ITEM NUMBER: BOW24564

The GE U25B was General Electric's first independent entry into the United States domestic road switcher diesel-electric locomotive railroad market for heavy production road locomotives since 1936. From 1940 through 1953, GE participated in a design, production, and marketing consortium (Alco-GE) for diesel-electric locomotives with the American Locomotive Company. In 1956 the GE Universal Series of diesel locomotives was founded for the export market. The U25B was the first attempt at the domestic market after it terminated its  agreement with Alco.

The U25B (nicknamed U-Boat) was GE's first commercially successful domestic diesel-electric road locomotive design, and it put the company on the road to becoming a top U.S. locomotive producer -- directly competing against EMD.

The U25B was produced from 1959 to 1966; 478 units were made and sold to 16 Class 1 railroads, including NYC (70 units), PRR (59), and SP (68).  Currently only 7 units have been preserved by historical societies and museums.