U Boats: General Electric Diesel Locomotives

A.A. den Otter is a history professor at the Memorial University of
Newfoundland and co-author of Lethbridge: A Centennial History.

Despite its flamboyant cover, most readers can be forgiven their
momentary confusion when they pick up a copy of U-Boats. Instead of a
book on the lethal World War II submarines, U-Boats is a marvelously
illustrated work on the first series of diesel locomotives built by
General Electric for the American long-distance, high-speed railway
market.

First built in 1959 as two prototypes at the GE plant in Erie,
Pennsylvania, the U series was an extremely successful line of
locomotives, which made the company one of the largest locomotive
builders in the world. After a year and more than 100,000 test miles,
the two engines were refurbished and introduced as the company’s new
line of locomotives, named U25B. It was only a matter of time before the
machines earned their nickname.

A treasure trove of technical information for the railway buff,
U-Boats’ detailed narrative is difficult and jargon-filled for the
neophyte. Nevertheless, everyone will enjoy the lavish, full-colored,
and generously displayed photographs.