[GL][T-330] EMD vs GE: SD70ACe vs ES44AC (Complete Video) 

Enjoyed your comment it’s nice to hear from an actual railroad man on the subject instead of just foamer opinion lol. I became obsessed with trains as a boy during the “dog’s breakfast era” as you mentioned haha. My grandpa took me to the old B&O mainline near Youngstown Ohio and I remember the Chessie cats running with seaboard and B&O and C&O mixed in. I’ve always been an EMD man but I have to tip my cap to GE they definitely have sold the heck out of the Evolution series and the dash 8 and 9 before that. But you definitely see way more older EMD’s than GE’s it’s not even a comparison.

@@buckeyfan7623 I got into railroading because of my grandpa and a few uncles. My grandpa worked for the L&N and a few uncles worked for Illinois Central (Gulf) all out of Louisville. As a kid we would go over to the SLS (South Louisville Shops) and I got to see it all. My grandpa's favorite ride was the SD35. I only got to be in the cab once of an SD35 and that was during my conductor years. When Chessie and Seaboard merged the Chessie equipment I was in that was former B&O was excellent. I will concede that the GE locos were maintenance heavy if compared to EMD. But when I found myself running locals into Clearwater and St Petersburg the U18B was excellent. I preferred it over EMD 4 axle power. I was sad to see them go. I still love the sound of a 7FDL engine. But like anything it truly is nothing more than opinion. CSX runs a lot of GE power so I do enjoy getting to sit in something different on occasion. Now that I'm getting old, I enjoy the comfort cabs and the AC during those hot Florida summers! I hope you always find the kid in you to wave as the engines pass! I still blow the horn to anyone who waves!

@@bigvanillasmooth6772 Thats very cool you have quite a railroad history! I live near the A line in North Carolina so I’m sure you run some of the trains that come through here. I grew up close to the old SAL in Raleigh, unfortunately it was downgraded to secondary track when I was very young so I never got to see it in it’s hey day. And yes CSX is quite boring these days with the constant parade of GEVOS lol I always keep my eyes out for a 70mac I was happy when they decided to rebuild 25 of them. I’m a big fan of the tear drop windshield EMD’s. Also I’m glad they at least ordered 10 of the tier 4 70’s. Don’t they call the u18b’s baby U boats?

@@buckeyfan7623 The U18B is definitely known as a baby boat! I'm a big fan of the ACEs. BNSF from what I've heard doesn't allow ACEs to be used by train crews due to noise and the harshness of the ride. I was in Baldwin a few weeks ago and I was excited to see the FGAR has 4 of the old FEC SD70M-2 locomotives on their roster. I do enjoy the MACs and they are a great performer. I don't get much seat time in MACs anymore but here in the Bone Valley thet were everywhere. Both GE and EMD make terrific locomotives. Some models are better than others. I was a fan of the DASH 8-40C and when CSX got the first order I picked one up at Taft Yard in the "stealth" or "ghost" livery. That was one of my favorite liveries that CSX had and I'm not a fan of the box car logo. Back in the early and mid 80s I always enjoyed walking out of the yard office to a consist with a variety of paint schemes. Railroading is a good career.

EMD slowly went downhill after the GP40-2's & SD40-2's were discontinued while GE got real busy after the results that came out when the -8's & -9's were still in production.It's really debatable about how many EMD or GE rebuilds there are compared to factory units but mostly all active units right now are literally just GE. The EMD 567,645,and 710 series will be around for years to come but their time is limited on the railroads with any of the modern EMD units that are potientally at chance of retirement or being put into storage,not including rebuilds. Another thing to remember is that GE is cheaper than EMD which is why they're much more common. The EPA really put down EMD because their two stroke motors just can't pass these stricter emissions regulations and that's why many units were retrofitted with exhaust manifold silencers to remain active.GE being four stroke makes it much more easier but also better on fuel efficiency which is where the main focus is.The most dislikable notoriety about GE units is when their 7FDL's & 7HDL's catch on fire due to another incident of blown out turbochargers or crankshaft overpressure.Regardless,nowadays you would want only GE units due to absolutely incredible tractive effort and dynamic braking when serious tonnage and long grades are involved.Alot of EMD units don't reliably uphold those important features but they've somewhat retained at having traction motors that load quickly compared to many GE units,both DC & AC. EMD units have always been great for local jobs and switching,espiecally the MP15DC's/AC's which personally I highly favor and enjoy. Never the less GE has greatly been thriving in the locomotive industry,espiecally when Wabtec got involved and took control. EMD's glory days are long gone...It is what it is.The only legitimate business they have is any rebuilds along with still manufacturing the 567,645,and 710 motors for stationary and marine apparatus only.Caterpillar acquiring EMD & PRLX was good to keep them from going under but they too have faced serious pressure because of emissions regulations,so really it became another dead end.

