Description
This detailed Atlas HO Scale Master Silver GE U30B is modeled after diesels built by General Electric between 1966 and 1975 and operated by Class I and shortlines. Powered by a V16 FDL prime mover, the 3,000 h.p. U30B was GE's answer to EMDs popular GP40 and Alco's C430 Locomotive. A total of 295 U30Bs were built by GE between 1966 and 1975. This model represents a Phase 2 U30B locomotive. The primary spotting feature of phase 2 units was the hood below the radiator, which was evenly built out to the same width as the radiator. A U30B could be differentiated from the lower-horsepower U23B by the presence of two sets of four tall engine access doors near the center of the long hood. During production, the U30B was equipped with various trucks, including Blomberg trucks from EMD trade-in locomotives, AAR-style trucks, or GE's own four-axle FB2 truck. Norfolk & Western owned the most Phase 2 U30Bs with a total of 75 units; all included a high short hood. Other major owners included C&O, Frisco and Western Pacific. While some U30Bs found homes on other railroads after being retired by their initial owner, very few examples of this model are still in service in the 2020s. This Atlas model features details unique to each roadname and working front and/or rear ditch lights if appropriate. Other features include a five-pole, skew-wound motor with dual flywheels, directional LED lighting, Accumate(R) magnetic knuckle couplers, accurate decoration and roadname-appropriate body details. This GE U30B replica comes equipped with a dual-mode ESU LokSound sound and DCC decoder for operation on DCC and DC layouts (with limited sound capabilities on in DC operation). The GE U30B is one of many Atlas HO Scale locomotives.