Another anonymous GE locomotive

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I guess my quandry on this goes all the way back to U-boat days, but is exasperated more now.

I’ve always found it pretty easy to spot EMD diesels. Look at the # of fans, brake blister shape/size, # of axles, hood louvers, etc. Even the newer units have some character. GE’s - for me - have always been a lot hard to spot and as of late, they all look like a plain brown wrapper to me. Maybe GE is more efficient in using the same carbody for multiple models, but it makes it pretty tough on us to differentiate between them.

Any tips?

Just my 2 cents.

Stack

2

This is how I do it,

For GEVO’s I look just below the radiator section.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1290322

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1142151

There is an split angled intake screen that is a dead giveaway. No other GE has that.

For Dash 9’s you can look at the conductor’s side.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1348162

The box in back of the cab is the Air Conditioner. If you’re on the other side of the locomotive you can look at the trucks but AC4400CW’s also ride on the same type of truck. If it’s a UP Dash 9 it won’t have a flag on it. For all other railroads you might have to learn the road numbers.

Dash 8’s are easy because they ride a different truck than the GEVO’s, AC4400CW’s or Dash 9’s.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1348172

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1063236

AC4400CW’s or C44ACTE’s as UP calls them can be identified by the big box on the conductors side.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1348171

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1238767

With this shot you can tell the first two locomotives are AC4400CW’s because they don’t have a split angled intake by the

3

Thanks, Roseville Foamer, that’s information I’ve long wanted to have. You made it so convenient.

Sincerely,

al s. (“al-in-chgo”)

4

But now, how do you tell apart the AC from the DC in the GEVO line? It’s not as easy as it is in the -9/AC44C line.

5

I have to come out of the closet now: I’m a GE shareholder.

Friday evening, I e-mailed Investor Relations at GE headquarters and asked for pretty much any information they were willing to let me have about GEVO, including – is GEVO the same thing as Evolution?

I’ll share anything momentous. I doubt very much they’ll send me stuff like specs; more a matter of cost and availability than patent protection.

I cast my lot with the GE locomotives long before I bought common stock in GE. Honest! [:D] - a.s.

6

Shoot, Al, I can tell you that!

GEVO is a railfan term for the Evolution Series of GE kocomotives. I don’t think you’ll see the term used in any GE publicity about them.

How times change–I remember asking GE for and receiving PR brochures on U25Bs and U25Cs!

7

I believe you, Carl, but when I went to ge.com and searched for “GEVO” their site was certainly quite aware of the term: Refine Search

Search ge.com Search all GE Sites

Results 1 - 10 of 27: GEVO

8

I always thought GE’s as being “Hammerhead Sharks” based on their radiator bulge at the front of the long hood. ALCO’s were usually more squared at the hoods ends while EMD’s were angled almost to a point with a mid body roofline flare for the dynamic brakes. The all smoked, except that ALCO’s turbocharger made for more and blacker smoke than the others. First, and even second generation, diesel watching certainly was more fun.

9

This is where it gets a little tricky. On the conductors side above the big box there are two grills. I think there are for the Dynamic Brakes but I’m not sure.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1063759

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1262475

The first shot is a ES44AC or AC45CCTE if you’re on UP. The ES44AC’s have the two grills closely spaced together.

In the second shot the lead locomotive is a ES44DC. Where the grills are separated.

If you’re on the other side of the locomotive there is no way to distinguish the tow as far as I know.

So far UP only has ES44AC’s, most have closely spaced grills but some dont. There still the AC version.

BNSF has a mix of both ES44AC’s and ES44DC’s.

10

You know how I tell the difference???

I look along the frame, just below the cab… the locomotive type is stenciled there on BNSF units.

(Example)

Note the “Dash-9 44CW” below the number, painted in yellow on the frame.

On UP units, it’s under the number, near the rear of the cab.

CN units have the CN designated type below the numbers on the cab. On NS units, I believe it is also on the frame below the cab, but, I have also seen it under the numbers on the cab. and CSX units also carry the locomotive type in that area as well.

Yeah, it’s “cheating” but, I never professed to be an expert at this…

That is how I tell GE units apart, it’s tough for me to tell what is what. I am better with EMD units, although the differences between the GP-15, 20, 30, 40, etc. are lost on me. About the only units I can positively identify is the SD40-2 and the SD70 series…

11

Thanks very much for the details. I really appreciate the great explanations.

Stack

12

This example isn’t a GE, but CSX puts it below the numbers too. (Yes, they do this on GEs too!)

It’s a bit hard to see in this photo though… Too much rust and grime. It’s a GP40-2, just for the record.

13

Is CSX still putting the little electric bolt up near the cab to indicates it’s AC not DC? (Both makes of lomotive do this, or did thisl, IIRC). - a. s.