The reason that I am asking this is,Is now that EMD has finaly reached the highest in the Locomotive numbers as in the SD90MAC. I wounder in the back of my mind,hmmmm,Will there ever be an SD100M? or an SD100MAC?
I wounder?
What do you think?
[bow]BNSF Railway[bow]
On a related thought, now that EMD has been sold, will they keep the EMD name or come up with an entirely new corporate moniker and designation system for their product line?
Sincerely, Ross R. Moore, Jr.
Well - there still is 91-99. Or they could come up with something completely new - like 6DF-50-1
6 axle | Diesel | Freight | 5000 hp | 1 st model with that power rating
That must hurt [;)]
Its kind of amazing to think about a the latest from EMD when the newest loco we run on this railroad was built in 1957. Whats really amazing is the similarities rather than the differences
Maybe EMD will once again become EMC (Electro-Motive Corporation). On a side note; I remember seeing recycled m/u recepticle covers bearing the 'EMC" moniker up until the early 90’s on the UP. I haven’t seen one for at least 10+ years or so; perhaps the downsizing/elimination of the rebuild shops at Omaha, SLC and Jenks had something to do with it…
Maybe, but EMD has been EMD longer than it was EMC. I’d look for either a new name, or maybe something like “Electro-Motive Diesel Corporation”, or “EMD” for short. [;)]
EMC sounds like a Rock band.[;)]
Their maybe a SD-100, but it probally wont be popular. Aside from the weight,$$ and cooling issues.
The SD-90 is alot of flash and not much substance. 6000 HP doesnt have a practical home in 85-90% of trains railroads haul today. When you assign 1 6000HP loco to a train and it stalls you stop. You assign 2 4000 and you have a unit fail, at least you can move.
Case it point. Railroads are swarming all over Dash-9 and SD-70’s and thier varients like Kenyan children at a buffet. But both manufactuers seem to have trouble selling these 6000hp units accept to the largest railroads and usally for dedicated service to one division.
Railroads have knack for sniffing out meat and potatos locomotives like the F-7,GP-9,GP-38+40 and the SD-40. And they are also good at eschewing shiny,but pointless units like the DD-40,GP /SD-24,GP-49x, FP-45 etc etc.
It seems like the SD-70’S and Dash-9 are the meat and potatos they are looking for. But the SD-90 and the AC6000 are going to be tough sells. I think you will see locomotive manufactuer’s make cleaner and more efficient engines and improve on whats made.
A 8000 or 10,000 HP unit if built would just tour systems as prototypes,not earn sales,be derated and sold to a short line in New Hampshire hauling cow manure.
And remember, just cause its rated 6000 hp dont mean there is 6000hp is getting to those already overloaded axles.
It’s going to depend more on whether there is a need for a locomotive not currently being built. If variations on the current themes meet the need, it’s not likely that they will even need another model number.
On the other hand, changes in technology may bring about the desire to create an entirely new line (at least in name).
“Now, from the company formerly known as EMD, it’s the 5000 HP C-C ‘Gazelle’…”
I don’t know, maybe EMD will revive some old numbers to reflect new designs…Look at how they revived the Dash-2 moniker for the DC version of the newest SD70. The AC version is called an SD70ACe, but the DC version is called an SD70M-2, though an article in February’s Trains notes that the builders plate on the EMD 74 DC demonstrator calls it a SD70DCe. Perhaps EMD is trying to draw a parallel between the quality of the SD70M-2 with the SD40-2, itself a very successful locomotive. I think that the 4000-4400 HP design will be the benchmark for the common locomotive for the foreseeable future. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaltoonajohnstown
But then, EMD could , in the future,also change their model designations, as others above have suggested. GE has, instead of going to a Dash-10 series with its newest Locomotives, gone with a new classification…ES for evoluion series. then 40, or 44, for HP raings in thousands, then AC or DC for prpulsion. Dave Williams http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nsaloonajohnstown
Model designations are just names…how a corporation decides to designate its products will evolve over time, the same as it has evolved to this point in time.
While, with current technology, the 6000 HP engine has been somewhat of a commercial and operating bust. Technology continues to evolve and at some point in time, 6000 HP will be fully tamed and a reliable commercial and operating locomotive.
We all crawl, before we walk and walk before we run and run before we ride a bicycle…etc etc etc.
The 6000 HP locomotive is in the walking stage of its development, it still trips and falls as it tries to master running. The development process will eventually make the 6000 HP locomotive a viable product, and the next step will be for the 8000 HP or 10000 HP locomotive…progress will continue.
Wasn’t it true that Alco didn’t even name their engine types until the railfans did it themselves?
Although EMD has been following an implied convention that a greater number implies greater h.p., they wouldn’t be breaking any law, if, for example, the SD160 were to be 4500 h.p. but with new technology. Boeing airliners have long followed the 7x7 convention, but the ‘x’ only roughly indicates the airplane’s size, the 747 is larger than the 767 or 757. Or maybe EMD will change the prefixes, e.g. NTSD – new technology special duty 
Considering that about 70% of locomotives on class 1s are of SD variety - there must be a hell of “special duty” out there.
Try an SD85M-2! that might happen in a few years, maybe a popular 5000HP loco.
I know my fictional Alberta Pacific Railway would buy a few!
APR4EVER