CAT's plans for the locomotive market?

[carnej1]

 I picked up the new issue of Extra 2200 South and one of the news items was work going on at Progress Rail (now owned by CAT). I was aware that they had been building a prototype Genset Switcher (using a recycled Geep frame) but was surprised to see that they had also purchased some SD40-2 hulks. X22000S replied that one of these was being rebuilt as Progress Rail 4001 which given the fact that the 4 axle Genset is numbered 2001 (IINM it's a 3 engined 2000 HP model) made me wonder if CAT sees a market for a high horsepower, remanufactued road unit i.e "4001" may imply a 4000 HP rating which is def. not a heavy switcher/hump engine. I know CAT was involved in the various SDCAT rebuilds (ATSF, C&NW, UP) rebuilding SD45/SD45-2's back in the 80's, and the 3 engines built were considered a failure largely due to the attempt to reuse the EMD alternator with a CAT 3600 series engine. The magazine also reported a 3001 and 3002 being built on SD frames and I wonder if those would be larger 6 axle Gensets?

[Railway Man]

I know absolutely nothing about Cat's plans for the locomotive market.

However, locomotives are a lot more demanding than just bolting a prime mover and alternator onto a frame.  They are complex integrated systems and a locomotive without sophisticated integration will be unlikely to match the performance level of the products from the established manufacturers.  The established manufacturers have long, deep, experience with each of the systems in their locomotives and the intricacies of integration.  To develop a competitive heavy-haul locomotive from scratch -- even if one has some components they can take off the shelf -- might require a research and development expenditure well in excess of $1 billion.

There are niche markets that can be entered with much lower expenditures (and much lower expectations from customers) but the economies of scale are lacking, and usually the profits, too.

RWM

[M636C]

Caterpillar have had some success with their 3500 series engine, which is much smaller than the 3600 series, in MPI locomotives of 1500 or 2000 HP, from twelve or sixteen cylinder 3500 series engines. These engines are used in the EMD versions of these units, the GP15D and GP20D where they are listed as EMD engines.

The "4001" number might refer to its origin as an SD40X. It is also possible that it might have two 2000HP engines as a sort of upscale gen set locomotive.

MPI seem to be using the MTU (Detroit) 4000 series engine which is being sold on its "low emission" credentials, although Cat must be able to meet the same standards with their engines.

Cummins are having a lot of sales for their QSK 19 engines in gen set locomotives, and Cat have a model C18 that is a direct competitor, although more recent in design, and without the long track record of the Cummins KTA 19 which preceded the QSK and has a reputation of being unbreakable, or almost so.

M636C

[broncoman]

Are the C18s Twin turbo also?  We have a couple of 2008 trucks with the C13 and there is no turbo lag whatsoever.  Its one of the first engines of the size to pull a truck up I80 over donner and hold/accelerate to 55 mph.  Pretty cool.

 Dave

[Railway Man]

Cat's website says you can purchase the C18 single-turbo or twin-turbo.

RWM

[Anonymous]

Cummins are having a lot of sales for their QSK 19 engines in gen set locomotives, and Cat have a model C18 that is a direct competitor, although more recent in design, and without the long track record of the Cummins KTA 19 which preceded the QSK and has a reputation of being unbreakable, or almost so.

 

Yes, the State Railway of Thailand is fan of Cummins K series for its diesels fleet (KTA38L in GE UM12Cs, KTA50L in Cm22-7is) and N series for diesel railcars (NTA855R1) and I always love the sound of 2 KT38L roaring away at full throttle.