THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO ! I have been watching trains for 50 years, but could never consistently tell modern locos apart. My grandson & I learned reliably how to do so here. The side-by-side pictures were powerful. Thanks !
61 yrs old and I'm still learning. How many of us thought the SW meant switcher? I have since childhood. And we called them "pups"....great channel. And accurate.
Great video. I like that you didn't go way into the weeds but kept it to general concepts in this one. I also appreciate that you noted how the GEs and the EMDs _sound_ rather than just discussing their look. I'm sure there are plenty of people, like myself, with poor eyesight but who enjoy railroading.
This video is a Railfans dream ! Crystal clear beautiful photography and lots of meaningful information. Most other train video pale in comparison. Watching this for the 1st time my thought,"Oh yeah sign me up with a sub".
I want to politely correct you about the EMD *-2* and *-3* units. The -2 units all began production post 1971. The newer electronics in them came directly from the production and testing of the DDA40X units built for the Union Pacific. It worked so well, that EMD decided to rework the electronics in all their locomotive series. The older GP units (pre 1972) were not as universally compatible for parts interchanging as the new -2 series, and also had non-standard frame lengths. Post 1971 came with 1 basic frame for the entire GPxx-2 series, with many interchangeable components to make the individual locomotives the customer needed. Parts from a GP39-2 would fit perfectly into/onto a GP40-2 or a GP38-2. The -3 units were never actually a production line of EMD, but rather a rebuild/refresh of older units in need of upgrade. Some done by EMD, some done by other shops such as MK.
You can distinguish between EMD and GE locomotives by their fuel tanks. EMD Locomotives have a smooth, rounded tanks while a GE locomotive has a chiseled tank.
And EMD went from being owned by General Motors to spun off and is now a subsidiary of Progress Rail, a subsidiary of Caterpillar. Meanwhile GE Transportation was recently merged into Wabtec. They might be moving away from their origins, but they survive. I don't think Siemens is interested in making North American freight locomotives but they're cutting into the passenger market. Not sure how much GE or EMD values the passenger diesel market, but EMD have brought the F125 to market.
"High hood" well I'm glad I watched this now. There's a small freight company a few miles from where I live and almost all of their locomotives are high hoods but I never knew what that style was called, ty!
Technically, they're "high short hoods" -- all long hoods on locomotives are "high" (in height), but only some "short" (in lengh) hoods are high. Norfolk & Western and Southern, at one time, always had diesels with high short hoods, and ran them long hood first for safety reasons.
This is the video that clinched it for me. Then I noticed all of the beautiful scenery in the other videos and I was hooked. I come home from work and throw your channel on the TV and let it play which is driving my wife crazy 😁 thanks from a new subscriber!!
Grandfather painted trains for GE in Erie, PA and one of my uncle's used to work on wiring new locomotives as well in Erie. While I understand some people love their EMD's or Alcos or what not, I'll always be a GE fan for life, even if they don't produce locomotives anymore
Thank you for this great education - I look forward to more :) I grew up about a mile from ALCo in Schenectady, NY and those were some cool locomotives. They went the way of the buggy whip, but would be easy to spot on the rails today. EMD is Caterpillar now and GE is something else and so the wheels of progress roll. I just enjoy watching and learning from the many great railfan videos on You Tube.
As a former caterpillar mechanic I worked on d11 dozers and the main reason locomotives are using caterpillar engines is 1. Because they are reliable. 2 if they break pretty much any caterpillar technician or diesel mechanic can fix them. 3. Parts are really easy to find
No large North American freight locomotive uses Caterpillar diesel engines, the Cat diesel engines you aree familiar with don't much like the duty cycle of mainline freight locomotives. Several railroads tried them and they failed. In Europe they seem to work with the differing usage, and EMD's new passenger locomotives use them.
@@johnbeaulieu2404 There is actually and only the SD70AH-T4's which use Caterpillar 1010J's that were based on the EMD 265H's in the SD90MAC's a long time ago. The 1010J's actually turned out to be much more reliable than the junk 265H's,but everything else about those units just sucks. The very first large units in an attempt that used Caterpillar motors were the MK5000C's with the 3612's.All six had numerous complaints about crankshafts being damaged severely. Utah Railway saved them after Southern Pacific was no more and eventually rebuilt them into MK5000-3's with EMD 645F's but using 645E3 assemblies.
