GE Locomotives

[Shaners]

For almost 24 years I have been lucky enough to employed by GE where we build the best diesel engines for locomotives in the world! We do all this fantastic work in a small town in Western PA. We consistantly build over 2000 of the best and most fuel efficiant mid-speed engines every year. Our engines are in the 2500 to 6000 HP range.

 

At our factory we realize that CAT has bought out our nearest competitor with EMD and they are definatly a force to recon with... but GE realizes that we can deliver a product that is beyond what they can deliver and has made a significant investment in my and GE's future.

 

I feel confident that I will be able to retire from this job in 10-15 more years.

 

GE supplies the world with most of their locomotives which includes China, Africa and alot of other emerging nations.

[C/K Man]

GE has certainly come a long way since the days of the old U-Boats. The U25B was a very innovative locomotive, but was no where near an EMD product in reliability back in the day. Even today, it is hard to beat an EMD 710 prime mover for durability and ease of service.

 

It will be interesting to see how well EMD does under Cat. I think GM didn't want to spend a lot of money on EMD in recent years, but I think Cat will be a different story.

[Shaners]

CAT is spending the money! There is no doubt about that! The old style EMD 2-stroke is gone because of emmisions... Our first Tier IV emissions engine just hit the test cell this week. It will become a good battle soon.

 

CAT tried to get in the game on their own awhile back but had major cranksgaft failures.

 

I am now in the top 100 employees seniority wise for GE for their diesel engines so I am looking forward to the competition since GE is giving us a buttload of cash to stay competetive, I think GE is afraid of CAT and realizises that cash infusion is the only way to stay ahead!

 

Funny thing is that very few people realize that the majority of the locos they see going down the track are made by General Electric

[C/K Man]

I see about a 50/50 split here on the West Coast. Lots of EMD SD70's and lots of AC4400CW's.

[Prokopchuk_9]

You are right about CAT man!! They sure Aren't afraid to spend the cash, they bought out Bucyrus as well this past year. Right after bucyrus bought out Terex...lol. I work in open put mining as a machinist, now cat sells pretty much everything. Before they pretty much had everything except BIG excavators, now they bought up bucyrus. I forget the size of the for sale

Sign but it was significant, now cat controls most of the mines in Alberta with parts availability. Only real competition with CAT around here is komatsue (demag).

 

This caught my eye because I've worked on 400 ton Terex diesel over electric haul trucks. They have an 18 cylinder Detroit in them I believe?? Isn't that a locomotive engine as well?? Those trucks purred real nice...

 

 

[sw6416]

I have 2 people in my immediate family that work for CAT. They are actually a subsidiary named Progress Rail out of Boaz, AL that will manage that division once the take over is complete. One of the people I mentioned is actually on the merger team of actually bringing the IT and HR side over to CAT. I can't speak for GE I am sure I am sure they make a great product and will continue to be a major player, but I will assure you based on the conversations I have heard CAT will be a force not to be ignored. Progress Rail has been a extremely well managed and profitable company for a long while even in difficult times and is why they were so attractive to CAT when they purchased Progress Rail. Progress Rail had there hand in most everything in the rail industry before CAT purchased them except locomotives so with CAT engines and Progress Rails knowledge to the industry I'm sure it was a mo brainier. Its great you have that mentality about GE it's what makes a company great and America the best when it comes to quality and commitment.