Yes, I know the EMD plant was/is physically in McCook. I've been there, and yes, I know most of it is gone. Still, this is my reasons why I dislike GE and I'll keep EMD in La Grange.
I'm not a big GE fan myself, but my dad works at GM building the Chevy Cruze, Cobalt, etc. I'm a bit GM-biased. That said, whatlocomotive has GE ever built that is still seen on the rails in mass quantity 30-40 years after its manufacture? That's right. Almost none. The oldest GE locos still in service are from the early 90's and are being retired. How many of them are sold off of class I rosters, and leased out for use? Almost none. When's the last time you saw an SD40-2? (for me, at least 3 months ago, when I moved to Germany) How many thousands were built? How many still soldier on on class 1's? How many serve lessors, shortlines and regionals? Loads! A testment to the build quality and durability of EMDs most famous locomotive. *plink, plink*
Well to be fair, part of that is due to the afformentioned Maintanence costs. Because of the way GE structures their pricing, it's cheaper to just buy a new unit whereas EMD is so low cost on maintanence... Also, That's a little unfair on the GEs, there are a few prominant shortlines and regionals running late 80s GEs for power. Certainly not as ubiquitous as the EMD Dash-2 series, but still, they exist.
What you did NOT see was a couple of years ago were the 2 full tracks in the East Sub filled with mothballed SD-40-2s, at least 50. Where they were heading I know not,but it wasn't to anywhere where they would be used soon,if ever again! The BRC uses several as hump engines. Charlie
I notice that older GEs are liked. Also, fans never seemed to get tired of EMDs. That is, was any manufacturer disliked before about 1990? In the 90s, I remember I didn't find widenoses ugly. I wonder if it was the fall of the last standard-nose holdouts that made me tired of them? Re: the sameness of modern locomotives: EMD and GE products still look very different from each other. It's that fewer models are offered. Alco vanishing isn't the biggest part. It's that all road power is 6-axle, and the absence of cheaper lower-powered models. Also, individual railroads have lost most of their unusual equipment options. SP's lights, PRR's trainphones, N&W and Southern's high noses.
That's a good point about fewer models. We may be in luck though. ECO rebuilds could be our savior as will find old body profiles with new radiator sections. 3rd party rebuilds such as the PR43C (not 3rd party any more). Variety may be returning in some way.
A neat perspective, and I think I get it! I can remember when I was little and would watch trains at crossings while in the car with my parents; I always liked trains, but I couldnt tell a GE from an EMD then, and even now, that generation more or less look "the same" to me. For the life of me, I cant tell between a GP-38 and a GP-40, let alone slightly older ones (30, 35, etc). I also have a hard time with SD50/60. Odd I suppose, if i look at pics side by side I can tell, but if i see it rolling down the rails, I usually have to try and read the model type someplace. Modern ones look different to me (aside from the paint jobs, sigh...) and still do have some specifics! NS has different headlights on their -9s. BNSF has the gull winged cabs. Not huge differences, but I notice them. EMDs were always kind of slab sided, until the recent 70s with the flared radiators. They do look different, but yes, I do admit I miss seeing some standard cabs. So I guess I do get it, really. I can see how they would look all the same, when you got used to noticing certain kinds of differences. I notice certain differences too, just different ones than those of you that got used to noticing earlier differences...see? :tb-cool: Makes perfect sense now!
Fans may like the older GE units, as I do, but roundhouse employees who maintained them may have a different story. Some of them, including a member of my family, loathed them. Hate to even talk about working on them to this day. Boxcab E50
As far as modeling is concerned, however, I tend to gravitate toward the models that I like and that are reported to be good runners as models. I like Alcos and have a few of them, and I will eventually get more. I know the prototype ones could be a handful, but the models sure look great tooling around.
True enough, but DBs were the rule not the exception. I don't particularly like older GE, but I do like Dash 7 dash 8 and dash 9 spartan cabs. They just have a sharp looking cab and profile.
The DB blisters were nearly universal in the western states owing to all the mountain ranges. They seem much less so for some of these midwest granger roads and for eastern roads that don't have to cross lots of mountain ranges.
I had 2 Dodge Ramchargers and wore them both out with over 200,000 miles on each, wish Dodge still made them I liked the solid axle dana 40 fron and dana 60 rear 4 x 4 design, but not many people could safely drive them in the snow, now all you have is these wimpy 4 x 4 with limited slip differentials and cv joint type front axles. I do own a Durango with the optional posi rears so at least I have real 4 wheel drive. It now has 147,000 miles and still going, no major repairs. By trade I'm a diesel tech and fell as though the EMD prime mover engine is much better than the GE engine. The SD-70ACe engine is the best one EMD came out with to date. Not too many people realize that the SD-70ACe engine is still a 2 stroke and has been so enhanced that it has met the stringent California Emissions. In the end we all have our own opinions of what is better. However for example at car shows we do not disrespect each others interest. I can appreciate a for Mustang or a Chevy Chevelle 454 SS or a AMC Javelin. Yes you have the die hard Ford, Chevy, Mopar, etc guys, but we won't call each others cars junk or other harsh things. So like someone else said on here, it's ok to like the EMD or GE, just make your opinion respectfully.
As someone who works with the latest models from both manufacturers, I much prefer the new GE's. Everything is laid out where I need it to be, the cabs are quiet, they're totally solid on wet rail and under high amps, and they ride good. I wish I could say the same about the EMD products. They're noisy (even the new isolated cabs are noisy), vibrate like a red-light hotel bed, and are slippery under high loads (even on dry rail). Its amazing how fast nearly-new units turn into rattletraps as all the screws work loose and things vibrate and twist under service. For whatever reason GE seems to do better with this problem. I've been on a three-month old SD70 that vibrated worse than the old SD45's and GP30's I ran on the WC. Those were closing on on or past their 40th birthday when retired. I doubt any of these SD70's will hang together long enough to make it that far. From a "looks" point of view, both manufacturers need a good lesson on styling. I know, it doesn't matter what they look like as long as they make money for the company... George Widener CN Fond du Lac, WI
