GE Evolution Series

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GE Evolution Series
300px
Three of Union Pacific Railroad's Evolution Series locomotives leaving Hutchinson, Kansas with AC45CCTE #5304 in the lead.
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder General Electric Transportation
Build date 2003-present
Specifications
AAR wheel arr C-C (ES40DC, ES44DC,[1] ES44AC,[2] ES58ACi, ES59ACi)
A1A-A1A (ES44C4[3])
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
1,520 mm (4 ft 11 27⁄32 in) Kazakhstan
5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Brazil
1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Pakistan
Length 73 ft 2 in (22.30 m)
Fuel capacity Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). (ES40AC, ES44DC, ES44AC, ES44C4)
Prime mover GEVO
Engine type V12 (ES40DC, ES44DC,[1] ES44AC,[2] ES44C4[3])
V16 (ES58ACi, ES59ACi)
4-stroke diesel engine
Cylinders 12 (ES40DC, ES44DC,[1] ES44AC,[2] ES44C4[3])
16 (ES58ACi, ES59ACi)
Performance figures
Power output Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). (ES40DC)
Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). (ES44DC, ES44AC, ES44C4)
Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). (ES58ACi, ES59ACi)
Career
Operators UP, BNSF, CSX, NS, CN, CP, KCS, KCSM, GECX, FXE, IAIS, SVTX, CREX, FEC
Nicknames G →EVO, roarer
Disposition almost all (only ones retired have been in crashes) still in service as of 2015

The Evolution Series is a line of diesel locomotives built by GE Transportation Systems, initially designed to meet the U.S. EPA's Tier 2 locomotive emissions standards that took effect in 2005. The first pre-production units were built in 2003. Evolution Series locomotives are equipped with either AC or DC traction motors, depending on the customer's preference. All are powered by the GE GEVO engine.[4]

The Evolution Series was named as one of the "10 Locomotives That Changed Railroading" by industry publication Trains Magazine.[5] It was the only locomotive introduced after 1972 to be included in that list.[5]

Models

Currently, six different Evolution Series models have been produced for the North American market. They are all six axle locomotives and have the wheel arrangement C-C (AAR classification) or Co'Co' (UIC classification), except for the ES44C4 which has an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement. All North American Evolution Series locomotives are equipped from the factory with a Nathan-Airchime K5HL-R2 "Evolution" airhorn, and most later models are equipped with a Graham-White 373 (electronic) E-BELL.

ES40DC

The ES40DC (Evolution Series, 4000 HP, DC traction) replaced the Dash 9-40CW model in GE's range and, like the former model, was delivered exclusively to Norfolk Southern Railway. ES44DC's owned by CSX Transportation were also given this designation after being de-rated to 4,000 hp (3,000 kW). As of 2014, all of Norfolk Southern's ES40DCs have been uprated to 4,400 horsepower (3,300 kW), making them ES44DCs.

ES44DC

CSX 5349 GE ES44DC.jpg

The ES44DC (Evolution Series, 4400 HP, DC traction) replaces the Dash 9-44CW model in GE's range. Primary users are BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, and Canadian National Railway. Pilbara Iron in Australia ordered a lengthened, international version designated ES44DCi. The extra length is used for a larger radiator to increase cooling capacity in the Australian outback.

ES44AC

File:Iowa Interstate 505.jpg
Iowa Interstate Railroad #505 enters Blue Island, Illinois.
File:CREX 1203 Lincoln, NE 3-13-14.jpg
Citirail (CREX) ES44AC no.1203 in March 2014.
File:Denton September 2015 03 (Union Pacific freight).jpg
Union Pacific C45ACCTE #7767 in Denton, Texas

The ES44AC (Evolution Series, 4400 HP, AC traction) replaces the AC4400CW model in GE's range. These locomotives have been ordered by every Class I railroad in North America: Union Pacific Railroad (who refers to these locomotives as the C45ACCTE), BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, Kansas City Southern Railway, Kansas City Southern de Mexico, Ferromex, Canadian Pacific Railway, and Canadian National Railway. Iowa Interstate Railroad ordered 14 ES44AC's in April 2008 to be delivered by October 2008 to handle an expected traffic growth of 25%-30%, resulting from new ethanol plants coming on line.[citation needed] Iowa Interstate ordered two additional ES44AC's to be delivered in December 2009. Iowa Interstate again ordered 3 additional GE ES44AC's after selling 2 of the railroads EMD SD38-2's for the new ethanol plants.

