Why are GE locomotives better than EMD?

[wabash1]

i agree, i also own no ge appliances either they are just as bad as thier engines.

[Anonymous]

Dru, If EMD is not a problem then why is UP leasing the SD70s rather than buying them? UP buys locomotives it intends to keep. And why did EMD have to offer lease rates to UP that are more in line with used locomotives than for new? That doesn't sound to me like UP has a good impression of the quality of EMD.

EMD had no orders on the books when they started negotiations with UP. It appears that they were willing to practically "give away the farm" to land an order. Sure doesn't sound like the customers believe that EMD has a quality product.

[Anonymous]

well i am an NS engineer and i like the emds better.as far as comparing the 2.many people are match up brand new GE dash 9s to 20 year old EMDs.what kind of shape will the GEs be in when they are 20 years old.you need to also keep in mind that GEs are cheaper than EMDs thats why companys are buying them, to save money.GEs are also slow loading and not as responsive as EMDs

[Anonymous]

I used to love the GE's back in the 70's. I thought they would blow up every time I saw one. Made railfanning interesting. EMD's were booring. They never sounded nor looked like anything but a smooth operation. I liked GE cause I always root for the underdog which they were. Fast forward to 1998 when I got interested in railroads again. What's this I hear? EMD number 2. GE number ONE??? You could have pushed me over with a feather. Something happened! EMD 50 series and DASH-8 GE's. Sort of says it all. Now I see.

[Anonymous]

hey jackass,if your refering to me ,i am a real engineer,and have been for 7 years.and its idiots like you that we laugh at

[Anonymous]

lol, ok

[favuprailroadfan]

Let me ask you this.

COULD A GE PASS EMISSIONS TESTS? Not NO, but HEl* NO. I guess we are all full of opinions but I guess the only one that counts is our own. UP does have the option to buy them 70's. All I am saying is, everybody is entitled to their own opinion and I am just stating mine.

Laters, Dru

[Anonymous]

My last three GM automobiles each lasted 150,000 miles plus, and they performed remarkedly well the whole time. The only reason I traded them in (for another GM product) was because I WANTED something new. I will agree with everyone that the late 70s and entire 80s were the pits. If EMD is reflective at all with the rest of GM, then the 70 series at least should be an improvement over what they produced with the 50 series. By the way, I haven't seen any GE autos, so I don't know how they would stack up against GM autos.

[Jackflash]

Hello, I'm new here, but not new to locomotives
as a engineer who runs both GE and EMD I am
always a happy camper when I have a EMD on the
head end, for one thing the ride is so much better
The GE's just dont seem to be built to last,
they leak oil all over the walkways, the interior
cab roofing insulation comes loose and falls to
the floor, with all the excessive vibration its
a wonder any equipment on one can hold up.
I dont hate running GE's, I just like the EMDs
more, I've been an engineer since the early 1980's

[Anonymous]

a conductor i was working with is now on disability due to a GE ceiling panel falling

[Anonymous]

all of us "fake " posters as you put are people who have to work with this stuff

[Anonymous]

Why do you find it so hard to believe real engineers read and respond to this forum? Can't real railroaders be fans also? Oh by the way had another interesting experience with a two yr old dash-9. 70% load potential for a high and 5% for a low,great performance for a 2yr old GE!

[Anonymous]

Hello,don't let this guy get to you, he takes enjoyment in putting people down who don't agree with him and finds it hard to accept the reality that GE's SUCK!!! Also finds it hard to accept what we engineers already know about GE's. Keith

[Anonymous]

We're all trembling in our boots!!

[Anonymous]

The facts are that GE's don't perform in the REAL world of RRing.Take all your statistics and ratings and believe what you want,but we people who have to work and ride in them know what their really like.

[BRAKIE]

The best way to get the true story is to ask the engineers and train crews that work with them.These are the guys/gals that know the truth and will tell you the real facts.As far as EMD shutting down,I don't think the railraods or the Feds would allow that to happen.The railroads needs 2 major locomotive builders to keep the prices in check.

