Lets say you have two identical train consists one having the same number of GE locomotives and the other with EMD locomotives(both having brand new out of the box locos). Which of the two is better in terms of pulling, loading and overall functionality? I know this probably will boil down to personal preference, but I was just wondering if each had their own traits(good & bad).
Both have nearly identical specs. The new GE ES44AC/DCs have 100 more horsepower than the new EMD SD70ACe/M-2 (4400 and 4300 HP respectively). I’ve heard the GE’s are a bit more slippery than the EMDs.
It is a personel preference. For me, I’ll take a chevy over a light bulb any day. I like the way they ride and they are easy to control. Now adays the cabs are a hell of alot more similiar then they used to be. GE’s used to have real small everything, doors, windows, windshield wipers, etc.
GE’s still load up faster, but an EMD stays at cruising altitude and speed alot better.
GEs load up faster? Every locomotive engineer I’ve talked to says the opposite!
I personaly prefer the EMD’s over GE’s.
As far as the real test that’s unknown.I do know a GE will pull and pull at low speeds (on dry rail) better than an EMD.But as mentioned,get an EMD up and running and there’s my answer.They do run-out all in all better than a GE.
The inside of the cabs have come a long way.I love the new NS 2600-2700 EMD’s.
The bad thing about a EMD that really gets annoying after the engine gets some miles on it is the squeak that they get in the truck[sigh].
And GE tends to slip quicker in the rain,than an EMD.Seems like their a 7th notch in the rain engine.
I’d like to see a loco pull off [yeah] .That would be cool [:)] !
If you’ll watch, say a latch up of an SD40-2,B30-7,and a GP38, that middle unit will start to hit the SD40 in the rear.
But the new units are all real slow to react. Damn Computers!
i’m pretty EMD-biased. all the CNWs i used to see were EMD. but i must say, those C40-8s are awesome
That is opposite of everything I here from the NS and CSX engineers I talk to around here. They complain that EMD are very slippery on everything except perfectly dry rail.
That’s incorrect. It depends on which modal your operating. GP-50’s and 60’s, B-23/30’s did alot of slipping, where as SD-40/70’s, the new AC units,etc, don’t. We have a really hard pull into Dennison,Texas where we fuel alot of southbound trains. This hill really pulls us down (and there’s alot of scrap iron lying around!), I mean down to single digits, and you can really fill that 6000, 4400 or whatever the horsepower is on the motor your on being put on the rail!
i think the track wetness stuff would be worse for either model if it was a 4-axle. werent 6-axle locomotives made mainly to improve tractive effort? now both EMD and GE only make 6-axles
but as far as 4-axles. i think EMD wins there. as i have said numerous times, UP doesnt even repair their Bs. when they break down, UP sends them to the scrapper. they DO fix their geeps though. i’m not sure how the GEs are inferior, but UP knows how. are they the only road that does this?
I like to photograph EMDs more, but it appears that railroads like to buy GEs more. Something tells me that is the vote that matters.
Gabe
To me the current offerings all look the same anyway, just a few minor details between them
GE’s just look better…
So has anyone here ever actually driven an AC6000? I wonder what those would pull like. As for me, a humble railfan who’s only experience comes secondhand from family and friends, well here’s what I’ve seen, but remember the biggest thing I’ve ever operated was an O scale engine, so don’t take this as gospel eh? Here in town the Canadian Pacific used to run unit grain trains (grainers we call em) with a single AC4400, however more reciently I’ve seen a lot of Soo SD60s or CP and SOO (and one that still was lettered for StL&H) SD40-2s pulling em. They seem to be running faster too, routinely overtaking pretty much everything except intermodals, and if I remember this time last year properly, that’s new. The GE AC4400s still rule just about everything, from locals to unit coal trains and hotshot intermodals, but the EMD/GMD engines are doing their part better than most anything else. Cheers! ~METRO
From my own personal experience, I find the EMD’s load faster, but if you have a heavy drag the GE’s really get down and pull. That being said,our 8000’s(SD70M-2’s) are great pullers, not nearly as slippery as the older SD70/75I’s.
NEVER had a GE hit my SD-40 in the rear. SOmeone been lying to you, Even the new EMD’s slam you when your on a GE.
I pull into notch one on a GE it takes at least 5 seconds to hit 10 amps then at least 15 seconds later you get to just 325 amps.Meanwhile that SD 40 is alread at its peak and pushing you along.
Whats with the new nose design on the emd sd70Ace locomotives?? They don’t look that good. I like the nose of the GE “saftey cab” or “wide cab” as some people call it.
http://www.ikemeyer.com/PH_Junction/rrimages/1037.jpg
here is the link, the pic did not work.
Seems to me like it would provide better visibility of ground crew.
That is opposite of everything I here from the NS and CSX engineers I talk to around here. They complain that EMD are very slippery on everything except perfectly dry rail
I’m not saying your wrong in what you hear,I’m just telling you from experience.Here on the Kenova District of the NS we handle 200+ car coaltrains most of the year.And believe me,I’ve gotten my share of these “coal slunger’s” or “gigs” as we ususally call them.
Every train every engine is different.But the GE’s I’ve ran in the last 15+ years have been the worst.We have greasers located on the rail.Man [:O] when you hit them,hang-on !
And I’ll say the same as far as the GE’s hitting an SD-40 in the rear.An old SD-40 will push or pull a GE anyday.Maybe not a big Dash 8 or 9 once you get them in the wind,but when you first start out [:)].