The General Electric Evolution Series™

The ES40DC, ES44DC, and ES44AC are part of the new General Electric Evolution Series of diesel locomotives. This series followed the builder’s Dash 9 models and is designed to offer just as much horsepower as conventional diesels but by burning much less fuel and in turn producing fewer emissions. Today perhaps every other locomotive that you see pulling a train is now of GE lineage. The builder has become a world leader in diesel-electric locomotive manufacturing and for years now has been the industry leader over second place EMD. In terms of diesel locomotive history GE is actually a relative newcomer and has only produced road-switchers (meaning those locomotives used in main line service to haul heavy freight trains) for the last forty years or so.

It’s interesting, though, that despite its relative new status General Electric has in some shape or form been a part of the diesel locomotive market basically since its inception. GE actually has the distinction of having developed the first commercial diesel-electric and helped supply the prime movers to the early box-cab designs in the 1920s in cooperation with Ingersoll-Rand and the American Locomotive Company (Alco). GE and Alco would be partners for years through the early 1950s when Alco began to switch its production line entirely from steam locomotives to diesels with GE supplying prime movers.

During this time GE also became marginally successful in the diesel switcher market by producing lightweight and maneuverable little switcher locomotives that could be used in industrial service and over branch lines (which contained sharp curves and light rail) the most successful of which was its 44-tonner model (this model also had the advantage of being operated by only a single crewman because of its light weight, a cost-saving advantage). The success of these locomotives in terms of their construction is still evident today as some are still in operation on shortlines, tourist lines and industrial service.

The General Electric Evolution Series was designed to meet the EPA’s Tier 2 requirement of emissions standards and is powered by a GEVO 12-cylinder prime mover. The models GE has introduced using this power plant are quite similar to the models they replaced save for this one difference:

· ES40DC: Rated at 4,000 hp using DC traction this model replaced the C40-9W model (also rated at 4,000 hp using DC traction)

· ES44DC: Rated at 4,400 hp using DC traction this model replaced the C44-9W model (also rated at 4,400 hp using DC traction)

· ES44AC: Rated at 4,400 hp using AC traction this model replaced the AC4400CW (also rated at 4,400 hp using AC traction)

All models of the General Electric Evolution Series are C-C designs (six axles) and so far appear to be selling quite well for GE, even a Regional carrier as placed an order for the ES44AC model. Below is a short table of who has purchased models of the General Electric Evolution Series thus far:

BNSF Railway

· ES44AC: 515

· ES44DC: 295

Canadian National

· ES44DC: 90

Canadian Pacific

· ES44AC: 200

CSX Transportation

· ES44AC: 200

· ES44DC: 302

Kansas City Southern

· ES44AC: 60

Norfolk Southern

· ES40DC: 270

Union Pacific

· ES44AC: 636

For more information on General Electric's new Evolution Series of diesel you might want to consider the book GE Evolution Locomotives by author Sean Graham-White. The book was just released in the fall of 2007 and details the Evolution Series with nearly 150 pages of information and photographs. Thus far GE Evolution Locomotives has received excellent reviews from readers so if you have any interest in the new GEVO's you should very much enjoy this book.

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