My understanding is that all Deisels in the US are made by GM (which are DC) and GE (which are AC). I guess you could try to see if you can get something out of them but that may not be easy.
Good Luck - Ed
Whoa, Ed! Both General Motors and General Electric make both DC and AC locomotives!!! GM, for example, makes SD70M (a wide nosed 4000 HP DC motored Diesel) and SD70MAC (same with AC Motors), GE, similarly, makes a C44-9W (a 4400 HP wide nosed DC motored Diesel) and an AC4400 (same with AC motors). Since only four out of the six biggest railroads have adopted AC, and UP’s monstrous order is for DC, not AC, SD70’s, both firms will continue to make both DC and AC motored locomotives for the foreseeable future.
Gregg,
Thanks for giving me the news. I was told that GM was DC and GE was AC a few years back and I don’t keep with this level of detail to know that that has changed. Was that the case about ten to fifteen years back or was a just fed a load of ‘stuff’ back then?
Happy Choo-choos! - Ed
No, as a matter of fact, it was General MOTORS that introduced AC traction motors to the US, and supplied the first AC locomotives to the BN, which was the first major user. General ELECTRIC had to play catch up on AC traction. AC locomotives cost about a third more than DC, but have maintenance and tractive effort advantages.
Gregg,
Don’t you think the CAPITOL LETTERS is a bit much when pointing out a MISTAKE which I admitted. I thought that my use of the common abbreviations for General Motors and General Electric as well as alternating current and direct current was clear enough to express my understanding of the facts. And when you wrote that I was mistaken I didn’t try to hide behind anything.
But it does appear that my aquaintance at the hobby store may not have known as much as he indicated. No big deal. We can still be friends.
Incidently, what model locomotive was the first GM AC engine? What about GE? Thanks for the info. - Ed
Ed, the capital letters were not directed at you, but the fact that the only locomotive manufactirers left are both “General” something. The first EMD order for revenue service was SD70MAC’s for BN, these were the ones that introduced the “executive” scheme, their first AC was an experimental for Amtrak along with Siemens, which provided the AC part. GE’s first was the AC4400. There is one fundamental difference between the two manufacturers, though… All GM Diesels are two cycle engines except for the H-series, which is the not yet perfected 6,000 HP one. ALL GE’s Diesels are four cycle.
Gregg,
Thanks for clearing that up. I thought you were really 'Diss’ing me. Sorry I got bent up about it.
Later - Ed