CSX began receiving an order of 200 ES44AC's (referred to by CSX as the ES44AH) in December 2007. The "H" in ES44AH stands for "heavy", which is in reference to a combination of subsystems that produce high levels of tractive effort at low speeds. In order to be classified as an "AH" by CSX, a locomotive has to have not only an increased nominal weight (currently to 432,000 pounds or 196,000 kilograms), but also (1) steerable trucks, (2) TM3 adhesion control software, (3) software that extends to 33,000 pounds (15,000 kg) from 30,000 pounds (14,000 kg) the maximum amount of tractive effort that each traction motor is permitted to produce, and (4) GE's Rail Cleaner, which directs high-pressure air onto the rails in front of the sand nozzles forward of axle number one.

In September 2008, Norfolk Southern purchased 24 ES44AC's numbered 8000-8023, and began receiving the first of these units in October 2008. Ordered to be used on long haul coal trains, they were the first new AC locomotives ever purchased by NS.[citation needed] An additional 65 units were ordered in 2011, numbered 8025-8090. 24 more units, numbered 8091-8115, were ordered at the beginning of 2012. 10 of these units: 8025, 8098-8105 & 8114 were painted in predecessor company "heritage" paint schemes for NS's 30th anniversary. All NS ES44AC's are built to CSX specifications, with the exception of the Hi-Ad trucks & headlight placement.

KCS's units are all painted in a Southern Belle paint scheme.[citation needed]

Cemex took delivery of one ES44AC - built to CSXT (units 700-839) specifications - numbered 81, in March 2008.

Canadian National's first order of ES44AC's was in January 2012, and as of 2015 they roster about 150 units, numbered in the 2800-2900 series.

Citirail/CREX acquired 100 ES44AC's for lease service. They are painted gray with blue & yellow nose striping and blue numbers. Most, if not all of these units, are leased to BNSF Railway.

In 2013, General Electric built one ES44AC, GECX 3000, as a test bed for their NextFuel natural gas power kit. The engine runs on liquefied natural gas from a fuel tender. The unit is currently part of BNSF's GE LNG test set, partnered with BNSF ES44AC no. 5815.

ES44C4

File:BNSF 8013.jpg
BNSF Railway #8013 at Dallas, Texas, 20 May 2014, awaiting re-crew.

The ES44C4 (Evolution Series, 4400 HP, C-C wheel arrangement, 4 traction motors) was introduced in 2009. While similar to the ES44AC, the ES44C4 has two traction motors per truck, instead of the conventional three such as on the ES44AC. The center axle of each truck is unpowered, giving an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement. BNSF Railway is the launch customer for this model, ordering an initial batch of 25 units numbered 6600-6624.[6] As of 2015, BNSF Railway currently rosters over 900 ES44C4 units. On January 30, 2014 Florida East Coast Railway announced that they would buy 24 ES44C4's, to be numbered 800-823, for heavy haul service and intermodal traffic. All were delivered by the end of 2014, in order to beat the EPA's deadline on exhaust-emissions standards for new-built Tier-3 locomotives.[needs update]

A unique feature of these units is that there is a variable traction control system in their computer systems. One of the differences between an ES44AC and an ES44C4 are the air cylinders and linkages on the truck sideframes of the ES44C4; these are part of the traction control system. Every time a variable in grade, traction, or wheel slip occurs, the computer will adjust the pressure in these cylinders to maintain sufficient adhesion, by varying the weight on the drive axles.[7][8]

File:BNSF 8270 Ashland, NE 10-19-14.jpg
Rear view of brand new BNSF Railway ES44C4 no. 8270, at Ashland, Nebraska, on October 19, 2014.

ET44AC

The ET44AC (Evolution Series Tier 4, 4400 HP, AC traction) replaces the ES44AC model. These locomotives have been ordered by several Class I railroads in North America, including: Union Pacific, CSX Transportation, and Canadian National Railway. BNSF Railway will be receiving similar ET44C4's which have no traction motor on the middle axle of each truck.

