ACE and M-2 Vs. ES44 series (LOOK! A Comparison)

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Currently, the new ACe and M-2 is leading in sales over GE, Could this mean that 2005 is the first year in over 20 years that EMD becomes number 1? Lets look over the facts

The SD70M-2 took its first taker earlier this month when, Norfolk Southern Ordered 52 of the model to be delivered later this year. The technical Name, SD70DCe Demo hadnt even been on NS, and yet, NS took 52, Could this mean that the Monopoly that GE had on NS has finaly come to an End?

In a Move that shook the Reginal Railroad scene, Montana Rail Link ordered 16 SD70ACe’s for delivery later this year. Once again, MRL is first in the Reginal Railroad scene to order High Horsepower AC current Locomotives.

In a Continuance of an appernt AC traction Program that started with 50 AC4400CW’s in 1999-2000, Kansas City Southern is that latest Railroad to order the SD70ACe, taking 30 of the model.

Already, the ACe has made itself an International Locomotive with the sale of 15 units to an Australian Iron Ore Hauling Railroad.

The First railroad to order the SD70ACe was Union Pacific, in a split order for 362 locomotives, with the SD70ACe and ES44AC. This split order is so far, the only known order for any of the New GE’s.

The Current total is:
(Numbers in perenthasis are number of Prototypes)
SD70M-2: 52 (1)
ES44DC: 0 (15)
SD70ACe: 171 (34)
ES44AC: 150 (35)
(added 150 to each ES44AC and SD70ACe to represent the UP split order)

What does this tell you huys, do you think the ES44AC and ES44DC will the GE’s SD50, all hyped up, but fail to deliver?

EMD has a solid performer, Roomy cab and easy maintance designs make this locomotive an hands on locomotive. And the Knee Knockers are gone. Replaced with the more traditonal Stand. The Locomotive may look ugly, but in the eyes of the Master Mechanics, its a Dimond in the Rough.

GE’s models are basicaly the Sames as the AC4400CW and C44-9W. The only diffrence i

2

I am an EMD Fan myself…and I welcome the orders of EMD’s for Norfolk Southern. After a drought of EMD ordering by NS aside from 24 SD70’s in 1998 in Conrail paint, and 10 SD70M’s in 2000… 33 SD70M’s were delivered to NS in 2003, another 25 SD70M’s at the tail end of 2004, and now the 52 SD70M-2’s coming this year. Perhaps NS is satisfied with the size of its GE fleet, and now wants to build up its fleet of EMD’s…or else EMD made NS a deal it couldn’t refuse, to make inroads against GE’s dominance with NS orders. I am looking forward to seeing more new EMD’s on the point of NS trains. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown

3

Doesn’t CSX have orders in for ES44AC’s and/or DC’s? Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown

4

I usually stick to the modal train realm but I’m becoming more interested in current prototype trains and I was wondering where the above information and numbers come from? Is there a website that anyone can access with industry information, orders and like details?

5

As I heard, the BHP Billiton order was for 13, but with options for up to 25 more.

BHP Billiton have only had three EMDs before, two F7 used for construction and a single JT42C obtained with the purchase of Goldsworthy Mining. Recently 20 rebuilt SD40s and SD40-2s were obtained from GE and they are well liked on a previously all GE road. They did have Alcos before that. The SD40s now being used (as trailing units) on line haul are older than the F7s were when obtained for construction work.

Peter

6

You seemed to have captured all the EMD orders but are woefully short on GE orders. According to industry publication “Progressive Railroading” BNSF has orders for 150 DC and 50 AC, CSX 100 DC units, and the UP split is not even but instead 200 to GE. If you add up all the numbers per the article GE has about twice the orders.

7

There is a website out there which I am not familiar with but have heard references to, that covers Motive Power specifically…there is also a posting on this Trains forum from a week or more ago listing all the orders for this year on US Railroads. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown

8

Didn’t CSX buy ACe demonstrators? 30 in number if memory does not fail me.

9

I WANT TO SEE THE WEB CAM

10

Wrong thread my friend

11

CSX dose have some ACe’s, they are already out there working on the CSX system

12

Yes, but only 20, not 30.

13

GE on their web site, claims they have 1200 GEVO’s units on backlog order over the next two years, as of the closing of the fourth quarter of operations. I am sure with GE Credit’s help, they are giving the railroads some great sweetheart deals–to get these units out on the rails and to write down their front end RD cost.
What doesn’t make sense is the CSX order. CSX has not ordered DC units in 12 years.
The last units were C44-8’s. They have been totally committed to AC power. Also, if you have been following their internal financial health over the past 3 years they are basically cash strap. They do not have the luxury of spliting their orders between AC power and DC power (ex. BNSF and UP). I have followed this very closely. If someone can explain to me differently-I am willing to listen.
Finally, the 20 SD-70ACe on CSX property are being leased by CSX for 1 year–with and option to buy at the end of lease. The crews and operations people I have talked to give the new SD-70MAC’s and ACe’s two-thumbs up. I hope to see more Emd’s on the CSX in the near future.
T-Time

14

EMD is a sentimental favorite of mine. GE raliroad locomotives never really reached out and grabbed my interest like EMD engines do. I hope this means a turnaround for EMD and their new owners.

15

Ya no joke. Go to the top of the page where it says web cam.

16

By the way what ever happend to the GEVO’s?

17

i had the csx 4833 and 4841 on a cincy to avon q361 right before and christmas and i didn’t care for em much the control stand was different and not what i would call comfortable. i like the new ge’s so what do i know i just run em thanks

18

Hate to say this to the EMD fans but I think t-time is right, I read (not on GE’s website) that there was a back log of about 1200 units for GE. I would think that with the sale of EMD that railroads might be leary from buying from them but they also know that to keep the price fair with GE they need EMD.