I have not seen any ‘numbers’ on orders and deliveries for the above 2 builders as of late. Is there a web site available with that info. Up until the GEVO/ACe deliveries, it appeared that GE was delivering more units than EMD. Many of the posts now seem to have lots of SD70ACe engines being shipped. Since EMD is now seperated from GM, it might be interesting to see how they are doing…
Jim Bernier
GE has out sold EMD every year since the mid 1980’s. Currently, for every EMD ordered, GE is getting 3 new orders for GEVOs.
If GE is outselling EMD 3-to-1, what advantage does GE have over EMD? Posters on this forum who work the RR have stated that the EMD’s out perform the GE’s. With that then, why does GE still out sell EMD? Anyone with inside info care to share?
Money talks…the GEs are cheaper by a third to buy and cheaper to run due to lower maintenance and better fuel mileage. Also GE has been quite liberal in taking in older power in trade…where do you think all those junk U boats went?
If you read the “I like EMD better” posts closely, I believe most of them relate to the SD40 through SD70 model series, and esp. their ride quality and reliability - well-developed, proven and refined through years of service and testing, etc. As someone said, the SD40’s are probably the equivalent of aviation’s DC-3 for railroading. For EMD models after that, I don’t recall seeing nearly as many favorable comments.
Just as information (i.e., without taking sides on this) - see the two other current threads here regarding scrapping SD90MACs. My “take” on it is that the 6,000 HP engine was a bit of a stretch too far for both builders - but probably worse for EMD.
Jim, your best bet is probably LocoNotes. This topic was discussed a week or two ago.
I often wonder about the pro-EMD bias in these forums. I talk to a number of NS and CSX crews and most, but certainly not all, prefer the new GEs to the EMDs.
Another angle to the GE sales is that GE offers much more than simply locomotives and locomotive servicing. GE has a much stronger financial arm than EMD so they can offer better loans. GE also is the largest freight car lessor in North America. Many railroads have thier cars in an equipment trust with the cars owned by GE but given the railroads markings. GE also sells insurance, fleet management services, maintenance shop management for anyones locomotives and railcars, and other services that EMD does not offer. By bundling locomotive purchases with some of these other services GE can offer even lower prices.