During the 1970's, EMD had a tight lock on locomotive manufacturing in the United States and was producing its highly successful and reliable Dash-2 line, such as the GP38-2, GP40-2, and SD40-2. Though similar on the exterior to previous EMD models, those in the Dash-2 line offered improved electronics, fuel consumption, and reliability.Not wanting to be outdone or put out of business, General Electric countered with their improved Dash-7 line. While still not as reliable as the EMD Dash-2 line, GE's Dash-7 locomotives proved more reliable and efficient than their earlier U-Series of locomotives.
The B23-7 was a turbocharged 2,250hp locomotive with a twelve-cylinder 12-7FDL prime mover that rode on four AAR Type-B trucks. It was designed to directly compete with EMD's GP38-2, which was the most reliable and versatile locomotives of all time due to its combination of an underrated 2,000hp 645 prime mover, a.c. traction motors, modular electronics, and four axles. The GP38-2 could be found in yard, branchline, and even mainline service. The B23-7 was equally versatile but not as reliable. Still, Conrail purchased 141 of the units between 1977 and 1979, with many staying on roster until the final days of the railroad.
Trucks: Even though General Electric designed the B23-7 to use the newer FB2 trucks, Conrail ordered all their B23-7's with the older General Steel Casting B trucks.
Side Windows: All the B23-7's were delivered with two side windows on each side of the cab. Between 1981 and 1985, Conrail began replacing these windows with steel plates held in place with rubber gaskets. Beginning around 1991, Conrail began replacing the windows with welded steel plates. This would occur when a unit got shopped.
B23-7 Variants
The first order of B23-7's was in the 2800-2816 series and delivered between September 1977 and November 1977, causing three RS-32's to be reassigned new numbers. Subsequent orders of B23-7's were in the 1900-2023 series. There are a few notable differences between the two groups of B23-7's.Anti-climbers: Unlike subsequent orders, units in the 2800-2816 series did not have anti-climbers on the pilot.
Control Compartments: On 2800-2816, the latches on the control compartments below the cab were round knob door handles. Later models had the more common circular recessed handles. The first order of C40-8W's in 1990 came equipped with sets of secondary door latches on the top edge of their control compartments. During the 1990's, Conrail retrofitted some of their B23-7's with these secondary latches, though the style could vary among individual locomotives.
Fuel Tanks: The locomotives in the 2800 series had larger 3,250-gallon fuel tanks, while those in the 1900-2023 series had smaller 2,900-gallon fuel tanks.
Comprehensive GE B23-7 Roster
The roster below is comprehensive for Conrail's B23-7's purchased between 1977 and 1979. Retirement dates are given when known, along with first dispositions. Note that there is some debate whether some of the units NS acquired served on NS before being quickly resold to other railroads; these are still listed as NS units on this roster.
CR Built Removed Disposition Note
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1900 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4024
1901 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4025
1902 05/78 06/11/97 scrapped
1903 05/78 12/31/83 MNCR 801 1
1904 05/78 12/31/83 MNCR 802 1
1905 05/78 12/31/83 MNCR 803 1
1906 05/78 12/31/83 MNCR 804 1
1907 05/78 12/31/83 MNCR 805 1
1908 05/78 12/31/83 MNCR 806 1
1909 05/78 12/31/83 MNCR 807 1
1910 05/78 05/31/99 CSX 3144
1911 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4026
1912 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4027 2
1913 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4028
1914 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4029
1915 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4030
1916 05/78 05/31/99 CSX 3145
1917 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4031
1918 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4032
1919 05/78 05/31/99 CSX 3146
1920 05/78 05/31/99 CSX 3147
1921 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4033
1922 05/78 05/31/99 CSX 3148
1923 05/78 05/31/99 CSX 3149
