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Downfall of EMD and GE ascending

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Posted by JEREMY CENTANNI on Saturday, March 25, 2017 11:58 AM

So now we have reasons to both sides of the equation.

But nothing to back "GE" superiority over "EMD".

EMD has laid some turds over the years, GE has an equal share as well.

This is an interesting read so far.

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Posted by ATSFGuy on Saturday, March 25, 2017 2:41 PM

Was the SD75M a good locomotive?

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Posted by JEREMY CENTANNI on Sunday, April 2, 2017 10:37 PM

Thought of something else as well.

Since it seems folks are convinced the 50 series did it, why do we always here the woes of the SD50?

Where do the GP50s stand in all this?

Or is it a fact of SD50s in heay haul that caused the issues vs. GP50s on fast freight?

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, April 3, 2017 9:00 AM

JEREMY CENTANNI
Thought of something else as well.

Since it seems folks are convinced the 50 series did it, why do we always here the woes of the SD50?

Where do the GP50s stand in all this?

Or is it a fact of SD50s in heay haul that caused the issues vs. GP50s on fast freight?

I don't have facts and figures, however, I believe the production of SD50's far outnumbered the production of GP50's.  To my limited knowledge the crankshaft issues that brought the bad name to the SD50's also affected the GP50's but there weren enough GP50's running around to get the defect into the population's mind under that identity.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by LensCapOn on Monday, April 3, 2017 2:20 PM

Read through the comments. I don't think anyone mentioned that GE's, since the late Dash-8's at least, were better at the "out on the road pulling stuff" test. They may have gotten rough riding, the cab might make the "Bates Motel" look clean and inviting in comparison, they may have been harder to work in grades and curves, but they were better at staying out there pulling stuff.

 

Heard this from multiple sources, and that is kinda a basic measure...

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Posted by Ulrich on Monday, April 3, 2017 2:41 PM

Two events conspired to bring GE to the Top. Number 1, GM took its eyes off the ball and stumbled. Their offerings subsequent to the SD40-2 were marginal at best. Number 2) Jack Welsh took over at GE. Welsh reinvigorated GE and determined that all businesses under the GE umbrella must become number 1 or 2 in their respective markets, or be sold off/closed down. GE decided to sell off some of its divisions like home appliances and put more resources behind locomotives. The outcome is that GE has now been number 1 in locomotives for some years now. 

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Posted by guetem1 on Friday, July 28, 2017 2:35 AM

SD-75m's were known to have computer issues, CRT's would just crash and go dark in the middle of a run, guy on the power desk told me he had seen a bunch of that....  Only fix was to shut everything down and re-boot the whole system which would take a while

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Posted by longhorn1969 on Friday, July 28, 2017 1:07 PM
Whether one is ascending or descending the RRs need both to stick around or a new player to enter to keep negotiations honest.
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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, July 29, 2017 12:22 AM

LensCapOn
. They may have gotten rough riding, the cab might make the "Bates Motel" look clean and inviting in comparison, they may have been harder to work in grades and curves, but they were better at staying out there pulling stuff.

Unless you were out there pulling stuff on locals.  Then they are miserable with their slow loading.  I'll take a SD60/70 variant any day. 

 

  

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, July 29, 2017 12:24 AM

JEREMY CENTANNI

So now we have reasons to both sides of the equation.

But nothing to back "GE" superiority over "EMD".

EMD has laid some turds over the years, GE has an equal share as well.

This is an interesting read so far.

 

They are both machines, being used hard and put away wet.  Even the best-built locomotive is going to have normal wear and tear issues.  Cost of doing business. 

  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, July 31, 2017 3:45 PM

JEREMY CENTANNI
So now we have reasons to both sides of the equation.

But nothing to back "GE" superiority over "EMD".

EMD has laid some turds over the years, GE has an equal share as well.

This is an interesting read so far.

When GE laid turds (and knew it) their subsequent financial dealings with the carriers would remedy the turd.  When EMD laid a turd - it was just allowed to lay there by the Imperial GM.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by CMQ_9017 on Thursday, August 3, 2017 9:09 PM
GE Capital killed EMD.. the ability to leverage sweet financing deals meant droves and droves of GEs hit the market. This at time when EMD's parent GM was unsure of its own core business very much lessen the competitive stance. You can make a superior product all day, but if you can't cut a deal to sell the thing at attractive prices/options/perks, then you're toast.

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