0:36 That horn in the background is MONSTROUS!!! Do you have a video of the original clip? (Not to be rude, but without the talking?) I wanna use it for one or my games I make on Roblox (and Scratch). Anyways, keep up the good work, Mike! ❤🚂❤
Awesome video another way to tell apart the -8s from -9s is the grill behind the cab is longer on a -9 and shorter on the -9 if you are on the engineer side of the AC44CW you can’t see the big box so to tell it apart from a -9 you look in the same section and the AC44CW has more grills I use this method
Ha Ha! Good old GE U-Boats, slow, noisy locomotives, so fun to maintain. Believe me, there is a very noticeable sound difference between a jeep and a U-Boat.
I usually stick in Passenger trains, thank you for helping me identify these frieght trains, I’ll be on the look out for these freight trains. Thank you Mike :)
You're welcome and thanks! Glad you liked the video. I always used to be more into passenger operations but over the years, I've become more and more interested in freight too.
I needed this cause I would never know the difference between GEVO, Dash 9, AC4400CW, and the Dash 8.... I learned the difference a bit ago, but it's good to have a refresher....
WOW, I am just getting into trainspotting and half these shots are right from my office in Bellingham WA! I can even see my office in the opening shot!
Best doccie so far. In South Africa our rail network was mostly electrified, but since last year the electrical infrastructure was neglected, including the metro urban multiple units. Now newer generation diesels from GE are taking over
I don't thing that locomotives changed that drastic because of deregulation. The common theme seems to be for larger locomotives. In my career, it used to take 4 SD40s to power a train. Laer it was 3 SD60s/C40-8, and now just a pair of AC.
The SD70ACU's are really unique in my opinion. Only 2 railroads in NA have these locos being CP and NS. CP SD70ACU's used to be SD90MAC'S but they were rebuilt due to cab and power issues
Norfolk Southern acquired those SD9043MAC's from Union Pacific because they were dirt cheap valued and already had issues. Before the rebuilding,certain amounts of them already had cracks in the frames. The only good updates on the SD70ACU rebuilds was using electronics from Mitsubishi instead of keeping the pathetic Siemens electronics for them. The dynamic braking on them sucks even though Norfolk Southern wants to keep 45 of them on coal drags while 27 are used anywhere and the rest are being scrapped by PRLX. Canadian Pacific only rebuilt 30 of their own SD9043MAC's into the SD70ACU's while the rest are still in storage.They also purchased six of the SD80MAC's from PRLX to use as parts donors for this. They were running 39 SD9043MAC's from Union Pacific that also came at cheap cost but have been wanting to get rid of them as well.
The reasons why EMD and GE sound so different is EMD is a two-stroke. Engine and the GE is a 4-stroke diesel engine that's why it makes that different chug sound good job coasterfan2105
Though it sounds like the GE 7FDL and GEVO engines run at a slower speed than the four-stroke engines used by EMD which are by Caterpillar (though I need to look at videos of EMD Tier 4 freight locos; I'm basing what I'm hearing on the EMD F125, a passenger loco, which itself uses a Caterpillar V20 four-stroke).
I'm glad someone is tackling this. I stopped rail fanning back in the late 70's. Due to my career. Last hot new Loco's then were SD 40-2, & GE U 30 series. Still can tell them apart. But these new ones are difficult to identify.
The slanted mesh-screens below the radiators are the easiest way to to tell GE series apart: Dash-8 = one big screen (sometimes devided in the middle) AC44/Dash-9 = 2 screens, rear one slightly longer AC60 = 2 screens, both same length (front one often devided in the mide) ES = 3 screens, the frontmost clearly at a different angle ET = 4 screens. (The entire readiator unit is at a steeper angle compared to other series)
Which sounds best, GE or EMD? Heh. Both. I want to thank you for this. I love trains and have a few subs to some great channels. My problem is I don't know much about engines and haven't learnedmuch. I see those I like and don't know what they are. This video, and series, fills a need I've not come across before and I have to thank you for that. This is a great video and you have a new subscriber.
