modesto & empire traction rejects the green kid hybrid

[morseman]

recently modesto & empire rejected the green kid after trial tests
they were not too impressed & purchased ge-70 switchers.
can anyone supply the reason why they were dissatisfied
with its performance

[ericsp]

I have a few guesses, but they are only guesses. Where did you get this information at?

In the mean time here are link's to MET's official roster page and information on a couple of ex-SMV 70 tonners that MET bought

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

M&ET has had an all 70-ton roster almost from the time they dieselized so standardization and familiarity may also be a factor here.

[vsmith]

IF you know Volkswagons inside and out why would you buy a Toyota?

[morseman]

the info i got was from a railfan magazine or a newsletter
a ew weeks ago. (not sure which)
I was out of town and not near a computer so I scribbled it down
"modesto & empire traction - white city - oregon
rejectts 1000 hp green kid hybrid which it tested late 2004
they were not too impressed with its performance and
they purchased GE 70 tonners

I have been followingthe green goat story and this was the
first time I've heard of the green kids.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The Green Kid is a 1000 HP version of the Green Goat.

[CShaveRR]

What's the horsepower of a GE 70-tonner? 600.

How many horsepower does the auxiliary diesel on a Green Kid have (I'm not sure what 90 KW translates to in horsepower terms)? That may have something to do with it.

You have an increase in weight of over 50 percent.

And, as has been pointed out, why make the change from something that has worked for the entire lifetime of most of the people who have to deal with them?

(When the Green Goat tested in our yard, it was kind of underwhelming, too--fortunately for the manufacturer, they've evidently been able to tweak it in the right direction to make it a more impressive performer.)

For those unfamiliar with the Green Kid:
http://www.railpower.com/dl/dl_gk10b.pdf

[carnej1]

I would also surmise that it is much cheaper to pick up a used 70 Tonner than springing for a brand new Green Kid (even when the latter uses lots of remanufactured components and is built on a "used" frame)........

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The Green Kid is nominally rated at 1000 HP. Remember the whole principle behind the Green Goat/Green Kid dual-powers, a relatively small diesel engine charges a large bank of batteries to provide power in the spurts needed in a typical duty cycle for switchers, the batteries being re-charged during idling.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

What's the horsepower of a GE 70-tonner? 600.

How many horsepower does the auxiliary diesel on a Green Kid have (I'm not sure what 90 KW translates to in horsepower terms)? That may have something to do with it.

You have an increase in weight of over 50 percent.

And, as has been pointed out, why make the change from something that has worked for the entire lifetime of most of the people who have to deal with them?

(When the Green Goat tested in our yard, it was kind of underwhelming, too--fortunately for the manufacturer, they've evidently been able to tweak it in the right direction to make it a more impressive performer.)

For those unfamiliar with the Green Kid:
http://www.railpower.com/dl/dl_gk10b.pdf

90 kW is about 120 hp. It might be the MET locomotives do not sit around long enough while switching for the diesel engine to recharge the batteries. They may have talked to UP about UPY 2004 and did not like what they heard.