EMD began to go downhill once they discontinued the GP40-2's & SD40-2's from production,even though they will always remain for years to come.Almost anything else they built after that had nothing but problems here and there.Although,for road switching they did a really good job when the MP15DC's/AC's were debuted and even though they have long been removed from class one service they remnant numerously at alot of industries where switching is required.GE greatly improved once the -8's came out compared to the ugly -7's.The -7's had great tractive effort but all other things sucked about them.The -8's brought more horsepower,traction,and microprocessors which really began rivalry with EMD.Later on,at first AC traction with the addition of HTC R trucks on EMD units was great but GE once again took what they had and made it better. GE units have always had stronger traction motors and higher tractive effort,but they take too long when they have to load.With EMD,their traction motors actually load faster (Both DC & AC) but aren't great on longevity or traction. If you deal with mountain regions and serious tonnage,GE power is the way to go and their dynamic braking is incredible compared to nearly every EMD unit out there. If you have to be on the move quick or there is any local job and/or switching then EMD units are always great for that.In modern times the real advantage that EMD has retained is that their 567,645, and 710 series are some of the best motors ever built.GE's 7FDL's & 7HDL's have always been known with causing fires and blowing out turbochargers.Logically because their four stroke it's easy to pass any emissions testing and less fuel is consumed.The EPA is also what brought down EMD because their two stroke motors can't pass modern emissions testing.This is why exhaust manifold silencers were made.EMD should stick with stationary and marine apparatus where regulations are little to none because that's really where they can keep business going.Even with Caterpillar becoming their parent company,the EPA has brought them down as well. EMD's days of staying in locomotive manufacturing is dead.

Spend 12 hours in one and you'll think otherwise...

Just because a fleet is 75% something doesn't automatically make it better. Like mentioned in the video, GE is a massive corporation and can incentivize the hell out of their product to sell more, and factor in providing their own financing department as well. Money talks and GE had that massive advantage for decades.

I hadn't heard that before but if there's any truth to it I can certainly understand your disdain toward GE. Thanks for watching and sharing your opinion.

That was during the Obama years which he was buddy buddy with Obama

Yes. It was at the time.

EMD had a very distinct disadvantage. Bad engine. It was made better by GM's big money but a bad design is a bad design. Yeah, in it's day the competition was worse. Cummins had a better design but could not beat GM until the later years because the solid idea would win out eventually. Caterpillar was a solid design for railroads and farm equipment but awful for trucks. Caterpillar would eventually improve too. GM doggedly stuck with the original Winton Engine through thick and thin. Yes the GM engine was great for it's day but would eventually lose to better designs and politics.

EMD still exists under Caterpillar/Progress Rail

@@Trains21 thank you very much for informing this.

Agreed

Doesn’t really say much actually. Because EMD isn’t what it once was. Sorry.

Probably tier 3 credit units but it would be sweet to see tier 4’s

@@michaeldennis9063 Very much true

EMD had a great reputation but kind of lost its lead with the questionable 645-20 engine on the SD45's, which were major fuel guzzlers and had issues with crankshafts breaking.

Oi foamer chill your shit

@@Mcnibbus woah dont swaer

ES44C4 is a NS rebuilt ES44AC. NS likes to rebuild a lot of their units like their AC44CWs to AC44C6Ms. Just something NS does

​​@@TyDeSimone I believe you mean their standard cab and wide cab Dash 9s rebuilt to AC44C6M. NS never ordered any AC44CWs if I recalled

​@@TyDeSimone The ES44C4 is an ES44AC with only 4 powered axles. BNSF has them NS doesn't have any

Neither are you, troll.

You’re*

You’re*

The traction motors just use the available power generated by the prime mover/alternator. If the diesel engine generates 4400 hp, that's the max power that'll go into the traction motors, minus some loses from power conversions.

EMD's sound better and that's undisputed.

There is very little difference in the appearance of both.

I live the emd sound

@@stephenbroughman3231 can hardly tell them apart unless you are a rail fan

Main difference is the nose. And GE’s looks better IMO.

@@AnontheGOAT the hood units seem to be better looking

No need to. You are indeed correct

70+ % market share by GE/Wabtec. That is all the explanation you need!

@@stephenbroughman3231 doesn't change the fact that their locomotives are shit and have a ton of problems

@@ReadingAreaRailfan you’re referring to EMD right? 😉

@@AnontheGOAT no, pretty sure I said GE 😁

If it is garbage engineering, then why does GE/Wabtec have 70+ percent market share. You are just stuck in the past!!!!!

@@stephenbroughman3231 politics son

@@billdurant3560 oh boy here come the excuses 🥴

@@AnontheGOAT yes you are full of them for sure. You must have the good drugs

@@billdurant3560 Yours are better than mine in this case.

True

@spacecalander probably why Norfolk southern has rebuilt many of theirs into AC and has plans of many more to rebuild. I seen around 500 units is the plan according to the locomotive roster for NS

@@freedomfan4272 they don't do anything to the motor. They just convert it to SC traction and put gevo cabs in them that shake and rattle because there not meant to be on a D9

The only good parts about most EMD units is that their traction motors actually load faster than any GE units,but tractive effort and reliability isn't as high as GE. AC traction for a short time was better from EMD with HTC R trucks on the early SD70 series,but GE still overthrew them and proved why they were better. EMD's 567,645,and 710 series are more reliable than most of their units that will fall apart inevitably. Even though GE's 7FDL & 7HDL motors have been famous for catching on fire,these are modern times and they easily are tier four compliant and make more power while saving more fuel because of being four stroke.EMD was destroyed by the EPA once regulations became more serious because two stroke has heavier carbon footprint.At some point all that will probably be left of EMD would be the GP40-2's & SD40-2's with the addition of the MP15DC's/AC's which are actually decent road switchers. EMD has been dead for twenty years if not more.They are better off nowadays with stationary usage and tugboats.

The SD70ACe models BNSF have blacklisted from leading are from the first run of them, which do not have isolated cabs. The 9300 series IIRC.

Ya but the locomotive division of Wabtec is still called GE. Therefore the models are still called GE XXXX.