Very interesting. Several facts I did not know. Thanks for your effort in putting together a quality program. You keep teaching . . . I'll keep watching!
Starting at about 20:00 , I appreciated the discussion of the sound differences. During that, you showed several intermodal trains and I had the stray thought that if people waiting at crossings and getting impatient would realize that every one of those containers means a truck that is not on the road, maybe they would be more understanding.
@@TheTrainExpert The BNSF 560-570 series actually have the carbody of a B40-8W, but rebuilt to a standard-width cab. Thus, the "W" only means a Wide Cab.
Great video , thank you . I also think a easy way to tell the difference between a EMD and a GE is the fuel tanks and air tanks on the side above the tanks on EMD's . .
It's not just the electronics that the 'dash' denotes. It can mean it's had quite a few modifications, including, larger fuel tanks, newer prime mover generators, and, final drive motors. Or, am I wrong.?🤔?.... Please advise.!🧐!.
I discovered the GE chug the second time Amtrak dropped me (and others) on the platform on the edge of town at 5:30 am. All there was to hear was those two P42's. I never expected that sound.
Just found your channel. You’re a really great teacher when it comes to learning about railfaning. I’ve learned so much from your videos. Keep up the awesome work. Thanks!
Wow what a good video. You are one very smart young man!!! I'm glad you don't have us take a test. I think I will have to watch this series several times.
Brick Tamland I’m not sure you would feel that way if you had to operate them. EMD’s load up so much faster and in my mind they pull harder and much smoother. But everything is a matter of opinion.
@@jcoats1203 Not soo much opinion,but this is literally just factors and statistics. EMD units are great at loading traction much quicker but slack on tractive effort in comparison to alot of GE units.When there's local iobs and switching to be done any EMD is reliable for that,or if you just want to get on the move fast. Dealing with serious weight like coal and rock for example,GE is the way to go on that. GE has managed to build everlasting traction motors with astounding tractive effort and incredible dynamic braking over the years.Those three aspects are where EMD has been falling away from results for a long time. Problems have been here and there after the GP40-2's & SD40-2's were discontinued.However when EMD debuted AC traction motors and HTC R trucks for the SD70 series it was really good at first but then GE improved their own components soon after and overthrew EMD on results. EMD has retained their notoriety of quickly loading traction motors,both DC & AC,and obviously the 567,645,and 710 series which will outlive the units themselves and not catch on fire like the GE 7FDL's & 7HDL's. Although it is true that there is probably many more EMD units still around after all these years,almost all modern mainline usage is entirely compromised of GE power at this point while GE rebuilds are starting to be equal if not more than EMD rebuilds. GE is also cheaper than EMD and it's easier to deal with them being more fuel efficient and EPA compliant since they're four stroke.The EPA was the worst thing that actually put down EMD because their durable two stroke motors can't pass modern emissions regulations.This is why they developed exhaust manifold silencers and why business has been great within stationary and marine apparatus where emissions testing is irrelevant. In simple summary,any EMD units are mechanically the most reliable but everything else for dealing with serious tonnage is credit to GE.
As a beginner to American trains I found that very useful (you are also easy to follow when you speak, I'm talking as a non-native english speaker). Good video, greetings from Italy!
Forgive me if someone has already stated this, but another way to tell EMD from GE is the fuel tanks. The EMD have a curved fuel tank, or, in the case of the SD70ACe, a lightly chiseled “curved tank”. The GE fuel tanks are very much chiseled with air reservoirs embedded into the fuel tank on the right side (engineer) of the locomotive. There are a few exceptions to this, but, for the most part, this visual indicator works.
That is another good example. There are a few different things that I could have used, I just decided to go with the trucks, nose/cab, and radiator. But the fuel tank is a very good example, too.
I always enjoy your train talk videos and learn something from them. I really like the shot at @14:55. I've railfanned at Clifton, VA alot and it is a nice spot.
Now I know the difference between a GE and EMD locomotive! I have heard of how the EMD GP and SD locomotives are different (as well as the GE B/C thing, plus how the GE standard cab is different from the EMD one), but thanks to this video, I can now check out the locomotive to see what manufacturer it is, even with modern wide-cabs. The wide-cabs and the engine sounds are different, and so, I can add these hints to my array of railfanning tips. Where an EMD SD70ACe ends and a GE Evolution begins.
