Sorry GE & EMD Units. Compair...

[Anonymous]

Ok i want to hear from the people out there that know what they are talking about.

Compair the GE & EMD units:
like the SD70's & Dash 9's

I don't want to hear that one is crap! Tell us why.
you can see all these units running together and looking fine doing it.

[Anonymous]

We really don't need another "Ford vs,. Chevy" topic here. It's already been done to death.

[eolafan]

BEAT TO DEATH IS PUTTING IT VERY MILDLY! LET'S MOVE ON TO SOME OTHER INTERESTING (YAWN) SUBJECT.

[edblysard]

From a railroaders point of view? The Dash 9 is almost impossible to see out of if your running lond hood forward. The raidators are in the way, you have to squat down in the seat, bent forward to see. They are a pain in the back, hard to get on and off, the seats dont adjust, the cabs are loud. All that said, when they work, they really work. M.U. two or more and they will pull for all their worth. SD 70? User friendly, cab was designed by someone work worked inside a locomotive. All the controls are where you can get to them quick, they are made to get on and off easily, you can see out of them forward and backwards. And form they few I have used, you just cant beat them up if you tried. And yes, we do try...They will run no matter what you do to them, just about any shop has parts for them, no throttle lag and you justr about cant stall one.
When you work with on, you know exactly what your going to get, every single time.

[Anonymous]

Adding to EDs commet the sd70m rides alot better the GEs hunt for the the rail at about 45 to 50 mph

[Anonymous]

This topic keeps coming up like a bad bowl of Chili. Come on folks, there are ONLY TWO BUILDERS LEFT who make, for the most part TWO MODELS. How much discussion do we need to endure over this topic? Where are my TUMS?

[Jackflash]

Ed said it perfectly!! about the only thing
wrong with the 70MAC and 90MAC is someone
decided that they would omit the sidewall
strip heater, the GEs still have em. jackflash

[edblysard]

Yeah, bring some Dramine on the old jointed rail...

[edblysard]

Yeah Charlie, it does get old, but people new to this still ask. Sorta like getting a group of rod heads together, someone always likes their old chevy 2, and someone always says they can wax em with their 70 challanger 440 hemi. So no info means no questions, no question means no one cares. Didnt you wonder about it once. Did you ever ask the same question, and didnt you appericate someones answer?

[Anonymous]

Perfectly stated ED! I only have one thing to add: they both feel like pieces of crap after 12hrs in them. All I want is to tie up and grab a nice hot shower and a warm bed......

[Anonymous]

Yes Ed, I stand corrected. I did wonder about it once and I'm sure that it is still interesting to many. I'll just go somewhere and bang my head.

[Anonymous]

From talking to crews I can say with confidence that the new ALCO C660AC units are far superior to the FM H-60-66AC's, at least that's what the NY,NH&H hoggers say..................

[edblysard]

Hey Charlie, sorry If I sounded arrogant, I do get that way at times, but dont bang your head, ring this guys bell instead. He asked for our input, for whatever reason. I wanted to give him mine, not shut him down. Besides, its not my place to correct you, just correspond with you. And I still think the emd gp9 is about the best road switcher there was, everyone has parts, or can rig something up, and you can hammer them all day long, and they keep comming back for more...So Charlie, whats you favorite, and why?
Ed

[edblysard]

Hey ironken, have you ever been able to figure out what the heck that smell is in the Dash 9s?
My hogger says it smells like burnt plastic, my switch says some kinda solvent, I think they all smell like overheated wiring. Every one I been on, older ones and brand new have that same smell...

