Many of the CAT re-power jobs on SD45's failed due to less than expected performance for the cost of the conversion. The higher RPM CAT engine was not a good match when spinning an alternator designed to match a lower RPM power plant. The Generation 2000 series of CAT powered engines that the SOO and BN bought had Kato(Cato?) alternators, but at times that combination had reliability issues as well. Building a good diesel-electric locomotive requires matching the components to deliver the performance/reliability required by the customer. It is one thing to swap out parts and get something to work, and another thing to deliver....
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Wyonate wrote:Yea, I read about it too where they were using CAT motors to power some new switchers. I run heavy equipment for a livin, & when I heard about this I am hoping for the day I hear 3 CAT powered AC locos dragging 15,000 tons of coal up the pass in from of my house. ( You can't beat a CAT )
MK came out with several 5,000 hp CAT-powered MK5000C demonstrators in the mid-to-late 1990s, but nobody was interested. Eventually they ended up going to Utah Railway and re-engined with 645s, turning them into EMDs. IIRC, the MK5000s used regular DC traction and not AC.
Even earlier, several SD45s and SD40-2s on ATSF and BN were re-eniged with CATs to evaluate how the EMD-designs could cope with the engine.
Thanks for the info! I looked all over my Detroit Diesel stuff and could not find that model - so it is a CAT engine - Thanks!
I am a little surprised that EMD has not come out with a new model based on the 8-710ECO power plant. The 're-power' path for old GP's is a good one, but a 'new construction' would seem like an option to 'close the loop' on sales and offer another option to the genset engines. The existing genset's may become maintenace issues as time goes forward, with 3 sets of power plants/generators/control gear.
What we have not seen is GE invest into this market. A 6 cylinder GEVO power plant switcher may be an interesting engine. About all they have done is work on that Enviromental Hybrid road engine with lots of batteries. Has it even been out of the GE plant and done any real work yet? They seem to like to show it off for political types and press stuff.
jrbernier wrote: Lyon, EMD only has the 2,000 hp GP20D still in the on-line catalog. MPI has not had the Genset sales of NRE. I suspect EMD's 8 cylinder 710ECO offering may be a new direction for EMD. BTW, the GP20D does not have a CAT engine - it is a GM16V170B20(2,000 hp). I think these are ex-GM/Detroit Diesel engines that were picked up by who-ever now owns Wabtec/MPI. Wabtech lists the MPE series of switchers available with:3 pack of skid mounted Cummins engines(2,100 hp)MTU-Detroit Diesel 12V4000 engine(2,000 hp)Jim Bernier
Lyon,
EMD only has the 2,000 hp GP20D still in the on-line catalog. MPI has not had the Genset sales of NRE. I suspect EMD's 8 cylinder 710ECO offering may be a new direction for EMD. BTW, the GP20D does not have a CAT engine - it is a GM16V170B20(2,000 hp). I think these are ex-GM/Detroit Diesel engines that were picked up by who-ever now owns Wabtec/MPI. Wabtech lists the MPE series of switchers available with:
Jim Bernier
As mentioned in other thread the GP20D (which is designed and built by MPI, EMD only markets it) really does have a Cat engine, EMD just gave it a GM part number. See Greg McDonnell's "Field Guide to Modern Diesel Locomotives".
Most of these engines have been built of of older EMD GP series frames or at least have rebuilt Bloomberg trucks with various rebuilt or new EMD traction motors offered in the deal. Traction motors are in a sort of 'revolving remanufactured' catagory much like a 'rebuilt' alternator for you car. The powerplant/s upstairs is usually a skid mounted 'package' that is bolted to the frame and covered with a hood. Right now, there appears to be 2 or 3 companies offering GenSet locomotives. The 'Green Goat' versions with mainly batteries seem to have fallen out of favor for the units with 2 or 3 of the 'package' power plants. They meet current EPA emmisions requirements and appear to save fuel - both big issues. EMD has now offered a 2200 hp 8-710 engine that they will put into an existing GP series engine. This is 'Tier II' complient as well - we will see which way sales go....
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