In the summer of 2012, GE unveiled its first Tier-4 emissions-compliant locomotive, now officially named the ET44AC. The prototype demonstrators, as well as current production units, are visually quite different from previous models. First, the "ET" is 74 ft. 6 in. long - an increase of 16 in. from the 73 ft. 2 in. length of all previous GE 6-axle models beginning with the "DASH 9" series in 1993. While the front third of the locomotive, including the control cab, is basically unchanged, the rear two-thirds is noticeably different. On Tier-4 demonstrator units the entire mid-section above the prime mover is raised to accommodate an advanced exhaust treatment system; it is seen as a "hump" that rises above the rest of the locomotive considerably. Production units have this hump only over the exhaust manifold directly ahead of the radiator, rather than encompassing the entire mid-section. In addition, the radiator section is much larger than that of earlier "ES" units, featuring a two-fan split-cooling system located inside a very large, angular compartment that hangs over the rear of the engine, like on a AC6000CW. Grilles under the radiator section have been smoothed out, and there are two extra air intakes on the rear of the locomotive hood. Tier-4 demonstrator units are equipped with two airhorns: a three-chime horn - facing forward - located behind the cab and a rear-facing two-chime horn protruding from the back of the radiator. Production units feature the now-standard Nathan-Airchime model K5HL-R2 "evolution" airhorn mounted on the hood slightly forward of the placement location used on previous models.

Identifying features

The Evolution Series locomotives are visually similar to the AC4400CW, although small differences are evident. The most noticeable difference is the radiator section at the rear of the locomotive is larger to accommodate the GEVO's exhaust filtration unit. As with the AC6000CW the radiators project beyond the end of the hood, though not to the same extent. Also, unlike previous GE locomotives, the grilles under the radiator are at two different angles. The increase in radiator size is due to the necessity for greater cooling capacity in the locomotive in order to reduce emissions. The other major difference between the Evolution Series and earlier models are the vents below the radiators, which are larger than those on previous GE locomotives.[9] In addition, most, if not all, "ES" units have air conditioners mounted below the cab on the conductor's side.

"Wheels:" The trucks of GE Evolution series locomotives also distinguish it from others:

