SD70ACe-T4: Trump, CAT, and Mice

[K. P. Harrier]

Two popular railfan photo websites have photos of the new UP SD70ACe-T4’s in the 3012-3099 series, some in transit in MEXICO while others are at the new plant at MUNCIE, Indiana, USA.  Where exactly are UP’s new units being built at?  While GE's new units seem to all have been built in America, it seems too that the new President Trump’s ‘Buy American’ efforts could cause a cat and mouse game within Progress Rail / EMD that maybe none of us have seen before!

[Leo_Ames]

Some in Muncie, others at Bombardier's plant in Sahagun, Mexico.

I doubt we see significant change here. President Trump seems to be having difficulty getting things done even with a GOP controlled Congress, with other branches of the government appearing set to fight him at every move.

For better or worse, going to be difficult to see huge change with this administration, which is pretty much par for the course I suppose. 

[YoHo1975]

Built in mexico, shipped under tarps to McCook,some doodad added at HQ and rolled out of the sheds there as if built there. , Trump claims credit. Caterpillar giggles from Peoria to Chicago. I call it pulling a Ford.:) Sorry, Kidding. I'd imagine it won't change. Though, I'd imagine if pressured, they'd upgrade one of their Progressive facilities and build token units at it.

[Leo_Ames]

Trains reported that the construction of this order was to be mixed, as I stated.

Has that changed?

[YoHo1975]

I don't think I said anything that would contradict that. Unless you took my "pulling a Ford" joke as serious.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Blondie may be big on "Buy American" but even an auto assembled in the United States has a lot of foreign components.  I'm sure that locomotives aren't all that different.  I'd like to know when was the last time he purchased a domestically made television.

[YoHo1975]

Whenever it was, it was probably black and White. My dad worked for Zenith for 50 years. Even before the moved assembly to Mexico (pre NAFTA even) large portions came from overseas. The picture tubes themselves may not have been made by Zenith. At least in the 80s and beyond, they made 25" and 27" tubes in Melrose Park and any other size was most likely sourced from another of the companies. and those other companies often bought Zenith 25" and 27" Tubes. Basically the only companies not participating were Sony and the others that made Trintron style cylinder tubes.