GE U34CH
| Industry | Locomotive manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1970 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Diesel-electric locomotives |
The U34CH is a diesel locomotive designed for passenger service, manufactured by General Electric between 1970 and 1973. A total of 33 units were constructed: 32 were commissioned by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and operated initially by the Erie Lackawanna Railway and subsequently by Conrail, while the final unit resulted from a rebuild of a GE U30C for the New York MTA.
Erie Lackawanna, 1970–76
The first batch of 32 locomotives, numbered 3351 through 3382, was produced for NJDOT and run by Erie Lackawanna alongside new Pullman Standard push-pull coaches. These locomotives were introduced to replace older models in suburban commuter operations departing from Hoboken, New Jersey. The U34CH preceded the GE U36C in General Electric’s product lineup. It was notable as the first GE model to incorporate steel crowned pistons delivering , and also the first commuter locomotive to feature shaft-driven HEP, powered directly by the prime mover rather than an auxiliary diesel engine. To ensure stable AC frequency for HEP, the FDL-16 engine operated at a fixed 900 RPM, yielding 3430 traction horsepower after subtracting HEP load; without HEP demand, output increased to 3600 horsepower at 1050 RPM. The locomotives wore a distinctive dark blue and silver NJDOT livery with logo, earning them the nickname "Bluebirds." Occasionally, they performed freight duties on weekends before returning to passenger service.
Conrail, 1976–82
Following Erie Lackawanna’s bankruptcy, it was absorbed into Conrail on April 1, 1976. The U34CH fleet was renumbered in the range of 4151 to 4182. Only unit 3351 received Conrail markings after being rebuilt from a 1974 accident; it re-entered service painted in a Bicentennial scheme with number 1776 and was later renumbered to 4151 with NJDOT colors. The remaining locomotives retained their "Bluebird" paint but without Erie Lackawanna insignia while operating on former EL routes originating from Hoboken.
In 1978, one additional U34CH was assembled for the MTA (which later became Metro-North Railroad) as part of its commitment to serve Port Jervis, New York. This unit, numbered 4183, was reconstructed from an accident-damaged ex-Chicago and North Western Railway GE U30C (originally C&NW number 934) and finished in the "Bluebird" livery bearing an MTA logo.
New Jersey Transit, 1983–90
Conrail managed commuter rail operations for NJ DOT until January 1, 1983, when New Jersey Transit took over all such services within New Jersey. Ownership of the U34CH locomotives remained with NJDOT but they were transferred to NJ Transit’s roster. Most units retained their original "Bluebird" paint scheme with an added silver patch and NJ Transit emblem on the nose; seven units received repainting into the "Disco Stripe" design. The U34CHs primarily served former Erie Lackawanna lines out of Hoboken, New Jersey.
Final years and disposition, 1990–96
By the early 1990s, the U34CH fleet exhibited signs of wear and aging. As NJ Transit acquired rebuilt ex-Penn Central GP40PH-2B locomotives from Conrail’s Juniata shops during 1993–94, retirement of the U34CHs became unavoidable. Significant mechanical breakdowns led to their withdrawal instead of repair. Official retirement from passenger service occurred in August 1994, commemorated by a "Farewell to the U34CH" special excursion organized by the United Railway Historical Society (URHS). Some units continued in maintenance-of-way roles until they were replaced by EMD GP40-2 locomotives.
Three locomotives were leased to SEPTA, with unit 4154 repainted in SEPTA’s blue diesel scheme. Nine units were scrapped outright; nineteen were sold to Conrail, which then transferred them to GEC-Alstom for export to Mexico. At least five operated in Mexico as late as 2003; however, their current status is uncertain due to privatization of Mexican railroads and scrapping of older equipment. Two units sold through Conrail then RMDI were dismantled in Pittston, Pennsylvania in 2003. Another was sold to América Latina Logística in Brazil for use as spare parts. By 1996, no U34CH locomotives remained on New Jersey Transit property.
Preservation
The locomotive U34CH, numbered 4172 (previously 3372), was gifted to the URHS and kept at the New York and Greenwood Lake Railway facility in Passaic, New Jersey. In October 2013, URHS initiated "Project U-Boat," aimed at restoring this engine. By March 2014, the necessary funds had been secured, and efforts to find a new location for the locomotive were underway. On October 29, the Morristown & Erie Railway team transported the unit to URHS’s restoration site in Boonton. Restoration activities commenced in September 2022; by September 2023, cosmetic repairs were finalized while mechanical restoration continued.