china i heard ordered 300 sd90ac from emd, at 6000 hp a pop!!!
Could this mean the end for chinese steam? [:O]
I thought the last Chinese steam was retired earlier this year, but I could be wrong.
Oh, I didn’t know. I don’t follow much forign railroading.
YES…EMD Baby.
Allan.
I wonder what their reasoning is behind that model. They like it because it’s the biggest? Doesn’t sound like they’ve done much homework. I’m sure EMD isn’t complaining though.
Dave
-DPD Productions - Featuring the NEW TrainTenna LP Gain RR Scanner Antenna-
http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/
Yes I am suprised to hear this news! I would think that the Chinese railroads would opt foe the new and improved SD70ACe if they were going to order something from EMD. If they want SD90MAC’s maybe they should thing about purchasing some used ones like from UP. I beleive UP is getting rid of some of there SD90MACs, I’m not too sure of this though.
If they’ve been able to handle the maintenance associated with steam all these years, the 90MAC would still probably be an upgrade, despite their problems. Still, it does make one wonder if they wouldn’t be better off to get some 70 Aces. Perhaps the “New” EMD has worked out some of the bugs?
At any rate, its nice to see some trade going the other way (though it would be nicer to see them being assembled this side of the BIG pond).
Some assembly required:
http://autonet.ca/Facilities/story.cfm?story=/Facilities/2005/09/09/1209419-sun.html
I wonder what the implications of the technology transfer will be. One of these days the Chinese will want to become exporters of high technology products. Boeing, EMD, IBM and other companies are showing them the latest assembly techniques for them to build on.
Science they are not for america I wonder if they can get the pre-tierII models.
Err, they have been for some time - have a look inside your PC, or the labels on the back of your DVD player, VCR, TV etc and see where it comes from…
IBM sold their entire desktop/notebook PC business to a Chinese company a little while ago.
One of the UK train operators was talking to a Chinese train builder recently about buying a fleet of diesel MU cars - it didn’t come to anything, but the potential is there.
Tony
So far the ChiComs are satisfied just manufacturing all those electronic components. They didn’t even have to develop the manufacturing capabilities, all those nice Japanese, European and American companies did that for them. Hey, they even went out and built the manufacturing plants and filled them with state of the art equipment. Once the Chinese get all the manufacturing processes up to speed they will begin to design and export their own products to compete or sell to the companies using them for the grunt work now. All they have to do is look at the post WWII business model and see who well that has worked. Then the US railroads will be buying 6000 hp locomotives from China and not Canada. Perhaps EMD will be allowed to remain as a loco broker for the North American markets.
I would also imagine all that nice industrial equipment that is turning out nicely manufactured American consumer goods is working overtime at night making nicely finished ball bearings for the gyroscopes in ChiCom ICBMs.
They just got rid of steam locomotives, I doubt they’ll plunge into U.S. Tier II standards…
It does catch me off gaurd, since UP hates their’s that they bought, they vibrate themselves to pieces…just like the GE C60AC’s.
I thought Clinton gave them the technology to make cheap copies anyways.[}:)][swg]
If they ordered SD90 macs , the steam engines will be around for some time to come.
Are they taking all the CEFX SD90s that it would seem no one wants to lease, or has anyone seen these roming around. Last time I saw a picture of them about 20 or so where being stored in New Jersey I think.
What is actually wrong with them, that the railroads don’t like them?
A valid railroad topic being turned political. [:(!]
Are you trying to get this forum closed down also?
TALK TRAINS, NOT POLITICS.
It’s my understanding that the China SD90s will meet all Tier 2 standards.