Conrail's Beasts of Burden

General Electric C30-7A's and C32-8's

GE C30-7A

6550-6599

Built in 1984, Conrail's order for 50 General Electric C30-7A's were the only examples of this model built. While they were outwardly identical to the C30-7, inside they had a 12 cylinder prime mover ( versus a 16 cylinder in the C30-7); the "A" in the model number is to signify this difference. Both locomotives produced 3000 HP, although the C30-7A is somewhat more economical fuel wise.

Image 1Thirteen years on the road has taken it's toll on the factory paint job on engine 6554.
Image 2The 6557 has been wrecked at some point in it's life and has a cab and nose from a older GE as a replacement. The replacement cab has the extra opera windows plated over with steel and the nose has a blanked out headlight mount.
Image 3The 6560 leads two sisters out of the siding at Palmer MA with a westbound freight. The smoke is typical of Dash7 and older GE's as they start up under load.
Image 4 Engine 6574 shows off the Conrail "Quality" scheme.
Image 5Engine 6583
Image 6Engine 6594

GE C32-8

6610-6619

The C32-8 was a test bed for significent improvements to the General Electric line of diesel electric locomotives. When you compare the looks of the Dash8 to the C30-7A's, you'll notice the Dash* has a much more angular look to it with a large box structure behind the cab. But beyond the looks, the big changes were underneath the hood. The Dash8's had micro-processor control and diagnostic systems that have since become standard equipment in both GE and EMD locomotives.

Image 1Engine 6617
Image 2Engine 6617
Image 3Engine 6610
Image 4 Engine 6612 with replacement cab from GE Demonstrator 808.
Image 5Engine 6613 in the Conrail Ballast Express scheme
Image 6Engine 6618 in the Conrail Ballast Express scheme
Image 7

Train LASE at the reservior at West Boylston MA; photo by Felix Legere

All photos by either Doug Trueblood or Maclean Woodbury except as noted
Last updated 9-19-97.

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