When General Electric introduced the Dash-7 series in 1977 to succeed its Universal Series line, the primary goal was to improve reliability. The “U-boats” had developed a reputation for electrical issues and oil leaks which were difficult to diagnose. GE took advantage of the mid-70s slump to interview senior railroad mechanical personnel to help define goals. When the Dash-7 line was announced in 1977, the sales brochure listed 58 items to improve reliability plus five additional refinements including a redesigned electrical system. The most powerful offering in GE’s Dash-7 line was the 3,600hp C36-7. Its primary rival was the 3,500hp SD50, but the 50-series EMDs could never shake away its design and “quality assurance” issues, giving GE the lead.
Mexico’s Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (FNM) was the first C36-7 customer in 1978, ordering 10 units, followed by 15 more. Domestic sales didn’t occur until Norfolk & Western’s order in 1981. Additional domestic customers were Norfolk Southern, Conrail, and Missouri Pacific for a total of 128 units. Notably, the C36-7s delivered to MP (later Union Pacific) and Norfolk Southern featured the boxy dynamic brake “hump” behind the cab. In all, 602 C36-7s were produced by General Electric, including 422 units going to China. But that’s not all. In 1991, Burlington Northern upgraded 41 of its C30-7s to C33-7s and seven to C36-7s. Given the outward similarities to the C30-7, it would seem simple to make a few changes to a C30-7 model to create a C36-7. However, there are numerous differences which set these C36-7s apart.
Now available from Rapido Trains are road- and era-specific versions of C36-7s for Conrail, FNM, Ferromex, Missouri Pacific, Union Pacific, Norfolk & Western, Norfolk Southern, and Burlington Northern in both DCC-sound and DCC-ready versions.
From the ground up, the models exude detail, each with coupler lift bars, m.u. and air hoses, positionable drop steps, separately applied wire grab irons, windshield wipers, fully detailed underframes with traction motor cabling, and air filters and air reservoirs where appropriate. New for this release are rotating bearing caps on the trucks. Extra bearing caps and extra etched steps are thoughtfully provided in the box.
Missouri Pacific 9000
Nearly three years after Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific were merged into the Union Pacific, 60 C36-7s were delivered in UP colors, but with Missouri Pacific lettering in September 1985. By this late date, General Electric was already building its first “Dash-8” next-generation locomotives, so the MP and NS C36-7s came with Dash-8-style dynamic brake assemblies housed in a dedicated box mounted high atop the hood just behind the cab, instead of beneath the radiators at the end of the long hood. Unique to the MP C36-7s is an extra-large 4,500-gallon fuel tank which necessitated the relocation of the air reservoirs to the long hood behind large side grilles…