HiAd Trucks: http://www.cprdieselroster.com/High%20Adhesion%20Trucks.jpg

Steerable Trucks: http://www.trainweb.org/csxrailfan/nov99/ac60/truck.jpg

Operators

  • ArcelorMittal, operated by Cartier Railway:
    • 2 ES44AC units, numbered 301 and 302, built in summer 2010[10]
  • BNSF Railway:
    • 30 pre-production ES44AC units, numbered 5718-5747, were built between October 2003 & April 2004.
    • 691 production ES44AC units, numbered 5748-6438, were built between 2005 and 2009. BNSF 5958 was wrecked and retired in December 2013.
    • 1,179 ES44C4 units, numbered 6500-7199 (built 2009 through 2014), and 7921-8399 (built 2014 to 2015). More are on order for 2015 delivery.
    • 721 ES44DC units, numbered 7200-7920. #7695 wears the "golden" swoosh rather than the black swoosh.
  • Canadian National:
    • 125 ES44DC units, numbered 2220-2344. All equipped with microwave ovens.
    • 176 ES44AC units, numbered 2800-2975, were built 2012 through 2015. The first 2015 order (2950-2975) was built to Tier 3 standards but after the Tier 4 cutoff date and therefore are restricted to operation in Canada only. More, Tier 4-compliant ET44AC's are on order for 2015 delivery, with the first two CN 3002 and 3004 entering service August 6, 2015.
  • Canadian Pacific Railway:
    • 291 ES44AC units, numbered 8700-8960 & 9350-9379
      • 8700-8759 were built with GE self-steering trucks. Later orders specified the standard Hi-Adhesion trucks due to the higher maintenance costs of the steerable design.
      • 8858-8877 were painted to promote the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Effective March 4, 2010 all 20 Olympic units have been earmarked to be sent to Progress Rail in Winnipeg for removal of Olympic logos and repainting of the logo area to the original red and white scheme. As of 2015, 8876 still wears the Olympics paint.
      • 8890-8899 are fully equipped with ECP braking technology, which CP is currently testing on its coal fleet.
      • 8700-8960 & 9350-9379 are equipped with FTO. 8939 wears stickers on the front of either side promoting the Lord Strathcona's Horse.
  • Cerrejón:
    • 4 ES44AC units, numbered 10015-10018
  • Citicorp Railmark Inc. (Citirail) CREX:
    • 15 ES44AC units, numbered 1201-1215, delivered in December 2012.[11]
    • 50 ES44AC units, numbered 1301-1350, delivered in late 2013.
    • 35 ES44AC units, numbered 1401-1435, delivered during summer 2014.
  • Cemex:
    • 1 ES44AC unit, numbered "81", built in March 2008 as an add-on to a CSXT order.
  • CSX Transportation:
    • 550 ES44AH units, numbered #700-999 and #3000-3249.
    • 200 ES44AC units on order for 2015 delivery. 100 will be Tier 3 compliant, and the other 100 will be Tier 4 compliant.
    • 302 ES40DC units, numbered #5200-5501.
  • Ferromex:
    • 100 ES44AC units, numbered 4600-4699.[12]
  • Ferrosur:
    • 25 ES44AC units, numbered 4700-4724. Painted in Ferromex colors.
  • Florida East Coast Railway
    • 24 ES44C4 units, numbered 800-823, built in November–December 2014.
  • Iowa Interstate Railroad:
    • 12 ES44AC units where delivered from 2008 to 2009. numbered 500-511. These are the first new units purchased by this railroad.[13]
      • 2 ES44AC units where delivered in early 2010. numbered 512 & 513. 513 is painted in a Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad scheme; it was a predecessor to the Iowa Interstate Railroad.[13]
      • 3 ES44AC units where delivered in 2015, numbered 514-516. 516 is painted in a Rock Island inspired 30th anniversary paint scheme.
  • Kansas City Southern:
    • 75 ES44AC units, numbered 4680-4709 & 4765-4809[14]
  • Kansas City Southern de México:
    • 85 ES44AC units, numbered 4650-4679 & 4710-4764
  • Norfolk Southern Railway:
    • 220 ES44DC units, numbered #7500-7719. Units were uprated from 4,000 to 4,400 HP in 2014.
    • 166 ES44AC units, numbered #8000-8165.
      • Units #8025, 8098-8105, 8114 are "heritage" units painted for NS predecessor railroads.
        • #8025 - Monongahela Railway
        • #8098 - Conrail
        • #8099 - Southern Railway
        • #8100 - New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad ("Nickel Plate Road")
        • #8101 - Central of Georgia Railway
        • #8102 - Pennsylvania Railroad
        • #8103 - Norfolk & Western Railway
        • #8104 - Lehigh Valley Railroad
        • #8105 - Interstate Railroad
        • #8114 - Original Norfolk Southern Railway
  • Sava Transportation (Savatran) SVTX:
    • 3 ES44AC units, numbered 1912, 1982, and 1986, delivered February 2012. Units are numbered for the years that Penn State University won national college football championships.[15]
  • Union Pacific Railroad:
    • 5 pre-production ES44AC units, numbered 5695-5699 (re#d 5348-5352), were built between January & February 2003.
    • 938 production ES44AC units, numbered 5248-5347, 5353-5553, 7345-7529, & 7600-8051.
    • 60 ES44AH heavy units, numbered 8052-8111. These units are 432,000 lb (196,000 kg) compared to the ES-series standard 416,000 lb (189,000 kg), and are supplied with all required equipment and computer software to be classified as "AH" heavy units. UP's "AH" types are similar to CSXT's, except for their Hi-Ad trucks, and are desiginated C45AH's by U.P.[16]
    • 154 ES44AH heavy units currently being delivered, numbered 8112-8265.
      • UP 7605 was delivered in GE Demonstrator colors, but has been repainted into the standard Building America scheme as of 01/05/2008.
      • UP 2010, an ES44AC Boy Scouts of America tribute unit, was unveiled on March 31, 2010 in Houston, Texas to commemorate 100 years of Boy Scouts. Unit was renumbered from 7469.[17]
      • In September 2010, UP 7400 was unveiled, featuring a pink ribbon on the side as a tribute to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
      • UP 7964 is the 5,000th Evolution Series locomotive to be built, and it has decals on both sides.