[Anonymous]

What power does a US government agency have to prevent a Canadian Company from shutting down? Are you proposing to use my US tax dollars to pay EMDs Canadian payroll? Should that happen just watch the firestorm it will generate on the news and in the political rhetoric.

As for competition there are pleanty of other builders who build locomotives for commuter service or are remanufacturers of locomotives. Either group would have very little trouble making the step to large scale production. Very successful new locomotives have been manufactured using the Catapiller engines. The railroads who tested them rated them as much better than anything EMD or GE offered. They just did not want a third builder to have to stock parts for. Without EMD this issue goes away.

And we have not considered any of the non North American builders who are just beginning to make sales here. They have a lot of experience selling in some very competitive and highly regulated markets.

[BRAKIE]

So much you know about railroad history.Tsk tsk.

[wabash1]

dont confuse "mr. know it all" with the facts when his simple ge mind is made up...

[BRAKIE]

Nothing to do with GEs just the past history around 1960.I doubt if some are old enough to remember or been in the hobby long enough to know the past history.To top that off I ain't telling.I know some really have no clue what the Feds are very capable of doing for big business,of course you won't see that on CNN..

[Anonymous]

I think mr.know it all has his mind made up has ingested to many of those pcb's that GE is notorious for dumping in the enviroment.

[Anonymous]

Four stroke brain,I am not and have never pretended to be anything but a locomotive engineer.If you knew anything about locomotive engineers you'd know that the job description doesn't incude being a computer software expert.In fact tampering or altering the computers on board is a big no no.If you want to discuss computer sofeware go to another site.One thing I do know is that when increasing throttle positions the amp load is supose to increase not decrease like a great many of the dsah-9's I've been getting lately.Also the amp load is suppose to maintain a constant level unless your speed(MPH) increases or a wheel slip is detected,not fluctuate wildly up and down like most GE's do.So if your idea of fun is to question what I do forget it, find someone else.As far as I'm concerned your insulting arrogant know it all character,or I should say lack of, doesn't warrent any further acknowledgment from me.GOODBYE

[BRAKIE]

Management?? I forgive you! a no brain, management type and engineer wanna be.

I doubt that you are even out of high school or college.So why am I wasting my time?
You gave yourself away my friend.

[Anonymous]

Larry,Exactly the conclusion I came to,althought it took me a while. This guy isn't even worth the time of day. Keith

[Anonymous]

well it seems that you are the only one on this board who has failed to make a point.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you 100%.I think its interesting how many people out there get thier railroad experiance from reading magazines.And then seem to think they know more about it than the people who do it for a living.

[BRAKIE]

Well,I see you are like most that get caught.You say you have this or that degree,I truely doubt that..But I will give you a benifit of a doubt and say you do.What ever business your in it's surely not railroading...Again you have proven that.Anybody with a computer or a pile of books can point out the high tech stuff.This is very common.I will leave you with this,you need to find out what you are missing that gives you away...LOOSER...Do have a nice day...

[Anonymous]

what railroad did he say he was with anyway?

[Anonymous]

While I have'nt read all the swipes going on in this 'thread', I'm sure that anyone who has actually worked on and around various locomotives will readily tell you that any 4 stroke engine, whether Dash 9's all the way down to the old Alco's I also had the great misfortune to be around, are giant pieces of s*** compared to the 2 stroke EMD's. The SD-70's for instance are far better in the time it takes to 'load-up', get into 'dynamic' braking etc. than any 4 stroke. These are the real issues confronting the real people who have to depend on good equipment to make the job go as easily and quickly as possible. All other debate between 'rail-fans' is just so much 'fodder', and not of any real consequence in the real world....Hommie

[favuprailroadfan]

EMD does pass Tier 2 emissions in 2002. Why should GE have to wait until 2005? Sounds like they are having problems figuring how to keep those engines for belching all that smoke. Maybe GE should EMD power plants so the GE's could be more reliable.