The U-20C locomotive was chosen by FRATESCHI due to its growing popularity in the Brazilian railways during the 70s.
Just as the General Motors G-12 was considered, in 1956, as the ideal choice for railways in developing countries due to its favorable relationship between cost and performance, the U-20C became one of these application locomotives. In general, they are used on trails that vary from 1m to 1.67m, both for passenger and cargo services, but they are not recommended for maneuvers.
Most of these locomotives were manufactured at the General Electric plant in Campinas, SP, and were supplied to the Brazilian railways, or exported to Mozambique, Jordan, Angola, Bolivia, etc. The U-20C locomotives manufactured in the USA were also exported to Colombia, Angola, Mozambique, Rhodesia, Pakistan, etc.