Back before 9-11, I could wander around our local rail yards with never a bother. When possible, I would always ask the engineers and carmen which was best, GE’s or EMD’s.
The answer was always, the GE’s pull better, but the EMD’s ride better, the controls are more accessible (especially when flat switching), and they are MORE dependable(easier to work on when there is a problem).
Why are the GE’s out selling the EMD’s?
Gene
GE’s have a lower price tag.
Gene,
As an engineer with CSX; I also prefer the EMD’s anytime over a GE. I must clarify by saying that what engines I prefer are the old open style standard cabs. I do not mind the wide body’s on the road…the air conditioning, when it works…is great in the South.
Even so, in the deep summer I would always prefer an SD-40-2. They are the best motors for visibility. In the yard I prefer the EMD’s as well. Switching is much more easy with the quick response of the EMD. The GE’s do load slower.
The [new] UP 4000 series SD-70MAC is the best wide body by far. UP bought the units stripped down with conventional analog gages and no computers. Therefore the visibility is much improved.
CSX and other RR’s will not buy any more conventional cabs. The wide bodys are here to stay. I am sorry for that.
A partial answer to why GE’s are being purchased more is they have been building AC, Alternating Current Traction motors for almost a decade. EMD was slow out of the blocks on adapting to AC. For heavy tonnage, AC requires less motors per train. A typical 10,000 to 12,000 ton unit coal train on CSX has only two [2] GE CW44-AC’s.
-len
Back before 9-11, I could wander around our local rail yards with never a bother. When possible, I would always ask the engineers and carmen which was best, GE’s or EMD’s.
The answer was always, the GE’s pull better, but the EMD’s ride better, the controls are more accessible (especially when flat switching), and they are MORE dependable(easier to work on when there is a problem).
Why are the GE’s out selling the EMD’s?
Gene
GE’s have a lower price tag.
Gene,
As an engineer with CSX; I also prefer the EMD’s anytime over a GE. I must clarify by saying that what engines I prefer are the old open style standard cabs. I do not mind the wide body’s on the road…the air conditioning, when it works…is great in the South.
Even so, in the deep summer I would always prefer an SD-40-2. They are the best motors for visibility. In the yard I prefer the EMD’s as well. Switching is much more easy with the quick response of the EMD. The GE’s do load slower.
The [new] UP 4000 series SD-70MAC is the best wide body by far. UP bought the units stripped down with conventional analog gages and no computers. Therefore the visibility is much improved.
CSX and other RR’s will not buy any more conventional cabs. The wide bodys are here to stay. I am sorry for that.
A partial answer to why GE’s are being purchased more is they have been building AC, Alternating Current Traction motors for almost a decade. EMD was slow out of the blocks on adapting to AC. For heavy tonnage, AC requires less motors per train. A typical 10,000 to 12,000 ton unit coal train on CSX has only two [2] GE CW44-AC’s.
-len