Hi all I'm here in the Evergreen State and always been collecting and restoring antique machinery, I have a restored 1911 15/45 Case steam traction engine I've had for 20 years but just acquired a GE 25 ton locomotive, unfortuanly some one took the builders plate, so is there another place on the locomotive where the serial # is?

There is a number stamped on the front of the frame off center. While not the serial number it does, if I remember correctly, correspond to the construction number. A gentleman requested we look at our 25-ton ex-Army GE years ago as he was assembling a data base. Lost track of him and the project.

Jeff Livingston

Ok great I'll chk it out I think it's a 1940's but here some pic and what cummins is that thks

At some point GE began stamping the builder's number UNDER the plate. You might examine that area carefully. It can be rusty to the point of obscuring the stamping, but the touch of a wire wheel might bring it out.

The other stamping referred to above is most often (to my experience) found on the edge of the deck plate or just below the deck plate, centered above the front coupler pocket. It shows the sequence of that particular loco in a group of identical models. GE built most of their smaller locos in batches and each batch carried a 4 digit ID number followed by a sequence beginning at 1 and extending to however many were in that batch. By comparing that number to others known by both the batch number AND the builder's number it is often possible to positively ID a loco with missing plates.

The common engine in the 25 tonner was the Cummins HBI-600, nominally rated at 150 HP during the 40s and 50s. A lot of parts for this engine can still be bought from various sources. We have a 25 tonner at Pennsylvania Trolley Museum and have had very good luck sourcing parts from Western Star Rail Services of Newark, OH (740-344-3336).

Thanks so much for the detailed useful message.

For whatever reason I can't enlarge the photos enough to see any detail. The locomotive looks similar to our ex-U.S. Army No. 7750 C/N 15811 Blt. 9-42. Ours is narrow gauge. Could you forward the photos to historian@hawaiianrailway.com ? Hopefully I can enlarge them to see the detail better.

Thanks,

Jeff Livingston
Historian
Hawaiian Railway Society

From what I see, Dave's correct that the engine is a Cummins HBI-600. That designation was later revised to H-6. 4-7/8" bore normally aspirated with two (2) valves per cylinder. The engine was basically obsolete by 1970, having been replaced by the NH series. There are still parts available for these engines and, in fact, the current version of the "220" main bearings fit them....same design after all these years. I suspect your engine is mounted on a skid containing the engine, the radiator, the main generator and the air compressor. The radiator is a GE custom part, made in-house. The main generator is most likely a 5GT1503 though it may have been upgraded to a 5GT1519 at one point. The air compressor is probably a Gardner Denver ADS series compressor. Underneath should be a 733 traction motor with one end in a double-reduction gearbox mounted on a axle. Then, there should be a chain connecting both axles together.

I can see what appears to be a Cummins single-disc fuel pump. While they are somewhat supportable by a custom diesel pump shop, finding such a shop can be challenging and expensive. If you can find the parts, I suggest converting to a Cummins PT pump fuel system.

Logan Corporation is the GE parts supplier for industial locomotive parts and can provide a generic GE manual that will be very useful in maintaining this locomotive. It covers many of the industrial series locomotives and has information on the electrical components along with tips and hints for repairing the traction drive.

Good luck,
Rob

GE also produced a maintenance and operating manual for the 25-tonner; I've got a later-production copy already scanned to .PDF - contact me if you actually end up needing it.

Lake Shore Railway Historical Society in North East, PA has an operating 25-tonner as their 'main power', so they are also very familiar with the locomotives. They are pretty much the Piper Cub of industrial diesels.

Where did you acquire the locomotive from? Kind of a neat step up (or down, depending on how you look at it) from the Case.

Thanks everyone on the helpful info, as I speak I'm taking a vacation and on my way to salt lake and be there tonite and check out the railroad museum tomorrow and then to Nevada,Arizona to tombstone hopefully to meet the person that owned the 1860s hand pump car that was in the movie wild wild west I bought, and them to California.
Hey Dave I see your in salt lake you have anything that would help me out on my locomotive lol.
Thanks again everyone on the info I'll need it.

Yes Rob you seem to hit the nail on the head it's about like you explained it, I just don't know if anything has been updated or it's all orignal, the last service on the filters is 95 and the oil is clean so there's hope just all the points and switches are filthy so if you can tell what's updated please send me your email address and I have some detailed photos I can send you. thks

Hi everyone been a few months but finally got my little engine home here is a couple short videos of it being off loaded on you tube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZncbYqybECI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2F-ZCmyt1A