Trains.com

GE's locomotive business potentially on the auction block !!!!!!???????

13234 views
47 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2014
  • 237 posts
Posted by JEREMY CENTANNI on Saturday, November 4, 2017 11:35 PM

As much as I hate Caterpillar, I would love to see them get GE locomotives if it gets put on the block.  It will be the only part getting put on the block, certainly not the jet engine side....

I've been a GM fan all my life but I was PO'ed when they let GE overtake them and when they spun it off.

Least Caterpillar picking up GE locomotives as well will keep an industrial base for railroad supplies in the USA where it belongs...............

I'll dare anyone to put their foreign locomotives thru the freight tonnage they go thru here in the states and dare them to stay together.

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 1,813 posts
Posted by YoHo1975 on Saturday, November 4, 2017 11:49 PM
Well the Siemens and Mitsubishi Electrical gear in EMD ACs seems to do just fine. Also, of Course cat won't be buying GE...unless they're divesting of EMD. No way that sale would be allowed to go through even in the current business friendly client and why would Cat spend the money? They certainly don't need the GEVO. They have the 265H->1010j along with numerous high speed designs such as the C175. The purchase would just be a market share buy, but why? the Good will of the loco division will drop anyway. Cat would potentially see an uptick in sales.
  • Member since
    October 2012
  • 177 posts
Posted by nfotis on Sunday, November 5, 2017 11:22 AM

A possibility for a buyer would be Bombardier, since the GE diesel portfolio complements theirs (mostly electric traction). A question is, does Bombardier have the money for such a move? The aerospace department is dragging down the whole group.

N.F.

 

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 1,813 posts
Posted by YoHo1975 on Sunday, November 5, 2017 6:48 PM

And given the current administration's antipathy for that company, would it get approved?

  • Member since
    April 2011
  • 649 posts
Posted by LensCapOn on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 12:58 PM

Any chance this will help Cat (EMD} sales?

 

Seeing as they plan to stay in business....

Moderator
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 1,532 posts
Posted by Brian Schmidt on Monday, November 13, 2017 3:29 PM

News Wire: GE seeks to sells locomotive-building business, focus on three core industries

CHICAGO – General Electric announced plans on Monday to focus on three core industries – aviation, power, and healthcare – leading to the sale of its GE Transportation division and its locomotive product line within two years, the C...

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/11/13-ge-seeks-to-sells-locomotive-building-business

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 24,959 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Monday, November 13, 2017 5:38 PM

Brian Schmidt
News Wire: GE seeks to sells locomotive-building business, focus on three core industries

CHICAGO – General Electric announced plans on Monday to focus on three core industries – aviation, power, and healthcare – leading to the sale of its GE Transportation division and its locomotive product line within two years, the C...

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/11/13-ge-seeks-to-sells-locomotive-building-business

Sounds like GE is following in the steps of Sears/K-Mart - sell off what is salable and circle the drain with the rest.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 6:13 AM

This could be a good way for GM to re enter the business Big Smile

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • 1,180 posts
Posted by ROBERT WILLISON on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 10:11 AM

For getting to exit the business they have to find a buyer. Emd/ cat. A long shot?

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 10:53 AM

ROBERT WILLISON
For getting to exit the business they have to find a buyer. Emd/ cat. A long shot?

What would antitrust laws say if Caterpillar would own EMD and GE?
Regards, Volker

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 12:10 PM

10 to 1 it will be a private equity aqusition  ..  I wonder what the new name will be :) 

Kohler could be another possible suitor ..

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Central Iowa
  • 6,829 posts
Posted by jeffhergert on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 8:59 PM

ROBERT WILLISON

For getting to exit the business they have to find a buyer. Emd/ cat. A long shot?

 

One can only hope.  I mean that it's a long shot.  Most of my co-workers aren't impressed with current EMDs.  I am coming around to that view, too.  At least the current crop of SD70ACe variants don't have the back door vibrating open every couple of miles like the first batches.  

Jeff

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • 2,625 posts
Posted by kgbw49 on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 9:29 PM

Well, if a certain Oracle decides to purchase it and puts the corporate family stamp on it, every railroad in America will be using Berkshire locomotives once again!

Actually, world-wide there is a lot of railroad building still occurring, expecially in countries that don't have well developed multi-lane road systems.

And it is a business that is understandable, which is supposed to be another important criteria for acquisitions by the Oracle.

So who knows? Now, if they can also get the rights to the branding for Superpower...

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 24,959 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 9:51 PM

kgbw49
Well, if a certain Oracle decides to purchase it and puts the corporate family stamp on it, every railroad in America will be using Berkshire locomotives once again!

Actually, world-wide there is a lot of railroad building still occurring, expecially in countries that don't have well developed multi-lane road systems.

And it is a business that is understandable, which is supposed to be another important criteria for acquisitions by the Oracle.

So who knows? Now, if they can also get the rights to the branding for Superpower...

I have the feeling if the Oracle were to buy the GE Locomotive business, DOJ would instruct hime to sell BNSF - restraint of trade and all that 

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • 1,435 posts
Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Thursday, November 16, 2017 6:14 AM

Why would they do that he also owns 50% of Heinz Kraft foods a big chunk of Coke stock Geico Insurance Dairy Queen and several hundred other compaines he is invested in.  He is in the process of buying the Pilot Truckstop chain out also.  So in a couple years he is going to own the 2nd largest Railroad and the Largest truckstop chain in the nation.  

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 103 posts
Posted by longhorn1969 on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 1:11 PM

No way DOJ allows Cat to buy GE and have a monopoly on the locomotive business. No way the Big 4 sit back and allow that happen too, they want competition when ordering locomotives, not being dictated a price per unit.

Siemens and Alstom may still being to digest the merger, but they would not let such a once in a lifetime oppurtunity pass without bidding on it. Bombardier doesn't have the money to bid.

 

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 1,813 posts
Posted by YoHo1975 on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 5:24 PM
Bombardier could work with GE to do a Spinmerge rather than a sale. That would reduce the capital costs I think. Bombardier could spin off the Transportation division, combine with GE Transportation. Form a new company (american locomotive corporation :)) GE and Bombardier would then own stock in newco. which would then get it's own listing on the stock exchange. Basically what Hewlett Packard Enterprise did with both the Software business and the enterprise services business.
  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 1,340 posts
Posted by ATSFGuy on Sunday, December 31, 2017 9:12 PM

So who will get GE's locomotive business?

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy