I have been doing a little research on the E60 since they are among my favorite electric locomotives. In at least two of the articles I have read mention of the E60 type being patterned after existing freight locomotives is made. Which class of GE diesel locomotives are the E60 supposedly based on? I would imagine the big C30-7 or U30 diesels?

Robert

The freight E60's were electric motors built for the Black Mesa and Lake Powell, an isolated line on the Navajo Reservation linking a coal mine with a power plant. Subsequent (post-Amtrak) E60's went to NdeM and Deseret Western, also an isolated line linking a coal mine with a power plant. The Amtrak E60CP (steam heat) and E60CH (HEP) motors followed the BM&LP motors.

As to diesels, the E60's would be analogous to the most powerful freight diesel GE was producing in 1972, probably the U36C. Note GE built the passenger U34CH for NJ DOT starting in 1970 and had previously built U28CG's (1966) and U30CG's (1967) for Santa Fe.

Amtrak E60MA 603 is preserved at the RR Museum of PA at Strasburg.

Phil Mulligan