Export sales

China

In October 2005 China Railways ordered 300 Evolution Series locomotives, ES59ACi, from GE Transportation Systems and Qishuyan Locomotive and Rolling Stock Works for delivery in 2008–2009. Two have been built at Erie, Pennsylvania, the rest will be assembled by Qishuyan at Changzhou.[18]

Kazakhstan

On September 28, 2006 national railway Kazakhstan Temir Zholy signed an agreement with GE Transportation Systems ordering 310 Evolution Series locomotives designated as the TE33A. The first ten of these were built in GE's Erie, Pennsylvania, plant while the remaining 300 will be assembled at a new plant in Astana, Kazakhstan which was opened by President Nursultan Nazarbayev on 3 July 2009[19] Delivery is expected between 2009 and 2012. The locomotives are built with dual cabs and are among the first diesel-electric locomotives with AC traction motors to operate in the Commonwealth of Independent States[20] (besides the 2TE25A built by Bryansk Engineering Works, Transmashholding, Russia).[21]

Australia

Rio Tinto Group has ordered 51 ES44DCi locomotives for operation on their privately owned rail line, operated by Pilbara Iron.[22] The ES44DCi uses the AC6000CW's longer frame to allow space for a heavy duty cooling system to cope with the hot desert environment that the locomotives operate in.[23] Units 8100-8118 were delivered in a predominantly grey paint scheme,[24] while units 8119-8150 feature additional red lettering and striping.[25]

Roy Hill took delivery of the first 14 out of a total order for 21 ES44ACIs in January 2015.[26]

Brazil

Carajás Railroad, a subsidiary of Brazilian mining company Vale, ordered 70 5800 hp ES58ACi locomotives. The units were built at GE's Erie plant and delivered in 2009. The prime mover is a GEVO-16. Gauge is 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)

Egypt

In 2009, Egyptian National Railways received 80 dual cab ES40ACi locomotives in two versions (painted blue for passenger trains and red/black for freight trains).[27][28]

Licensed production

File:Class 44-000 44-005.jpg
TFR Class 44-000
South Africa

Transnet Engineering in South Africa has a license to manufacture 233 4,200 hp (3,100 kW) 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge ES40ACi locomotives for Transnet Freight Rail, with core components including GEVO-12 engines supplied from the United States.[29]

The first six of these Class 44-000 locomotives were built in Erie, Pennsylvania in April and July 2015. In October 2015 the first of the 227 South African-built locomotives was nearing completion at Transnet Engineering's Koedoespoort shops in Pretoria.[30]

Images

  • NS Loco No.7550.JPG

    NS #7550 ES40DC.

  • GE ES44DC and Dash 9-44CW.jpg

    An ES44DC leads a Dash 9-44CW, showing differences between the two models. Note the larger radiator section, larger "wings" on top of the radiator section, larger cabinet behind the cab, and shorter engine compartment (Enlarge image to see detail).

  • CP Loco No.8760.JPG

    Canadian Pacific #8760 (ES44AC).

  • BNSF 7663.jpg

    New BNSF ES44DC #7663 at Commerce, California on February 21, 2005.

  • CSX Loco No.755.JPG

    CSX #755 (ES44AC).

  • Canadian Pacific locomotives GE AC4400CW ES44AC.JPG

    Lead locomotive (#9534) is an AC4400CW, followed by ES44AC (#8802), illustrating the radiator design differences

See also

  • EMD SD70 series, a similarly powerful locomotive produced by EMD in response to GE's predecessor of the Evolution Series, the Dash 9 Series.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 ES44DC Datasheet, The Diesel Shop
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 ES44AC Datasheet, The Diesel Shop
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 ES44C4 Datasheet, The Diesel Shop
  4. ↑ [1]
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ http://www.gevirtualrailexpo.com/ge_virtual_rail_expo/media/files/model-es44c4.pdf?ext=.pdf
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Diesel Era Magazine, Jan./Feb. 2013, pg.2.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Diesel Era Magazine, March/April 2012, pg.8.
  16. ↑ Diesel Era Magazine, July/August 2013, pg.2
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Closeup of the radiator on Rio Tinto 8110
  24. ↑ Rio Tinto 8118 prior to delivery
  25. ↑ Rio Tinto 8120 prior to delivery
  26. ↑ Issue 01.02 Western Australian Rail January 2015
  27. ↑ GE Transportation and Egyptian National Railways Announce the Completion of Commissioning of 80 Evolution Series Locomotives (2009-07-13)
  28. ↑ Photos of ES40ACi for Egypt at delivery
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Railways Africa, 11 Feb 2015: New Transnet Diesel-Electric Locomotives (Accessed 22 Nov 2015)

Bibliography

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External links

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