U Boats: General Electric Diesel Locomotives

Description

192 pages
Contains Photos, Bibliography
$65.00
ISBN 1-55046-112-5
DDC 625.2'66'0973

Year

1994

Contributor

Reviewed by A.A. Den Otter

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

Review

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.

Citation

McDonnell, Greg., “U Boats: General Electric Diesel Locomotives,” Canadian Book Review Annual Online, accessed October 15, 2024, https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/7025.