Is there a reason why GE based locomotives (i.e. ES44AC, AC4400CW, etc) are the primary locomotives on Stack Trains?

[zkr123]

Every time I see a YouTube video of stack trains, they are primarily pulled by GE based locomotives, and rarely by EMD based locomotives ( i.e SD70ACe's, SD70MAC's). Is there any reason behind this? 

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

It's because GE is the primary builder of locomotives in North America.

[YoHo1975]

Yes, GE is the primary builder. Having said that, BNSF had standardized for years on GE for DC Merchandise/stack/TOFC and EMD AC for Coal.

That Standardization is not really true anymore except that there's more GE DC than EMD DC by far.

On UP, you will see everything on stack trains.

[zkr123]

So its not because they are better suited for stack trains?

[Wizlish]

zkr123

So its not because they are better suited for stack trains?

 

I have always thought it's far more that the (more expensive) AC units are much more valuable on coal trains (and other services where the low-speed power production is of significant value, compared to what's available from the DC locomotives)

[NorthWest]

A contributing factor to the amount of GEs on BNSF fast freights is the ES44C4, which provides DC performance with the maintenance advantages of AC. They are cheaper, where the heavy haul and low speed advantages of C-C AC power isn't needed.  EMD has the SD70ACe-P4, but they are not in general service yet.

[GDRMCo]

AC is cheaper nowadays than DC simply due to DC being produced in such small numbers, sorta how AC was originally. There hasn't been a new 4000hp+ DC locomotive built by either EMD or GE since 2010.

[NorthWest]

Not sure if GDRMCo's post was directed to me or not. My point was that the ES44AC is more expensive than the ES44C4, and thus there is a cost advantage to using the cheaper locomotive where the performance advantages don't justify the extra cost (though there is a small loss of standardization). 

[Wizlish]

NorthWest

Not sure if GDRMCo's post was directed to me or not. My point was that the ES44AC is more expensive than the ES44C4, and thus there is a cost advantage to using the cheaper locomotive where the performance advantages don't justify the extra cost (though there is a small loss of standardization). 

I think it was more directed at me.  Yes, AC unit price has fallen in the past several years.  There are usually advantages to AC traction over DC on high-speed traffic as well, and you can expect to see AC locomotives, especially the four-motor six-axle variants, increasingly used for non-mineral service.  On the other hand, you often NEED all-AC consists on heavier mineral trains, so you'll find them concentrated there until the overall number of AC locomotives permits more widespread use...

[carnej1]

Deleted by poster