Until the 70´s General Electric (GE) was an important player in the worldwide market with several locomotives called "U" from Universal. In Brazil, the biggest locomotive of this series was the U23C, with 2250HP and all of them were manufactured in Campinas between 1972 and 1976. The development of this series continued to the U36C when GE launched a new class of locomotive that received the letter "C". The C30-7 was the first one to be available at the end of the 70,s and it has 3 axles, with 3000HP.

In Brazil was manufactured 48 C30-7 were, 41 of them to E. F. Carajás and 7 to Cutrale Quintella. These last 7 units were delivered to operate in the Fepasa broad gauge. Nowadays with the possibility to import second-hand locomotives companies such as MRS and ALL bought them from the USA. In April 2007 its number in the Brazilian railway system is up to 500 units. They are emblematic locomotives and make up part of day-to-day operation.