Phase 2f: No horizontal drip rail on radiators
Phase 2g: No footboards
Phase 3a: Speed recorders on 1 or 2 axles only (sometimes present on Phase 2g), full-length handrail notch in stepwell
Phase 3b: Oval headlight casing, no cab side drip rail
Phase 3c1: Shorter, wider right-side battery boxes, square door latches, right-side handrail stanchion spacing changed
Phase 3c2: Separate headlight casing, hinged numberboards

Other details:
--Units with oil-bath air filters have high small intake ahead of radiator intakes; units with paper air filters have low intake.
--U33B units were only built in Phase 2a, 2b, 2c and 2e versions.
--U36B units were only built in Phase 2e through 3c1 versions.
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B23-7
Phase 1: 62' 2" overall length, 36' 2" truck centers (equal front and rear truck-to-pilot distance), plain jacking pads
Phase 2a: 37' 2" truck centers (rear truck moved rearward 1 foot)
Phase 2b: New jacking pads (flat metal strip on underside)
Phase 3: 61' 2" overall length, 36' 8" truck centers (rear truck 4" closer to pilot than front)

BQ23-7 units have Phase 1 spotting features.

Other details:
--Exhaust silencer (with large exhaust stack) appeared on some units starting in Phase 2b production.
--FB-2 trucks were standard (mostly Adirondack castings); units also rode on trade-in Type B or Blomberg trucks.
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B30-7A
No major production variations.  Virtually identical to Phase 3 B23-7.
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B30-7
Phase 1: 62' 2" overall length, 36' 2" truck centers (equal front and rear truck-to-pilot distance), plain jacking pads, 2 short/3 long left-side equipment doors
Phase 2: 37' 2" truck centers (rear truck moved rearward 1 foot), new jacking pads (flat metal strip on underside)
Phase 3: 61' 2" overall length, 36' 8" truck centers (rear truck 4" closer to pilot than front), 1 long/1 short/3 long left-side equipment doors

Other details:
--Exhaust silencer (with large exhaust stack) appeared on some units starting in Phase 2 production.
--FB-2 trucks were standard (mixture of Adirondack and GSC castings); units also rode on trade-in Type B trucks.
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B36-7
Details are consistent with Phase 3 B30-7, except for the first four units (SSW 7770-7773) which have Phase 2 spotting features.
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Early B32-8, B39-8
No major production variations.  Only three of each type were built.  Overall look shared with C32-8 and early C39-8.
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From early B32-8, B39-8 to late B32-8, B39-8E
--Raised and angular cab roof, with horizontal cab headlights
--Streamlined dynamic brake/central air intake area (fewer doors and seams)
--Hood made same width along entire length
--Less-visible door hinges
--Standard double door latches (replacing single central door handles)
--Shorter central hood doors
--Canted radiator intakes
--Neater rear hood doors and intakes
--New rear hood end with vertical headlights
--Truck centers increased 6" (B39-8E only)
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Late B32-8, B39-8E, B40-8
No major production variations.  B39-8E and B40-8 are virtually identical.  B32-8 is 2' 9" shorter, with length removed in center section of hood.  Overall look shared with C39-8E and C40-8.

Other details:
--Two fuel tank sizes were offered.
--B39-8E has a single shock strut on the left rear/right front bearing of each truck; B32-8 and B40-8 have a shock strut over every bearing.
--Small variations exist in the thickness and design of the anticlimbers, and in the hatches on the radiator wings.
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From B40-8 to B40-8W (aside from the new cab)
--Thinner walkway side frame
--Fuel tank moved rearward
--Air reservoirs in front of fuel tank (instead of on either end)
--Handbrake in rear of hood instead of cab nose
--Truck centers reduced from 40' 1-1/2" to 39' 7-1/2"
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B40-8W
No major production variations.  ATSF was the only buyer.  Cab nose is shorter and walkway sideframe is thicker than on C40-8W.
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Michael Eby 2008