General Electric 25 Ton Diesel
"The Critter"

The Evolution of The Industrial Switcher

The General Electric 25-ton “Little Critter” is a small industrial switcher locomotive built by GE primarily for light-duty switching and industrial rail operations. These locomotives were widely used by factories, steel mills, mines, and short lines where a full-size road switcher would be too large or impractical.

Overview

Manufacturer: General Electric (GE Transportation Systems)
Model: 25-ton industrial switcher
Production Years: 1940s–1970s
Nickname: “Little Critter” (railfans and operators often used this term for GE’s smallest switchers)

Technical Specifications

Weight: 25 tons (50,000 lbs)
Wheel Arrangement: B (two powered axles)
Prime Mover: Cummins or Caterpillar diesel engine (varied by production year)
Horsepower: ~150–250 HP
Transmission: Diesel-electric (engine drives a generator, powering traction motors)
Top Speed: ~20 mph (designed for yard and plant switching, not mainline use)
Tractive Effort: Around 15,000–20,000 lbs

CLICK IMAGE BELOW TO WATCH THE MOVE

Design & Use

The GE 25-ton was designed for tight industrial trackage, often with sharp curves and light rail. Its compact size allowed it to operate inside factories, warehouses, and steel plants where larger locomotives could not fit.

Key features included:

Side-rod drive system on early models (similar to small steam locomotives).
Simple controls for ease of use by plant workers rather than professional railroad engineers.
Low maintenance requirements, making it attractive for industries that needed dependable but inexpensive motive power.

Comparison to Other GE “Critters”

The 25-ton was the smallest of GE’s diesel-electric switchers, while the 44-ton was famous for being the largest locomotive that could be operated without requiring a fireman under union rules.