GE 25-ton switcher

The 25-ton switcher was designed primarily for switching duties (moving railroad cars to and from loading/unloading facilities, as well as making up and breaking down trains), with both low power output and low top speed for a locomotive. While not very capable of hauling mainline trains, these features made it cheaper than most other locomotives. For rail-served industries, military installations, and other customers who only needed locomotives for switching and could rely on railroad companies to haul their trains elsewhere, this made it an attractive purchase, and GE specifically marketed the locomotive towards such customers.^[2] GE claimed in advertising that the locomotive could reduce the time needed to switch cars by 50 percent, with an availability rating of 97.7 percent – figures which far exceeded those of maintenance-heavy steam locomotives.^[3] The 25-tonner's small size also allowed it to fit in places where larger locomotives could not, an asset in industrial facilities and yards where clearances were often low.^[4][5]

The locomotive was designed as a

When the final unit was built in 1974, production totaled approximately 550 locomotives, making the design one of GE's most built locomotive models.[5]^[8] While the majority of production was for customers in the United States or Canada, 25-tonners were built for customers in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.^[9]

Operating history

25-ton switchers were for many years a very common site at rail-served industries in need of small, cheap locomotives capable of switching cars around the many sidings found on their properties. Some examples of users include grain elevators, U.S. military facilities, steel mills, and commuter railroads.^{[4][7][10][11]}

The 25-tonners have been nicknamed "critters" by operators and railfans alike, due to their small size. This nickname is shared with similar GE products such as the closely related 23-ton switcher.^[1]

Starting in the 1970s, most 25-ton switchers were gradually replaced, either by more powerful and modern switcher locomotives, or by railcar movers.^[10] Many railcar movers can also travel on roads for additional flexibility, unlike the 25-tonner. A number of 25-tonners continued to operate into the 21st century, a testament to their durability.^[5][12] Some have found a second life at railroad museums, where they are used to move equipment.^[12][13]

Modeling

PIKO manufactures a G scale model of the 25-tonner.^[14] Manufacturer Grandt Line also produces 25-tonner models in HO scale.^[15]

Preservation

A number of 25-tonners have been preserved at museums, and some have been restored to operating condition.

• The Oklahoma Railway Museum owns former MKT #400, which is undergoing restoration to operating condition.^[10]
• The Railroad Museum of Long Island owns former Long Island Rail Road #399, which is in operating condition and has been cosmetically restored.^[4]
• Golden Spike National Historical Park uses a 25-tonner to move its replicas of Jupiter and Union Pacific No. 119 when they are not under their own power.
• The
  Nevada Southern Railroad Museum owns locomotive L-2, which served at the Nevada Test Site during the 1960s.^[16]
• The Phillipsburg Railroad Historians own a 25-tonner which previously served at an Alstom plant in Easton, PA.[17]
• The C.P.R. Station Heritage Park and Interpretive Centre in Portage la Prairie has a 25-tonner on display, formerly of Manitoba Hydro.
• The Steam Railroading Institute owns a 25-tonner nicknamed "Mighty Mouse" that is in operating condition, formerly operated at a grain elevator.^[18]
• The Illinois Railway Museum owns a 1942-vintage 25-tonner in operating condition that worked at cement plants for 78 years prior to being donated to the museum in 2020.^[8]
• Central Texas Gravel Locomotive No. 210 is preserved at the Arkansas Railroad Museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[19][20] The museum also owns a former Wabash Alloys locomotive, which is also listed on the NRHP.^[20]
• The
  Pennsylvania Trolley Gauge.^[13]
• The Niagara Railway Museum in Fort Erie, Ontario owns an operational 25-tonner built in 1948.^[21]
• The Seashore Trolley Museum acquired ex-Providence and Worcester Railroad No. 150 in 2020; the unit was built in late 1945. The locomotive sees active use switching various locations on the museum's property.^[22]

See also

• GE 44-ton switcher
• GE 45-ton switcher
• List of GE locomotives

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to GE 25-ton locomotives.