GE Evolution Series

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

The Evolution Series are GE Transportation Systems' new diesel locomotive models that meet the U.S. EPA's Tier 2 locomotive emissions standards that took effect in 2005. The Evolution Series locomotives can be delivered with either AC or DC traction motors, depending on the railroad's preference. All are powered by the new GEVO 12-cylinder engine which delivers equivalent power to the older 16-cylinder FDL engine while consuming less fuel and producing fewer emissions.

Models

Currently three different Evolution Series models have been produced. They are all six axle locomotives and have the wheel arrangement C-C (AAR classification) or Co'Co' (UIC classification).

ES40DC

The ES40DC (Evolution Series 4000 hp DC traction) replaces the former Dash 9-40CW model in GE's range and, like the former model, has been delivered exclusively to Norfolk Southern. NS appears to prefer a slightly lower-rated locomotive which uses less fuel while producing the same tractive effort but also reduces wear on the engine components than higher horsepower models used by other railroads.

ES44DC

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

ES44AC

The ES44AC (Evolution Series 4400 hp AC traction) replaces the former 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, Kansas City Southern, Kansas City Southern de Mexico, Ferromex, and Canadian Pacific. Iowa Interstate Railroad ordered 12 ES44ACs in April, 2008 to be delivered by October 1, 2008 to handle an expected traffic growth of 25%-30%, resulting from new ethanol plants coming on line.

CSX began receiving delivery of 200 ES44AC's (referred to by CSX as ES44AH's) for 2007-2008 in December of 2007. While primarily intended for unit coal service, they will likely also see general service. The 'H' in "AH" is symbolic of the heavier than standard configuration with High Tractive Effort software. CSX's low speed, high tractive effort software is very similar to that used on Union Pacific Railroad units. Additionally these units will be equipped with software to operate in DPU or "Distributed Power Unit Mode" as remote control helpers.

Also, CEMEX Cement took delivery of one ES44AC, number 81, in March 2008.

Identification and spotting features

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).

The Evolution Series locomotives very much resemble the previous Dash 9 and AC series safety cab models in superficial appearance. Both AC and DC models have the large cabinet behind the crew compartment on the left-hand side which on the AC models houses the traction inverters. The previous Dash 9 models had a much smaller cabinet here than the AC models did. It is thus difficult to distinguish the DC and AC versions of the Evolution Series.

Previous designs had substantial space between the exhaust stack and the radiator "wings", and this is lacking on the Evolution Series.

The radiator section is significantly longer than previous designs, and extends forward towards the exhaust stack. As on the AC6000CW, it overhangs at the rear. The sloped underside has two sections with different slope angles, unlike the single previous angle. The front end on top has a raised 'hump' - this area houses the air-to-air heat exchanger and water-to-air heat exchanger fitted to these locomotives to improve emissions.

Overall length appears to be shorter, but is the same, and the fuel tanks are identical. The standard truck is the HiAd, but a Steerable Truck is an option.

Evolution Series Operators

• BNSF Railway:
  • 30 pre-production ES44AC units, numbered 5718-5747, were built between October 2003 & April 2004.
  • 489 production ES44AC units, numbered 5748-5837 & 5844-6238.
  • 295 ES44DC units, numbered 7505-7799.
  • 25 ES44DC units, numbered 7480-7504, on order for 2008 with delivery expected between June & July.
• Canadian National:
  • 50 ES44DC units, numbered 2220-2269.
  • 40 ES44DC units, numbered 2270-2309 currently being delivered.
• Canadian Pacific Railway:
  • 160 ES44AC units, numbered 8700-8859.
  • 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 & 8859 were delivered without lettering on the sides of the long hood. They have been subsequently painted to promote the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. CP 8858 & 8859, Engineer's Side, Conductor's Side
  • 85 ES44AC units, numbered 8860-8944, are on order for 2008, with 51 currently being delivered & the remaining 34 being delivered later into the year.
  • The first 18 of these units are being painted by GE into the Olympic scheme as well. New Units
  • These 85 units will replace the leased CEFX GE AC4400CW's, 1026-1059.
  • 25-40 more ES44AC's are expected between 2009 & 2010.
• Cemex
  • 1 ES44AC unit, numbered "81", was built in March of 2008.
• CSX Transportation:
  • 302 ES44DC units, numbered 5200-5501. CSXT 5500 lettered "Spirit of Cincinnati"
  • 100 ES44DC units, numbered 5502-5602, on order for 2008.
  • 100 ES44AC units, numbered 700-799.
  • 100 ES44AC units, numbered 800-899, on order for 2008 and are currently being delivered.
• Ferromex:
  • 100 ES44AC units, numbered 4600-4699.
• Iowa Interstate Railroad:
  • 12 ES44DC units on order with delivery expected in October 2008.
• Kansas City Southern:
  • 30 ES44AC units acquired for the new Kansas City Southern de Mexico numbered KCSM 4650-4679.
  • 20 ES44AC units, numbered KCS 4680-4699.
  • 30 ES44AC units, numbered KCSM 4700-4729.
  • 30 ES44AC units, numbered KCS 4730-4759, on order for 2008.
  • All of the units are being painted into a Southern Belle (KCS) scheme. The KCS units are being painted in Erie by GE, while some of KCSM have been delivered in primer to speed up delivery time. KCSM 4679
• Norfolk Southern Railway:
  • 15 pre-production ES40DC units, numbered 7500-7514, were built between March & May of 2004.
  • 7500-7504 were delivered as 9912-9916.
  • 205 ES40DC units, numbered 7500-7719.
• Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway
  • 25 ES44AC units on order for delivery in September & October of 2008.
• Union Pacific Railroad:
  • 5 pre-production ES44AC units, numbered 5695-5699, were built between January & February of 2003.
  • 501 production ES44AC units, numbered 5248-5347, 5353-5694 & 7600-7799.
  • 125 ES44AC units, numbered 7800-7924, are on order for 2008 and are currently being delivered.
  • UP 7605 was delivered in GE Demonstrator colors, but has been repainted into the standard Building America scheme as of 01/05/2008.

Export sales

On September 28, 2006, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway of Kazakhstan, signed a purchase agreement with GE Transportation Systems ordering 310 Evolution Series locomotives. The order represents the first export of the locomotive to a railroad company outside of North America. The first ten of these locomotives will be built in GE's Erie, Pennsylvania, plant while the remaining 300 will be built at a new plant in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. Delivery is expected between 2008 and 2012. The locomotives will be built with dual cabs and will become the first diesel-electric locomotives with AC traction motors to operate in the Commonwealth of Independent States.

References

• NorthEast Rails. GE AC4400-6000 Diesel Railroad Locomotives. Retrieved on February 23, 2005.
• GE Transportation Systems. Evolution Series locomotive. Retrieved on March 31, 2008.
• GE Evolution Locomotives. Published by Voyageur Press 2007 "[1]"