GE Builds Evolution Locomotive No. 1,000

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

May 25, 2006

ERIE, PA—General Electric Corp. (Fairfield, CT) is preparing to ship its 1,000th Evolution Series locomotive, just 17 months after the company began commercial production of the new class of environmentally friendly machines.

Locomotive No. 1,000 will go into operation with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF, Fort Worth, TX). In all, BNSF has ordered nearly 750 Evolution locomotives to keep pace with growing demand for rail transportation.

“The rail industry is experiencing remarkable growth, due to increased demand for raw materials and consumer goods,” says John M. Dineen, president and CEO of GE Transportation. “While railroading is widely recognized as an environmentally responsible way to ship freight, Evolution series locomotives help further improve that environmental performance while giving GE and its customers a new, reliable platform for future emissions reductions and fuel savings.”

Evolution series locomotives achieve a 3 percent to 5 percent fuel savings over the previous generation of GE locomotives and reduce, on average, reduce emissions by more than 40 percent. The locomotives were the first to meet the EPA’s Tier II emissions standards.

GE spent took 7 years to develop the locomotives, at a cost of more than $250 million. Another other features, the locomotives incorporate a brand-new, 12-cylinder engine, an innovative hybrid cooling system and a new control system. In all, GE expects to manufacture more than 850 locomotives in 2006, about 700 of which will be Evolution models.

Compared to locomotives manufactured 20 years ago, many of which are still in use, the GE Evolution locomotive reduces pollution by producing 67 percent fewer particulates and 60 percent fewer nitrogen oxide emissions.

http://www.assemblymag.com/CDA/Articles/Industry_Headlines/8bfb573d4ec6b010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0____

2

What is the comparable count for EMD for the same time period?

3

I saw one of those heading up a train through Princeton, IL a couple days ago, definately a different sound to it running WFO.

And the commercial for the GEVO has been on tv quite a bit lately.

4

I actually like the sound of the GEVO you can definatly tell them from anything else out there.

5

I especially like the Eletroinic Bells on those Things, those are cool.

6

1,000 already?! man they’ve been busy.

james

7

SWEET!!! I love seeing the GEVO’s especially if it has a swoosh on it!!!

8

I haven’t heard any concrete figures, but it is amazing they get any orders at all considering they are trying to sell locomotives whose technology is a decade behind the Evolution’s.

9

[#ditto]

10

1000 units sold explains the sudden surge in GE EVOLUTION Television Commercials over the past month.

The GE EVOLUTION commerical is on most shows.

Andrew Falconer

11

I hate those things, so cheap, they literally sound like a fake recording of somebody saying the work “clang”.

http://uptrain.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=384898

12

When you people haft to run these evo peices of junk then you would change your mind. they are worse than the dash9s. but if you think the emds are a decade behind then why are they still the best engines made? they run better do more and do it faster and better. with fewer breakdowns.

13

If that’s true, then why do the newer EMD’s spend more time in the shop and have lower tonnage ratings???

14

I run more emd units than those junk ge units and the emd units tonnage ratings have not changed. nor have the ge units. but I can tell you this it will take even more time to get a new evo unit up to speed ( if you are lucky) than a ole dash 9 unit. and a sd 70 unit will walk off and leave those ge sitting there.

15

1000 units, 17 months =
58.8 units per month
14.7 units per week or
2.1 units per day if the line runs 7 days a week

they have been busy!

16

Most engineers prefer EMD because of the loading characteristics. Railroads are looking for fuel economy. I don’t think the railroads care about the acceleration that an engineer would like.

17

Of course.
Managment works for the company. Engineers dont. They just do all the hard stuff.[(-D]

18

Now that you are finished with your little hissy fit, why don’t you tell us how you really feel about GE?

19

Nothing to do with GE vs EMD , but your animations are cool.