The General Electric U23B was introduced in 1968 to compete with the EMD GP-38. The U23B was powered by a turbocharged 12 cylinder G.E. diesel engine. Conrail had a fleet of 99 U23B's. 77 units were inherited from the Penn Central, 12 units came from the Lehigh Valley, and 10 units were purchased new by Conrail. This was the first new power Conrail purchased and the last U23Bs built, the units were delivered in May, 1977. The 12 Ex-LV were the newest power inherited by Conrail, and were purchased with a financing from the USRA, because the bankrupt Valley could get funding on it's own. Like the other "U-boats" the U23B was not particularly dependable and Conrail retired all units in 1991.
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U23B 2787, (LV 511, 11/74), in storage at Bethlehem Engine Terminal Summer, 1981. |
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U23B 2763, (PC 9/73), enters Allentown Yard with an eastbound train on March 31, 1983 |
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U23B 2745, (PC 10/72), poses for it's portrait at the west end of Allentown Yard on July 13, 1984. |
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Conrail has been gone for three months when I caught U23B 2785 (LV 509 11/74) at Allentown Yard on October 3,1999. Conrail retired this unit in 1991, but like many others, this unit has had a life after retirement. In the days of service problems and power shortages in the months following the May 31, 1999 breakup, lease units were brought in to handle the traffic. The battered U-boat is m.u.ed with a Canadian Pacific SD40-2 and an elderly Conrail GP-38. Note the modern Southern Pacific G.E. road unit behind 2785's cab. |