1924 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4034
1925 05/78 05/31/99 CSX 3150
1926 05/78 05/31/99 CSX 3151
1927 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4035
1928 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4036
1929 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4037
1930 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4038
1931 05/78 05/31/99 CSX 3152 4
1932 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4039
1933 05/78 05/31/99 CSX 3153 3
1934 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4040
1935 05/78 05/31/99 NS 4041
1936 05/78 05/31/99 CSX 3154
1937 06/78 05/31/99 CSX 3155
1938 06/78 05/31/99 CSX 3156
1939 06/78 05/31/99 CSX 3157
1940 07/78 05/31/99 CSX 3158
1941 07/78 05/31/99 NS 4042
1942 07/78 05/31/99 NS 4043
1943 08/78 05/31/99 CSX 3159
1944 08/78 05/31/99 NS 4044
1945 08/78 05/31/99 NS 4045
1946 08/78 05/31/99 NS 4046
1947 08/78 05/31/99 NS 4047
1948 08/78 05/31/99 NS 4048
1949 08/78 01/16/97 scrapped
1950 08/78 05/31/99 NS 4049
1951 08/78 05/31/99 NS 4050
1952 08/78 06/11/97 RMDI
1953 08/78 05/31/99 CSX 3160
1954 08/78 05/31/99 CSX 3161
1955 08/78 05/31/99 CSX 3162
1956 08/78 01/16/97 scrapped
1957 08/78 05/31/99 CSX 3163
1958 08/78 05/31/99 NS 4051
1959 08/78 05/31/99 NS 4052
1960 08/78 05/31/99 NS 4053
1961 08/78 05/31/99 NS 4054
1962 09/78 05/31/99 CSX 3164
1963 09/78 05/31/99 NS 4055
1964 09/78 05/31/99 CSX 3165
1965 09/78 05/31/99 CSX 3166
1966 09/78 05/31/99 NS 4056
1967 03/79 05/31/99 NS 4057 4
1968 03/79 05/31/99 NRE 4
1969 03/79 05/31/99 NS 4058
1970 03/79 05/31/99 NS 4059
1971 03/79 05/31/99 NS 4060
1972 03/79 05/31/99 Minnesota Commercial 1971
1973 03/79 05/31/99 NS 4061
1974 03/79 05/31/99 NS 4062
1975 03/79 05/31/99 NS 4063
1976 03/79 05/31/99 NS 4064
1977 04/79 05/31/99 NS 4065
1978 04/79 05/31/99 NS 4066
1979 04/79 05/31/99 Finger Lakes 1979
1980 04/79 05/31/99 CSX 3189
1981 04/79 05/31/99 NS 4067
1982 04/79 05/31/99 Minnesota Commercial 1982
1983 04/79 05/31/99 Minnesota Commercial 1983
1984 04/79 05/31/99 NS 4069
1985 04/79 05/31/99 NS 4070
1986 04/79 05/31/99 NREX
1987 04/79 05/31/99 NS 4071
1988 04/79 05/31/99 NS 4072
1989 04/79 05/31/99 NS 4073
1990 04/79 05/31/99 NS 4074
1991 04/79 05/31/99 NREX ?
1992 07/79 05/31/99 CSX 3167
1993 07/79 05/31/99 NREX 1993
1994 07/79 05/31/99 CSX 3168
1995 07/79 05/31/99 CSX 3169
1996 07/79 05/31/99 CSX 3170
1997 07/79 05/31/99 NS 4075
1998 07/79 05/31/99 NS 4076
1999 07/79 05/31/99 CSX 3171
2000 07/79 05/31/99 NS 4077
2001 08/79 05/31/99 CSX 3172
2002 08/79 05/31/99 NS 4078
2003 08/79 05/31/99 NS 4079
2004 08/79 05/31/99 NS 4080
2005 08/79 05/31/99 NS 4081
2006 08/79 05/31/99 CSX 3173
2007 08/79 05/31/99 CSX 3174
2008 08/79 01/27/97 Railtex
2009 08/79 01/27/97 Railtex
2010 08/79 01/27/97 Railtex
2011 08/79 01/27/97 Railtex
2012 08/79 01/27/97 Railtex
2013 08/79 01/27/97 Railtex
2014 09/79 05/31/99 CSX 3175
2015 09/79 05/31/99 NS 4082
2016 09/79 05/31/99 NS 4083
2017 09/79 05/31/99 CSX 3176
2018 09/79 05/31/99 NS 4084
2019 09/79 05/31/99 CSX 3177
2020 09/79 05/31/99 NS 4085
2021 09/79 05/31/99 CSX 3178
2022 09/79 06/11/97 scrapped
2023 09/79 05/31/99 CSX 3179
2800 09/77 06/11/97 RMDI
2801 10/77 05/31/99 CSX 3180
2802 09/77 05/31/99 CSX 3181
2803 09/77 05/31/99 NS 4086
2804 10/77 05/31/99 NS 4087
2805 10/77 05/31/99 NS 4088
2806 10/77 05/31/99 CSX 3182
2807 10/77 06/11/97 RMDI
2808 10/77 06/11/97 RMDI
2809 11/77 05/31/99 NS 4089
2810 11/77 05/31/99 NS 4090
2811 11/77 06/11/97 RMDI
2812 11/77 06/11/97 RMDI
2813 11/77 05/31/99 CSX 3183
2814 11/77 06/11/97 scrapped
2815 11/77 05/31/99 NS 4091
2816 11/77 05/31/99 CSX 3184
Roster Notes:
1. CR 1903-1909 were transferred by lease to Metro-North in 1983. Upon their return to Conrail, the units went into BNSF lease service.
2. CR 1912 damaged 09/12/79 and repaired.
3. CR 1933 modified rear pilot and assigned to Track Geometry Car 21.
4. There is debate on these units' removal date and/or disposition.
Roster References:
Conrail Motive Power Review: Volume 1 by Gordon Lloyd, Jr. and Louis A. Marre (1992)
Conrail Motive Power Review: 1986-1991 by Paul K. Withers (1992)
Conrail The Final Years: 1992-1997 by Paul K. Withers (1997)
Metro North Roster by The Diesel Shop
Norfolk Southern - Former Conrail Locomotive Roster by Chris R. Toth.