GE vs. EMD which is the best

[eolafan]

SIMPLY PUT, E.M.D. FOREVER! G.E.'S ARE UGLY, SOUND LOUSY BUT ARE JUST PLAIN LESS EXPENSIVE. WELL, THERE YOU GO, A SHORT REPLY.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it looks like GE sells a whole package. Not a bad way of doing business I think.

[Anonymous]

Dan
Ive heard that the reason GEs are so cheap is becasue they get you on maintaince. they requiire more checkups then EMDS. I like EMDS 40-2 all the way

[Anonymous]

A very large part of the answer to your question is that EMD can offer the railroads locomotives and locomotive service. GE can offer locomotives, locomotive service, freight cars (through GE capital, one of the largest railcar owners), financing for capital projects (track rebuilding, etc.), purchase and lease back of facilities (to improve cash flow), automation of building controls (heating and air conditioning), insurance, and a host of other services. So by purchasing more than just locomotives from GE the railroads can obtain deep discounts. They can also get better responce because if the customer is unsatisfied with the locomotive, the seller stands to lose much more than just the locomotive business.

[Anonymous]

Now that iz funnny!

[Anonymous]

WOW Evan, exellant input. Couldn't have said it better myself! One thing to consider though, the EMD does the switching chore better than the GE. GE's really were designed to be the replacement of the EMD F units.

[EvanWerkema]

The 50-series wasn't the only EMD series with
problems. EMD's problems have often come from
stretching systems too far. The GP35's
stretched the capabilities of the 567 engine
and the DC generator. The 35's had nightmarish
electrical cabinets - what was it, 14 stages
of transition? The 30's, 35's, and 40's also
had problems with wheelslip - putting too much
horsepower to too few axles. Wheelslip control
systems on later models helped this to an extent,
both on EMD and GE.

The problems with the 50-series have already
been mentioned. More recently, EMD pushed the
limits of the 710 engine too far with the SD75M's.
The BNSF fleet had terrible reliability - mean
time between failures was among the worst on the
system, and the locomotives were only a few years
old. And don't even mention the SD90MAC's.

About old GE's, the U-boats had a lot of problems.
From what I understand, many of those were fixed
with the Dash 7's, and even more with the Dash 8's. The Dash 8's and 9's are supposedly
actually pretty good locomotives. I've heard
a few BNSF engineers singing the praises of
their 1000+ fleet of Dash 9's.

There are several reasons why GE's don't tend
to be rebuilt. One could well be that U-boats
had so many problems they weren't worth
rebuilding. Another is that GE keeps fairly
tight reins on parts licensing, unlike EMD, so
it's harder to get GE parts for a large rebuild
program. Another factor is GE creative financing. Why rebuild U-boats when you can trade them in to
GE and get the latest model? Santa Fe traded
their U28CG's and U30CG's in for B36-7's in
1980, and later turned those back for a price
break on some Dash 8's.

It's not quite fair to say there is no market
for used GE's, either. "Dirt cheap" is a selling
point even for inferior goods, and there are
several shortlines that run nearly solid GE
rosters - Nashville & Eastern, Georgia Central
(who recently replaced their old U-boats with
MORE old U-boats), TransKentucky Transportation,
and Lake Superoir & Ishpeming are examples.
BCRail picked up those ex-ATSF B36-7's and
some reconditioned C30-7's, and lately have been
trying lease-return B39-8's.

Bear in mind, too, that GE never built the
equivalent of a GP9, which seems to be the
shortline mainstay these days. 2500 hp with
a turbocharger is apparently more than most
shortlines feel they want to deal with.

[Anonymous]

Dan

I will give you one very big reason.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Cost is a main one.

[Anonymous]

After all these years I thought that I knew how to spell but I guess I was wong.

[Anonymous]

thanks for the info.

[Anonymous]

run old SP tucumcari route, herington,ks to kansas city, and herington to pratt,ks. yes, long live EMD! we get lot's of stacks, racks, and grain trains (when grain is moving). used to have coal trains off the hoisington line too, but not many now. Have tons of new 70M's running around along w/AC6000's, used to get 90MAC's too, until they restricted the speed on them to 60. still get 'em occasionally on grain or junk trains.