You seem very informed but having trains run by and saying this or that about it is confusing. It be nice to see photo diagrams of the differences point out.
Very informative. Loved it. I'm working on starting my own HO scale model train layout and it will be nice to know the differences in the locomotives. Thankyou.
I like that you covered the difference in sound between the EMD and GE engines. I use the term "rhythmic chant" to describe the EMD noise, and "choppy" to describe the GE. The EMD basically sounds like its running twice as fast as the GE. I was surprised that you didn't point out that EMD's have round fan housings on their roofs, and GE's don't. Is that a reliable characteristic for locomotive spotting?
Good overview. The only other things to add is how GE rearranged is nomenclature with the dash 8s. It could be written B40-8 or Dash 8-40B, etcetera for all other models. I think that actually started with Dash 9 and was retroactively applied to Dash 8, but never to Dash 7s. Also when identifying standard cabs EMD has a wedge point where GE has snub noses. The U and Dash 7 nose very hard to tell apart, that's why you have to look at the radiator: flared in Dash 7, not flared on U. The Dash 8 standard nose was larger, had some angles, but a flat front. Last note on GEs, U25 and U28 (B or C versions) were the only ones with a short step up about 1/4 distance from the rear. I know that's all out of scope for this video but it's interesting to trace some characteristics that have carried forward from the first Uboat to the newest locomotive. And Alco was not part of this topic, but GE has some similarities with Alco which I think those 2 competed hard against each other, GE obviously winning. Lastly overall, a brief word should be said about long hood forward running configuration that Southern, Norfolk & Western, and finally Norfolk Southern ordered for their locomotives all the way up to the last Dash 8 standard cab, I'm not sure about the last EMD they ran like that. When the FRA mandated wide cab that pretty much ended all factory long hood forward configuration. If you want to ever delve into AC and DC traction there's a good presentation on slideshare titled "The Merits of AC vs DC Locomotives".
Thanks Mike! The video quality of this video is one of the best I have seen on YT! Thanks also for the tips on GE v EMD. We have both here in Australia, but I think they may be modified versions - not sure though. Need someone to do a video like yours on the different GE and EMD Locos in Oz! Will be checking out your other videos - thanks again - Stu
A wonderful breakdown. I had no idea that General Motors and General Electric were direct competitors in the diesel market, even if they're not any more. Very interesting. Diesel history is just as cool as, even if less romantic than, steam history.
From what I know, there was initially famously Alco that collaborated with GE to make the famous PA passenger diesels, and former steam manufacture Baldwin and Fairbanks Morse that also competed in the early first generation diesel market. As we all know, EMD and GE won the battle and continued to compete until probably recently.
That’s a good video. I’ll be able to tell the difference between freight locomotive from now on. Someday in the future we might have electric locomotive on freight routes.
There are a few of them on some regional railroads, but that's about it. Maybe more in the future, probably as battery units more likely than not. Thanks for watching!
Nice video. It is helpful to listen to the engine sound to tell the difference. I have always thought EMDs had a nice humming/whining sound while GEs have a big roaring sound
very nice vid - especially like the engine sound comparison. I use that all the time, GEs always sound to me like they are down a cylinder or something.
@@CoasterFan2105 They sure do!! Your content is Awesome!!!!!! My favorite video that you made was Steam Trains Galore the first one I remember watching it around the time I first Subscribed!
The reason the two sound different is because EMDs up into 2017 and even beyond (T4 'credit units' that continue to be built) all have two-stroke engines in them. The GEs use four-stroke engines. That's why they chug while EMDs purr. Only two exceptions to this rule - the 1998 introduction of the SD90MAC-H and the 16 cylinder "H" engine, and the SD70ACe-T4 with it's 12 cylinder 1010 engine, are four stroke.
you haven't mentioned the variation to the front of the ge's delivered to rio tinto in north western australia. (i wouldn't really expect you to have noticed. they're not in north america). rio tinto must have ordered the spec especially for themselves. they have what i believe is called teardrop shaped windows with the nose lines adapted to suit.
