A while ago I saw what looked like a genset locomotive operating at Crane, IN. It had a model number 1GS7B and wore a fancy blue and green paint scheme. Unfortunately it was gone before I could get a picture of it.
I suspect that it was a single genset equiped unit. Does anyone have any more information?
Joe
A “1GS7B” is a single engine gen set manufactured by National Railway Equipment. Following is a link to their web site:
Interesting!
I gather it’s meant for low-speed not-too-heavy switching, and that the engine shuts down when not under load. No mention of ‘Green Goat’ style batteries - but with 700hp it wouldn’t need them.
Now to see if something actually comes of this idea…
Chuck
There are many older switchers of various makes and models that have been rebuilt with single skid mounted gensets for industrial operators so in that sense something has come of the idea…Most of the Class 1 RRs prefer units in the 1500HP plus range (and more typically 2000HP or above) for yard switching so other than specialized tasks like shop switching I doubt you’ll ever find many single engine gensets on their rosters…
I like that on the NRE page with all the loco models, they actually show a picture of their original Truck Engine Switcher built for UP #2005. Once you click on the link to 1GS7B you get the right picture, but on the main page, it is not.
I think is a waste of money getting a new locomotive for 700HP.[banghead] If you could expand to the three engines it could be sold better than one.
I think the idea of the "Gen-Set’ Locomotive is to replace the larger,older Yard and Switching power around the larger urban centers, particularly where polution is an issue.
These G-S locomotives allow conmpliance to newer environmental polution standards. Price and resale apparently come after the utility and compliance issues of their use are answered for the railroads; another factor is that monies to comply with new polution standards are available from various governmental environmental control entities to mitigate the costs of purchase of the gen-set technologies. I have read of these engines going to the Houston, Texas area and to Los Angeles as well to help mitigate their polution problems.
Okay, I’ll be the first one to say it: If you’ve got something like a GP9 or similar, why order one of these? Aside from the reduced emissions, I see no real advantage, especially if it’s not for a specialized use. A GP9 with 645 power assemblies will probably outpull any genset, and will be more reliable, easier to service, and share common parts with the older road locomotives on your roster.
Also, being a railfan, I am of the strong opinion that a Geep simply has more appeal than something like a 3GS21B.[:D]
With the new emissions regs coming in it will no longer be possible to rebuild a GP-9 in kind (or with a 645 power assembly upgrade)…A railroad could rebuild them with a new prime mover like the EMD 710 ECO repower package…
while Gensets def. have major drawbacks, they burn less fuel…as far as maintenance goes, working on the engines entail lifting the skidmounted genset out with a forklift and inserting a new one…the genset itself can go by truck to the nearest diesel engine dealer for service…
The other issue is that most of the Class 1s got rid of their GP9s awhile back…there are exceptions like BNSF’s GP28 fleet, though…
The GP 9’s all built before 1973 are exempt from the EPA rules. If they have been converted to 645 power assemblies they can take advantage of the 1033 kit, and I think some have the 18:1 compression ratio pistons, for improve fuel economy. The advantage of most GP 9’s is that they are already paid for. The only thing I would recommend is the addition of a stay-warm system, the price of which varies from $3,000 to $30,000, where they can save more fuel by not idling the engine excessively. The switching cycle typically runs the engine at lower rpm and the EMD blower engine is pretty efficient. It gets its bad fuel reputation at higher speeds where it has the parasitic load of the blowers that are compensated for in the turbo engines where they run on waste energy in the exhaust. Most of the cost of the genset locomotives is paid for by government grants for that “Greener-than-Thou” image. The cost of maintenance is up to the railroads,however.
700hp sounds like a switcher for industrial use and a replacement for vintage GE 40-70 centercab switchers. EMD’s early SW1 switcher was 600hp too with a 6-567.
I believe the switcher in question was built for the Bunge North America. They ordered four 1GS7B’s nos 8001-8004. Diesel Era has a pic of one at their facility in Danville, IL. It was also displayed at the RSI show in Chicago
Here is a link for #8004