The GE U17C diesel–electric locomotive was introduced by GE Transportation as an export model road switcher locomotive in 1973.

Easy to spot due to its relatively short length — 52 ft 9 in (16.08 m) — it was powered by the 8-cylinder FDL-8T engine.

[citation needed] Very similar to the U18B, it included an extended body section to house a larger air filter and cooling units.

Original purchasers included Syria's CFS,[citation needed]and the Lebanese national railway company.

[2] The GE U17C was also used on the Aqaba Railway Corporation for transporting phosphates from the Mines to Aqaba.