Athearn U33-b

Glen Haasdyk

Active Member
I recently picked up an old Athearn U33-B engine but None were ever imported into Canada as far as I know. Could some US Diesel Guys answer a couple questions?
1) When were they first built?
2) are they considered a second generation diesel?
3) What roads did have them? (this is probably a bigger question than I realize)
Any light on these beasts would help me out.
 

eightyeightfan1

Now I'm AMP'd
According to The Contemporary Diesel Spotters Guide (c.1995 Louis Marre), the U33B was produced between December 1966 to September 1970, with a total of 428 units built. None went to Canada, or Mexico. American roads that bought the U33B, were mostly the Penn Central, Rock Island, and Seaboard Systems. It had a 3300 horsepower, sixteen cylinder engine and AC traction drive.
 

green_elite_cab

Keep It Moving!
Don't forget, that the U33B can also stand in reasonably well for a U36B.

Unfortunately, I don't think any made it into canada. I think Delaware and Hudson had a few U33Bs from Conrail that may have wandered into canada (D&H is owned by CP, right?). Infact, i know Penn Central U33Bs have been in canada, because i have a picture of one there in some of my books, and chances are Conrail still moved in occaisionally in the early years.

I personally consider the late U-boats to be early second generation.

Specifically though, the U33Bs were built from September 1967 to August 1970, but only 137 total U33Bs built, not 428.

Also, New York Central was the original owner of 2 of the Penn Central units.

I think that diesel spotter's guide needs to be updated. No U-boats sold close to that number, other than the U33Cs (375), U23Bs(425), U25Bs(478 ) the U30Cs (~600). U-boats have never been popular with railroads, and the EMD competitors usually outsold the U-boat by ridiculous numbers.
 

Glen Haasdyk

Active Member
Here's what I've got to work with:

U33-b1.jpg


I stripped and primered it last night. I'm thinking of a custom paint job, using grey, yellow and blue or green.
 

Triplex

Active Member
In that time period, GE didn't sell to Canada. Import duties made US-built engines uncompetitive. EMD designs were built in Canada by parent GM, and Alco designs by subsidiary MLW, but GE didn't have any Canadian plants. For some reason, there were 44- and 70-ton switchers, though. I believe all GE (and EMD) engines are made in Canada now, even for US roads.

Some U-boats and Dash 7s have ended up in Canada from resale. No U33Bs, though.

I think Delaware and Hudson had a few U33Bs from Conrail that may have wandered into canada (D&H is owned by CP, right?).
Only since around 1990, not when they had U-boats.

First generation diesels are models from about 1960 and earlier that replaced steam. Second generation diesels replaced (the shorter-lived) first generation diesels. The earliest second generation diesels are generally considered to be the GP20, SD24 and U25B. I'm not sure about diesel generations beyond the 1960s. Some people say there are three generations in total, some say there are four.
 

Glen Haasdyk

Active Member
I am considering putting a Grey speed stripe along the long hood, halfway up. it would have a round end just before the cab and wrap around the long hood end. Bordering it with a thin yellow pinstripe and then the rest of the engine in either a medium blue or coach green. I have also considered adding yellow 'zebra' stripes to the pilots. The company logo would go in the Speed stripe.
I haven't decided on a company name yet. Being from Western Canada I'd like it to be geographicaly named. I'm open to suggestions.
 

eightyeightfan1

Now I'm AMP'd
Specifically though, the U33Bs were built from September 1967 to August 1970, but only 137 total U33Bs built, not 428.

Thanks for the correction GEC.
Its dark in my computer room, so it was hard to read. When I took the book into the reading room(the one with the white porcelain chair) earlier today, I read that. I had added the production numbers from the U30B, with the U33B, along with the production dates.
I was going to make the correction when I logged on
Thanks again GEC..
 
do i hear a leasing contractor bring the unit to Canada? some one must of leased it to a short line in your area. so any paint job will work, that is how my leasing company has a DD40 on its rooster list. Just a same no short line needs the horse power so it sits and waits for duty again
 
model no one but Up ever had dd40s i had to have one and no real reason to own it not exactly a Canadian visitor so it is from a leasing company
 
BTW, rooster list stuart?

And you're talking about the old Athearn DD40's right? Twin motor and all that junk?

I just finished DCC'ing one, the other has a problem where it keeps shorting out so I just dummified it lol. They are based on EMD's never-sold DD40 model (which UP took and messed with to produce the DD40AX), but numbered as DD35A's! The DD35's were numbered in the 70s starting with #70! Athearn phail. lol...but both of mine are solid runners other than the shorting out.
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
I believe all GE (and EMD) engines are made in Canada now, even for US roads.

AFAIK, the majority of G.E. locomotives are built at their plant in Erie, PA, including those for CN, CP, QNSL and Cartier.

EMD locos are assembled at the GMDD plant (or whatever it's called since Greenbrier bought it) in London ON for Canadian, American and foreign customers. There is also some assembly of EMD units for foreign customers at the ITC (I think) facility in Welland, ON.

U33's that could have come through Canada via Montreal on Conrail (nee PC nee NYC) or D&H, or through Southern Ontario on the CSX (nee Chessie System nee C&O nee PM) line from Detroit (with a branch to Sarnia) to St. Thomas (with trackage rights over the NYC's CASO sub to Niagara Falls, the N&W (Wabash) line from Buffalo to Detroit, and possibly to Toronto over the TH&B (whose parents were CP and NYC).
 

Triplex

Active Member
Ah, yes... GE took over the old MLW plant, but then shut it down, didn't they? I wasn't sure where GE's plant would be if it was in Canada... but then why did I once see a railfan commenting about NRE genset switchers as being US-built as if that were now an oddity?
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
Ah, yes... GE took over the old MLW plant, but then shut it down, didn't they? I wasn't sure where GE's plant would be if it was in Canada... but then why did I once see a railfan commenting about NRE genset switchers as being US-built as if that were now an oddity?


Probably because he didn't know his Alco from his elbow... sign1

... and perhaps bitter about assembly being phased out at LaGrange.

That said, there's lots of building going on in the States... MPI, NRE, Bombardier - all building new locos.
 
Bombardier built all sort of locos,
they built the Jet locomotive, currently no one using it
LRC units all retired by VIA
M420 used by CN
just name a few
see the web site for cureent models sold overseas
Bombardier
 

Squidbait

Recovering ALCO-holic
I think the last American-built BBD locos were the Acelas:
Hhp8_661.jpg


BBD is also assembling GMD locos at its plant in Mexico.

And, while RailPower (the Green Goat people) is a Canadian company, they partnered with Super Steel in Schenectady (the old ALCo plant) to build their hybrids there.
 
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