[Anonymous]

Hey Ed, I didnt take it that way. I was just trying to add a bit of levity. My favorite is also the GP-9. In particular, the rebuilds the GTW did on their GP-9s at Battle Creek in the mid 80s. They are easy to get on and off, which makes a big difference after 8 hours of climbing up and down. With the rebuilt cabs, there is plenty of room to move around in the cab. They load fast and are great for kickin' em down the lead. They also have great cab heaters that will have you cracking a window in the winter, these are VERY important in Michigan. I like these a lot more than the GP-38s which we also have. The 38s are slow loading and have a narrow walkway between the nose and the handrail, the steps are also much steeper which makes you have to hoist yourself aboard. They do make good road power, but you can get spoiled quickly by the big SD-70/75s with their comfort cabs and microwaves with a burner for a coffee pot. I love the high back chairs that these big units have with the tilt back feature, great idea!

[edblysard]

We have Boise Locomotive MK1500D here at the port. When traffic gets heavy we borrow members roads switchers, or what ever clunkers they will lease to us. The GP-9 is fast, at lot faster than you would think, loads so fast that you best have your hand near the pin, or be ready to run when you tell the engineer to kick..the bad thing about the Boise MK1500D is its a turbocharged cat engine, and you really have to wind er up to get the turbo to come on line, when it does, it works great, but nothing like the geep. And yeah, the SD-70 is a nice ride, real nice, if only they would come up with a toliet big enough for a adult to use..

[Anonymous]

Right you are about the bathrooms in the SD-70's, they are like trying to squeeze into a matchbox, sideways. When we are using a GP-9 on the lead, I ask for slack to get the pin first, then give them a kick. If you have a short cut and try to keep up with an engine that quick, you'll wear your knees out in no time.

[edblysard]

Your knees still work? I need to get by "Knees R Us" and pick up a new pair...

[Anonymous]

Carnej, dude, you must find your drug dealer and kick his a**. He must have sold you a bad load of dope. Alco? Fairbanks?

[Anonymous]

Well ill tell you. I am an engineer on the csx chicago line. My favorite engine's to run are EMD's. First of all the 2 stroke engine is snottier and more responsive. They also sound better when in the 8th notch.They have a smoother ride. GE's are better for traction in snow and rain but sound horable. My least favorite to run are the c4480w's horrible ride.

[wabash1]

from my exsperance the emd sd 70 and 60s are great engines they load quick ride smooth and great traction in all weather, then followed by the sd 40 and 50s good engines loud and hard on the ears. then we go to the next in line is the b 30-7 quick loader fair ride good traction , decent engine for a 4 axel unit then i haft to say the gp 60 and 50s these are good engines also quick to load not very good on traction . then comes the dreaded dash 8 and 9s these units wont load and are famouse for wheel slip . but the only thing they have going for them is the dynamic . you cant beat a dash 8 or 9s dynamic. but then again you got to get them moving to use them .

[Anonymous]

This is the first time I've read this section. I would like some comments about both GM and General Electric locomotives both positive and negative. I have read some good comments but please if you want to sling mud at each other do it somewhere else. I think the purpose of this column is comments not that I like GM over General Electric. If you want to do that get each others email address and bore each other.....

[Anonymous]

It seems that train crews prefer EMDs. If you've ever been on an engine, ride quality and noise reduction can be a blessing. I still don't understand why GE's are so popular--perhaps the only reason is that they are built here, where as GM's are, for the most part, (sorry Juniata), built in Canada, no offense intended for our Canadian friends and neighbors. Once again, politics prevail over good business. Merry Christmas and good luck to EMD's Canadian workforce who face layoffs.

[csxns]

AC4400CW or an SD70MAC.If anyone of those hit a stalled 53 ft truck trailer.Who has the least dammage.

[wabash1]

first off if you dont like what you read then go else where. the reason GE engines was so popular is that the cost was cheaper. at the time the companies was buying all the power is that you could buy 2 GE units for the price of 1 EMD. the ns has all these ge units becouse at the time of the conrail merger we didnt have power to run trains. and the truck/tractor with its trailer would be demolished. 200 ton locomotive against a 80 ton truck i wouldnt try it.

[Anonymous]

copperwinding enamel?? If it's a sweet musty kinda smell that just won't wash out of your clothes, then that's probably it.