Mr. 2 spot,
First of all, forget about using the 'Alco' tradename. That was never proposed-nor would there any chance of it happening under the scenario I created. As has been hinted at many times before, it is almost most certain that GE still OWNS the Alco tradename.
The concept behind what I came up is based upon history. FM, with only an engine design to their name, spec'ed out a purpose-built version of the GSC frame built by Baldwin, WEMCO electrical gear (also similar to what was used by Baldwin), GSC switcher trucks (also used by Baldwin), set up a nan engineering office in the Chicago area (staffed with former EMD people) and built a 1000 hp switcher in an area of the existing plant.
The other outfit I borrowed from was Wabtec-and their predecessors-going back to Morrison-Knudson. Remember that their first loco job-back in 1971?-was the repair of some Alco switchers for City of Prineville. Today,
some 34 years later-they built new locomotives and components. Consider that BLW, LH and Alco did not last that long when the Post WWII replacement of steam began in wholesale.
My 'design' was just an answer to a question that somebody posed long ago-predicated on what other enterprises had done before in a similar circumstance. Fictional. Furthermore, I said that my idea was contrary
to the existing business model for selling new locos-the use of 'generic' parts.
Another way to answer the question would be to take an existing B23-7 give all the equipment a thorough overhaul, and replace the FDL engine with an Alco engine.
I think that is safe to say that as the installed base or Alco engines shrinks
in domestic rail, marine and stionary use-the availability of parts will decrease ever further-which of course will drive prices up.
The use of EMD material, components, etc is based upon the fact they never choose to or were able to patent any of this stuff. So, for all intensive purposes, the designs can be considered to almost be in the public domain-yes ?
At the same time, EMD used to be owned by a company who went after a whole host of aftermarket firms supplying 'restoration' parts for GM cars.
So-why was EMD silent when ICG (and others) turned out hundreds of 'remanufactured' EMD locomotives. ? I sure am not the one to answer that question. What I can guess is that all those locomotives turned into a bunch of lost sales for EMD.
Note that GE manages things quite a bit differently. Try and buy new GE locomotive material in the aftermarket. If one is a shortline-try and buy locomotive material from GE. You can't-you have to go through a distributor-and pay their mark-up. Emd eventually went this route, too.
As for existing Alco operators, they seem to have found a way to support tthe locomotives without much help from the 'factory.' For one thing, they trade parts and expertise between themselves-and also can rely on perhaps the most knowledgable 'Alco man' around-C G MacDermott for those issues that can't be solved internally. But the pool of good Alco material is shrinking-and someday these operators will have to look elsewhere for motive power. The upgrades they can do are fairly limited in scope and seem to deal with issues of available materials more than performance or fuel effciency.