EMD in North America

[TJT53]

I thought I read the news of EMD's CLOSING of three Canadian plants, and two of USA's, to open the worlds largest loco. manufacturing facility in Mexico.  WRONG???  I don't think so.  Refute this story, if you can!!  I hope I AM wrong.  (but, I doubt it)  apologies to C. Barkley----as always,  hear that lonesome whistle blow..........

[MJChittick]

The new manufacturing facility you read about will be in MUNCIE, INDIANA,  not Mexico.  Here's the News Wire articles related to both the Muncie and Ontario facilities:

Progress to open new locomotive plant, but details are few

Published: October 29, 2010

MUNCIE, Ind. — Progress Rail Services today announced it’ll open a new locomotive plant in Muncie on the site of a former Westinghouse transformer plant. The company, a subsidiary of Caterpillar that recently purchased Electro-Motive Diesel, hasn’t released details on what’ll be built at the plant, but it’s likely the site where new EMD road diesels will be assembled. Progress has not returned calls seeking comment. A press release issued by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation says a Progress subsidiary will operate the plant. It didn’t name that subsidiary, but EMD is a likely candidate. The building is a massive 740,000 square feet, and Progress plans on spending $50 million to upgrade it for its new use. EMD is North America’s second-largest builder of road diesel locomotives. It currently assembles its locomotives at a plant in London, Ont. However, Progress seeks to return EMD to the passenger diesel market, and that means it needs a U.S. plant to meet build-American requirements. The Muncie site could supplant — or replace — assembly at London. Plans call for a locomotive test track to be built on the site. The company predicts the new plant could employ as many as 650 people by 2012.   No decision on future of EMDs Canada facility Published: November 3, 2010 LONDON, Ont. – The announcement last week that Progress Rail would open a new locomotive plant in Muncie, Ind. (Trains News Wire, Oct. 29, 2010) has led to speculation about the future of EMD’s London, Ont., facility. Progress Rail is a subsidiary of Caterpillar, the company that recently purchased Electro-Motive Diesel. EMD is North America’s second-largest builder of road diesel locomotives and currently assembles its locomotives at the London plant. Caterpillar could choose to switch EMD locomotive construction to the new Muncie facility, but no decision on the plant’s future has been made public yet. Progress Rail spokeswoman Barbara Cox issued a written statement about the situation that said, “There is some speculation surrounding the future of the London locomotive plant. However, that’s all it is - speculation. We’re not going to comment on or add to any speculation. The fact is that over the last six months, Progress Rail has made significant announcements about its growth and investment in the rail industry. It’s all about serving our customers and doing it better than the competition, and we need to have the facilities and operations in place that allow us to do those things and stay competitive.”

[YoHo1975]

You are confusing things. EMD just opened a Traction motor rebuild facility in Mexico, they bought a facility in Muncie to make engines so that they can meet the made in America requirement for the new Amtrak order. No word yet on the fate of London, though I would not be surprised if it remained.

As of now, 710s and 265H engines are still made in McCook/LaGrange which is still the EMD corporate headquarters, so your post is refuted.

[EMD_guy]

EMD is alive and well in McCook, IL... still designing locomotives for the world and manufcaturing engines, turbos, generators, and electrical lockers.