GE Evolution Series

Three of Union Pacific Railroad's Evolution Series locomotives leaving Hutchinson, Kansas with ES44AC #5304 in the lead.

The Evolution Series is a line of diesel locomotives built by GE Transportation Systems, 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.

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

Models

Currently, four 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.

ES40DC

The ES40DC (Evolution Series, 4000 HP, DC traction) replaces the Dash 9-40CW model in GE's range and, like the former model, has been delivered exclusively to Norfolk Southern Railway. ES44DCs owned by CSX Transportation have also been given this designation after being de-rated to 4,000 hp.

ES44DC

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

Iowa Interstate Railroad #505 enters Blue Island.

The ES44AC (Evolution Series, 4400 HP, AC traction) replaces the AC4400CW model in GE's range. These locomotives have been ordered by Union Pacific Railroad (who refers to these locomotives as the C45ACCTE), BNSF Railway, Norfolk Southern Railway, Kansas City Southern Railway, Kansas City Southern de Mexico, Ferromex, and Canadian Pacific Railway. Iowa Interstate Railroad ordered 12 ES44ACs 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 ES44ACs to be delivered in December 2009.

CSX began receiving an order of 200 ES44ACs (referred to by CSX as the ES44AH) in December 2007. The "H" in ES44AH stands for the heavier-than-standard configuration with "high tractive effort" software. The software is very similar to that used on Union Pacific units. Additionally, these units will be equipped with software to operate in DPU or "Distributed Power Unit Mode" as remote control helpers.^{[citation needed]}

In September 2008, Norfolk Southern purchased 24 ES44ACs numbered 8000-8023, and began receiving the first of these units in October 2008. They are the first new AC locomotives ever purchased by NS. These new locomotives will be used in long haul coal trains.^{[citation needed]} An additional 65 units have been ordered, numbered 8025-8090.

KCS's units are all painted in a Southern Belle paint scheme. The KCS units are being painted in Erie by GE, while some of KCSM's units have been delivered in primer to speed up delivery time.^{[citation needed]}

Cemex took delivery of one ES44AC, number 81, in March 2008.

ES44C4

The ES44C4 (Evolution Series, 4400 HP, AC traction, 4 traction motors) is the newest model in the series. It is similar to the ES44AC, except that it has four traction motors instead of six. 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. As of November 2011, BNSF is the only buyer of this model and has 300 units.

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.

Identifying features

The Evolution Series locomotives are visually similar to the Dash 9 and AC4400CW, although small differences are evident. The most significant differences are in the radiator section at the rear of the locomotive; the "wings" at the end of the carbody are larger, as is the entire radiator of the locomotive. As with the AC6000CW the radiators project beyond the end of the hood, and unlike any previous GE locomotive the grills under the radiator are at two different angles. The increase in radiator size is due to the necessity of greater cooling capacity in the locomotive in order to reduce emissions. The other major difference between the Evolution Series locomotives and older models are the vents below the radiators, which are larger than those on previous GE locomotives.

Evolution Series operators

• ArcelorMittal, operated by Cartier Railway:
  • 2 ES44ACs, numbered 301 and 302, built in summer 2010
• BNSF Railway:
  • 30 pre-production ES44AC units, numbered 5718-5747, were built between October 2003 & April 2004.
  • 562 production ES44AC units, numbered 5748-5837, 5844-6299 & 6400-6415.
  • 134 ES44AC units, numbered 6300-6399 & 6416-6449 on order and are currently being delivered
  • 300 ES44C4 units, numbered 6600-6899.
  • 721 ES44DC units, numbered 7200-7920.
• Canadian National:
  • 125 ES44DC units, numbered 2220-2344.
• Canadian Pacific Railway:
  • 289 ES44AC units, numbered 8700-8960 and 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.
    • 8890-8899 are fully equipped with ECP braking technology, which CP is currently testing on its coal fleet.
    • 8900-8960 are on order for late 2011.
    • 9350-9379 are on order for 2012.
• Cemex
  • 1 ES44AC unit, numbered "81", was built in March 2008.
• CSX Transportation:
  • 250 ES44AC units, numbered 700-949.
  • 50 ES44AC units, numbered 950-999.
    • Order cancelled in 2009 after one unit was completed. The one completed unit became

Iowa Interstate 512

• • Units were reordered in 2011. Currently being delivered.
  • 302 ES44DC units, numbered 5200-5501.
    • All since de-rated to 4,000 hp and reclassified ES40DCs. CSXT 5500 lettered "Spirit of Cincinnati"
• Ferromex:
  • 100 ES44AC units, numbered 4600-4699.
• Iowa Interstate Railroad:
  • 12 ES44AC units, numbered 500-511. These are the first new units purchased by this road. Deliveries began in 2008; continued through 2009.
  • 2 ES44AC units, numbered 512 & 513, Deliveries occurred in 2009.
    • Number 513 is painted in a Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad scheme; the Rock Island was a predecessor to the Iowa Interstate.
• Kansas City Southern:
  • 110 ES44AC units, numbered 4650-4759.
• Norfolk Southern Railway:
  • 15 pre-production ES40DC units, numbered 7500-7514, were built between March & May 2004.
    • 7500-7504 were delivered as 9912-9916.
  • 205 ES40DC units, numbered 7515-7719.
  • 24 ES44AC units, numbered 8000-8023.
  • 67 ES44AC units, numbered 8024-8090.
  • 25 ES44AC units, numbered 8091-8115. On order for 1st Quarter 2012 delivery.
• Union Pacific Railroad:
  • 5 pre-production ES44AC units, numbered 5695-5699, were built between January & February 2003.
  • 892 production ES44AC units, numbered 5248-5347, 5353-5694, 7345-7529,& 7600-7924.
    • 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.
    • In September 2010, UP 7400 was unveiled, featuring a pink ribbon on the side as a tribute to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

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.

• Kazakhstan
  • On September 28, 2006 national railway Kazakhstan Temir Zholy signed an agreement with GE Transportation Systems ordering 310 Evolution Series locomotives. 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 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 (besides the 2TE25A built by Bryansk Engineering Works).

• Australia
  • Rio Tinto Group has ordered 51 ES44DCi locomotives for operation on their privately owned rail line, operated by Pilbara Iron. 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. Units 8100-8118 were delivered in a predominantly grey paint scheme, while units 8119-8150 feature additional red lettering and striping.

• 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).

Images

• 

  NS #7550 ES40DC.

• 

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

• 

  Canadian Pacific #8760 (ES44AC).

• 

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

• 

  CSX #755 (ES44AC).

• 

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

External links

• GE Transportation Systems. Evolution Series locomotive.

References

• NorthEast Rails. GE AC4400-6000 Diesel Railroad Locomotives. Retrieved on February 23, 2005.
• GE Evolution Locomotives. Published by Voyageur Press 2007 "[1]"