ACe and ES44AC

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Drawing some kind of paralell between GE and EMD, these two would be of the same generation of locomotives

I’d like to hear a few opinions regarding the similarities and differences between these two locomotives

I’ve heard from one engineer that EMD engines are usually more gentle when starting, while a GE is a bit rough with cars if you give it too much power at start.

So regarding these two engines, any experiences from engineers you know? Any opinions of your own?
Which do you like better personally as a railfan and why?

2

the ACE as i’m an EMD fan. the GEVOs have those ugly GE cabs and noselights whereas the ACE has a unique new cab design. although it also now has GE windows…

3

i hear from engineers most like the ace(cadillac), and not the geo(pacer)!!!

4

do they really refer to it as cadillac? Cause that was my impression when I first saw it. It felt like a rail cadillac. Am I not the only one with that impression?

5

I havent heard from my buddy how he likes the ACes, but he doesnt like the GEVOs. They have respond really slow, it takes up to 50 seconds to load 10 amps, and your either going 50 or 60, as these units cant retain too many variations of speed. Alec

6

How’s the response on ACe’s? How much does it take to get to top RPM when you put it into notch 8 from idle?

7

Really, A CSX Engineer told me a GEVO was alot nicer than an ACe ACe’s have Auto Starter problems and CSX ACes arnt whisper cabs which sucks

8

I would rather run an ACe, the GEVOS are slow loaders and take forever to get going. If I run a consist out and it has old power in it with a GEVO leader I just isolate the leader.Same with trash nines. I dont like the fact that at above 10 mph bells and whistles sound when you use the independent brake.

Granted i do like the old school chug of them starting up (under a bridge its awesome) but they sound like they are going to die fall apart or just plain stop working at idle.Kinda like an old 8 banger running on 2 cylinders.

The best thing today in new power is the control stands FINALLY! SOme moronic engineer with his pocket protector saying " train crews will love this" has finally retired or been grabbed by an engineer and stuffed in the dumpster. Desk top controls can go the way of the dinosaurs thank you.

9

lol, yea, the GE 4-stroke engine sounds in idle like one of those old mobile wood saw machines (if you’ve ever seen one), you can count the strokes.

10

Compairing the GE es44ac to the EMD sd70ace is like apples to oranges, both have strong points, and both have weak ones. Some es44ac units load good while others lag behind, and the same can be said about the sd70ace locomotives also. The thing I like about both of the is the conventional control stand I now have some leg room when ever I am sitting in the holding pattern for a long time.

Rodney

11

I think I know why GE’s load slow (and its intended to be that way) Because when a diesel is quickly throttled up, it “washes out” the cylinders and that results in black smoke fromt he exhaust. But if throttled up gradually, there isn’t hardly any smoke.

Just my [2c].

12

That’s why I started this thread, to hear some of the strong and weak points about these locomotives, not to come up with a “better” locomotive

13

I come before you, to stand behind you, to talk to you about something I know nothing about:

The ACe’s are quieter. The GE’s always sound like they should be put out of their misery. Rattletrap comes to mind.

Ears Mookie

14

The big ge’s WILL smoke, trust me on this.

15

GE’s are more prone to breaking down or blowing up it seems.

trash 9s? i call them crash 9s and crash 8s. (only C40-8Ws. not C40-8s)

ACEs look more unique and interesting. if you see one, you’ll almost immediately know it’s an ACE. GEVOs just have that extra bulge near the radiator part

16

From a railfan’s perspective…

I’m usually around BNSF any time I go railfanning. In 2005 I saw an Evolution for the first time (and it was a big deal, too…unit 7695; the only yellow letter). Now earlier this year I heard that BNSF was buying SD70ACe’s as well. So, I went up to the Ottumwa Subdivision and waited for a coal train to come through…and they all had SD70MACs on them, and even a few GEVOs and AC4400CWs!! Now it’s almost 4 months later, and while I’ve been back up there who knows how many times, and a bunch of other people are seeing them, I JUST CAN’T seem to spot one! (maybe I should leave my camera home)

Now I see an Evolution every time I go anywhere, and yes they may have some problems but they’re neat. I’m glad GE has stuck to the “Dash 9” design. When they’re being throttled up, it sounds like someone’s ringing a cowbell in a toilet, but I like that! Something different at least. And their horns and electric bells…OH MAN!

Now, I think the GEVOs and SD70ACe/SD70M-2s are both interesting. I’m still going to have to wait forever to see an EMD, but I’ve got the Evolutions to see, so I’m not rushing. Not to make anyone steamed or anything, if you could only have one type of engine, I’d probably pick the Evolution. In fact, all of the GE’s seem to have this “no nonsense” appearance that most EMD’s don’t have.

Don’t get me wrong, though, I still can’t wait to see an SD70ACe!!

17

I don’t like the older dash 9’s but i like the looks of the GEVO and thay seam to be more louder than the dash9’s wen they start moving a loud deep chug. But nothing beats the sound of the EMD on the mountain passes the whine of the turbo chargers.

18

Patience Bob, patience…I too waited for about four months to see one come through Eola after they were first introduced, but NOW I seem to see them almost daily! Your time WILL come, trust me.

19

Personally, I think that the SD70ACe and M-2 are extremely ugly looking - that front end is brutal - they look fine from the rear 3/4 view but that front design makes me wonder what ever happened to the EMD design department? To go from E units to that? Maybe it is a lingering influence of former corporate parent GM - I mean, really, GM car design fell apart in the late 1960s/early 1970s which probably not coincidentially is when EMD released their last really attractive locomotives.

20

Well locomotives now days are not meant to look good they are meant to pull and pull hard…the GE’s take forever to load but other than that I’m impartial to both…it will be interesting to see the longevity of these two locomotives…we all know that EMD’s will stand the test of time will the GEVO’s?