… what you think of these locomotives
- SD70MAC
- AC4400
- C44-9W
- ES44DC / ES44AC
Just curious. It sounds like GE can’t pull crap compared to EMD.
Of course if you have read about my topic of “GE GEVO are pile of junk”, you will see I don’t like the GEs. Of course I love the 70Macs they have great pulling power, they are quiet in the cabs just an all around great unit. The AC4400 have pretty good dynamic braking power and will hold the rail pretty good, but the console shakes and rattles, not well insulated cabs. The dash 9 are about the same, but they cannot hold the rail worth a crap on coal trains and are very noisy. The DC and AC GEVOs have only one thing going for them is that GE finally made a cab that was quiet, other than that read my topic “GEVOs are pile of junk” will tell you the rest of the story.
Got to work with an SD70M and a Dash 9, were a little alien compared to the SD40-2s and GP38s I was used to. I didn’t like the desktop controls of the SD70, and I wi***he UP had given us training on how to change ends (kept having unusual brake problems, related to the computer on the SD70). The GE was a pain to start (and restart), and the power limiting warmup feature was unnerving on our hills. I did like the quiet cab on the SD70, though, was nice to not have to shout across the cab.
Other than that short experience, can’t tell you too much about them.
Randy
I read “GEs GEVOs are a pile of junk” and learned a lot, but wanted to know about other locomotives as well.
I love the EMD SD 70’s.I had the NS 2699 a couple of days ago as well as tonight.It is a very smooth engine thru power and braking.The quietness is wonderful.I have some inside cab pictures that I’ll try and get on here to show the unique layout of the NS model.In my opinion all units should be crafted in this way.It’s not a desktop but conventional.I have seen similar CN units like it.The NS 7500 series (I think a GEVO) are nice but rattle alot when at idle.That’s due to the odd firing order when at idle.It’s sorta like the old 4-6-8 cadillac’s of the late 70’s.When at idle it drops the number of cylinders it’s firing on to save fuel.The rest of the GE’S mid 8700’s to 9900’s(dash series) are nice.But I prefer a EMD for lead power anyday.I had the NS 1440 ,a GP 15-1,in as a trail motor yesterday.It showed being built in 1979 and rated at 1500 hp.I kinda fill it was maybe rebuilt in 1979,maybe an earlier new build date.It had the small fuel tank under the frame ,and the old EMD 4 axle trucks.Does anyone have any info on it ? 
NS 1440 was indeed built in 1979 as a new unit. It did have trade-in trucks (from GP7s and 9s) under it, but most everything else was new. It was part of a 100 unit order of GP15-1s placed by Conrail for 1979 delivery.
cw-44-9-ac…best engin i ever ran…lots of power…and killer dynamic brake…only drawback is if they even smell wet rail…they slip…but that is what sand is for…lol…as far as the 70mac… smother ride…and quiter ride…but i dont like its overall proformance… as far as the gevos…i havent had the chance to run one yet…
csx engineer
all emd units sd70s have been my favorite for long time dash 9s are junk evo units junk
I perfer the 70mac even though they are getting old and wore out the load faster than any GE I have hver ran.
Rodney
EMD CAN GO RIGHT INTO THE DUMPSTER!!!
KIND OF WEAK RIGHT NOW COMPARED TO THE GE’s.
EMD’s quality of thier units is ash compared to the GE’s.
That isnt all true about GE’s. Lately I have heard that those engines are doing pretty good right now.