I sure hope EMD can turn things around quick - like lots of people are saying, I can't imagine quality from either builder would remain high if there was only one supplier.
What would be interesting is how both "like kind" locomotives stack up in service on railroads that have both versions:
NS & CN - ES40DC v. SD70M-2
UP & BNSF - ES44AC v. SD70ACe
For those of you on this site who work for NS, CN, UP or BNSF (or anyone else who has driven several of these models in interline service or otherwise), your personal experiences would certainly be interesting.
I guess I can understand the various railroads' unwillingness to elaborate as to the respective strength/weaknesses of each model. What would be interesting to know is how the above comparison ranks if broken down into several separate categories:
1. Low speed pulling power (again, comparing AC's to AC's, and DC's to DC's to avoid an "apples and oranges" comparison);
2. Sustained "over the road" performance - i.e., how well can each locomotive maintain a given or average speed given an identical amount of trailing tonnage;
3. How often does each need scheduled/unscheduled maintenance?
4. What is the availability rate/failure rate of each - whether in terms of percentage of time available, average miles per month, etc.
5. Financial incentives for each builder;
6. Customer support from each builder.
What would be interesting is how both "like kind" locomotives stack up in service on railroads that have both versions:
NS & CN - ES40DC v. SD70M-2
UP & BNSF - ES44AC v. SD70ACe
For those of you on this site who work for NS, CN, UP or BNSF (or anyone else who has driven several of these models in interline service or otherwise), your personal experiences would certainly be interesting.
I guess I can understand the various railroads' unwillingness to elaborate as to the respective strength/weaknesses of each model. What would be interesting to know is how the above comparison ranks if broken down into several separate categories:
1. Low speed pulling power (again, comparing AC's to AC's, and DC's to DC's to avoid an "apples and oranges" comparison);
2. Sustained "over the road" performance - i.e., how well can each locomotive maintain a given or average speed given an identical amount of trailing tonnage;
3. How often does each need scheduled/unscheduled maintenance?
4. What is the availability rate/failure rate of each - whether in terms of percentage of time available, average miles per month, etc.
5. Financial incentives for each builder;
6. Customer support from each builder.
