Description
In the late 1960s, EMD, Alco and GE were all chasing the next wave of high-horsepower six-axle freight power. GE redesigned its U-boat carbody on a 67-foot-3-inch frame and introduced a signature feature that would carry through to the Dash-7 and Dash-8 era: the winged radiator section, which gave the cooling surface its distinctive flare. The U33C produced 3,300 horsepower; 375 units were built between 1968 and 1975, with Southern Pacific the largest customer. The U33C even saw service with S J Groves & Sons on a highway project in New Jersey. Penn Central received 30 units in PC paint with a unique triangular fairing extending from hood to radiator wing.
The U36C followed as a 3,600-horsepower model aimed squarely at the SD45. Clinchfield took the first seven in 1971, and the big orders came from Santa Fe (100) and Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (104), where the locomotives saw heavy mountain duty in two- to four-unit consists. Rapido's HO U33C/U36C captures the early and late phase differences, the eight-battery-box arrangement on early units versus the six-box later version, road-specific fuel tanks, photo-etched grilles, and Rapido's signature dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions.
Each locomotive comes DC/Silent (DCC ready) or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound with ESU LokSound 5 Micro. Full lighting, MoPower capacitor, metal knuckle couplers and a heavy die-cast frame are standard. Pre-orders require a 25% deposit; balance collected when stock arrives.
This unit: HO GE U36C (DC/Silent): Santa Fe - Yellow Warbonnet: #8716
- U33C (3,300 hp) and U36C (3,600 hp) carbody variations
- Early eight-box and later six-box battery box arrangements
- Phase variations including PC triangular fairing
- Heavy die-cast frame, photo-etched grilles, rubber sanding lines
- Rapido dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions
- DC/Silent (DCC ready) or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound with ESU LokSound 5 Micro
- MoPower capacitor; metal knuckle couplers
📦 Preorder details:
Expected ship date: see the Rapido Product Delivery Schedule for the latest dates
25% deposit required at checkout, balance charged when product ships.
Preorder cancellation: 7 days from order date; deposit non-refundable after that.
Browse more from Rapido Trains and our HO scale collection, or see all preorders. Ships from Oakville, Ontario. Contact us for special orders.