[Anonymous]

Going to start a railroad soon are you? Sounds like EMD locomotives are the way to go. Not that anybody gives a rip but my personal favorite is the SD60 series from EMD. A lot happened with this machine and from what I understand was relitively pain free. I used to root for GE when they were not making many locomotives cause I always root for the underdog. Now it's EMD but still like GE just because it is a locomotive.

[Anonymous]

Very convenient that RR names are abbreviated-makes that loan app much easier.

[Anonymous]

Ya got to love it...lol

[Anonymous]

Very perplexing; And all those years I tried to get a RR job?

[Anonymous]

COULDN'T SPELL KAT IF YA SPOTTED HIM THE K AND THE A

[Anonymous]

Good to see another aussie. Generally the Clyde/GM/EMD have been a good reliable loco compared to the rest we have. Even though up in the Iron ore areas of Western Australia there are a few GE's and there were a few Alco's.

[wabash1]

well if your asking weather i riped 1 apart yet ?? naw tain nut'n heck all i did was seprate hoses they roll prit good and those horns makes lot of noise. see i went to georgia to learn hows to drive one and now i do it all the time.they learned me how to speak take em a head ,bring em back and that il do. count to. its easy all you do is re pete what other guy say then stop when he wants to. they evin teach how to spel. and i git paid for it to. its fun except 4 thoz sd40s they to loud.

[Anonymous]

Hey J, I hope your spelling isn't indicative of your train-handling skills!

[Anonymous]

J,I hope your spelling isn't indicative of your train handling skills.

[favuprailroadfan]

You know what I mean.


Thanks for pointing that out to me. Sorry


Dru

[Anonymous]

derek, where do you run. EMD is still king in my book. Thought this should be at top of list again.

[PaulWWoodring]

Personally I like the desk-tops, having only recently become an engineer I don't have the experience with the traditional AAR control stands. The best parts of the desk top are having the built-in clipboard for orders - beats having to try and wedge them into the automatic brake handle, as well as the much more effective reading lights for both the engineer and conductor (the cup holders on some are also greatly appriciated. As a conductor, the conductor's desk really comes in handy as well. OK, we're spoiled in comparison to steam days, at least we have toilets and don't have to poop onto a shovel of coal and throw it into the firebox like they did.

The alerters are a definite improvement over the deadman's pedal, but the inconsistancies in the time between alerts can be aggrivating, I've had some that go off every 15 seconds, whether you are taking action that is supposed to start the clock over or not.

I have also found the electronic brake controls to be a little too exacting when you only need to take a little more than a minimum reduction, it's too easy to take 12 lbs. instead of 10, which might mean you stop instead of slowing down.

[Anonymous]

J,
Just like driving an airplane or sailing a car, I guess...lol

[wabash1]

i dont mind the wabco electronic brake system. i find it no differant than the 26l. the air is exhausted outside the cab is the biggest thing. and you cant recover from an emergancy as quick as a 26l. but otherwise its just as good as the old system. and the alerter is better than the deadmans pedal. no need to break the rules to get up and get something just do it. annoying but better.

[wabash1]

i was wondering how do you drive a SD40.

[Anonymous]

Don't all you engineers out there dislike them GE's. I personally hate having a computer sit there and think about what inputs I am telling it to do, before the engine will load or whatever I am telling it to do. As for the desktop, I think that the guy who designed it, must have sat at a desk and thought that we would enjoy it as well. Also, don't you just hate them Electronic Air Brakes...it's so hard to get a feel for them. Unlike the older, much easier to use 26L brakes. We probably all agree that the alerter is a Great safety device, but whoever invented them...should have to hit a button on his/her desk every 45 seconds or risk being punched in the face or something. :-) See how they like it. Thanks for listening to me--rob

[Anonymous]

now if we could just get the dispatchers to keep us moving.....

[favuprailroadfan]

Dan, I have also heard that the GE's are more fuel sucking than the EMD'S. I have the privilage of being able to drive one of the them trusty SD40-2's and they are what they say they are. The have also said that the new 710V16's are more fuel effiecent than the new GE'S 4 cycle. EMD'S two cycle are even better then before. I constantly read about locomotives, and try to keep up with the new developments that are going on. What you said on about when EMD moved north of the border is absolutly(sp) true. Why can't they apply all the new stuff they have in London and move it back to LaGrange, even though they tore down the old building there. So lets keep up talking about this and I will get back to you.
Later, Dru