GEs for an EL Monday

The late Mike Ondecker caught General Electric demonstrators 304 and 303 leading an eastbound Erie Lackawanna freight through Akron in mid-1968.

Note the two trailers on flatcar in the consist behind the motive power.

In recent years intermodal shipments largely moved in dedicated trains, but with precision scheduled railroading dominating operations at most Class 1 railroads such sights as this, which used to be common, are coming back into vogue.

Nos. 303 and 304 were built in June 1966 as U30B models, but were later converted into U36B units when they were transformed to 3,600 horsepower.

After being downgraded back to 3,000 horsepower, the units were sold to the Western Pacific where they had roster numbers 770 and 771.

Photograph by Mike Ondecker

Tags: Akron, EL in Akron, Erie Lackawanna, Erie Lackawanna in Akron Ohio, GE demonstrator locomotives, General Electric locomotives, Mike Ondecker photographs, Photographs of Akron railroads, Railroads of Akron Ohio