U-Boats

Rating:
Summary: A well-researched locomotive pictorial
Review: If you want to have a look at the locomotive family which marked General Electric's entry into the domestic high-horsepower market segment from a historical point of view, this pictorial volume might be well what you are looking for.

Every model of the of the 'U' (Universal) family is covered in a separate chapter, from the obscure UM20 and XP24 demonstrators through the mighty but ill-fated U50C and the best-selling U30C right down to the 'Super 7' rebuilds from Morrison-Knudsen, GE Montreal (former MLW), and Mexico.

A listing of all original owners opens every chapter, together with a concise summary of the coming-into-existence of a particular model. Most of the photographs are well selected (although sometimes too small in size), showing day-to-day business as well as uncommon assignments, lesser operators, or shop work, mingled with a little interesting anecdotal narration.

A 1994 roster of all 'U-Boats' built at Erie Pa. (plus some in Brazil) is given at the end of this book. Based upon frame serial numbers, it lists delivery, renumberings, changes of ownership, and eventual disposal or rebuilding of a particular locomotive.

The only evident flaw of this well-researched piece of work - and the reason why I would not rate it five stars - is that dimensional drawings are missing entirely, which is in contrast to other similar publications and greatly diminishes its value for railroad modelers.

Nevertheless - congratulations to Greg McDonnell !