UK's Class 66 challenge - GETS

[Phil Hom]

GE lands first-ever freight locomotive order in the United Kingdom

GE - Transportation recently obtained an order for 30 locomotives from Freightliner Group Ltd., representing the United Kingdom-based freight-rail and intermodal service provider's largest-ever locomotive order and GE's entrance into the freight locomotive market in the U.K.

GE will develop the locomotives in partnership with Freightliner under "Project Genesis." The JS37ACi locomotives will feature AC traction and dynamic braking.

To be delivered by mid-2009, the locomotives also will be designed to reduce fuel consumption 10 percent compared with other power in Freightliner's more than 175-unit fleet, which includes 127 Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. Class 66 locomotives.

[uhaul]

I guess the railroad felt like something different. I hope this is not a precursor to something else.

[MEC407]

According to the discussion we've been having over in the GE forum, it looks like these units will utilize GE's Jenbacher J616 engine, which, if I understand correctly, usually burns natural gas or similar fuels, rather than diesel. I have to admit I'm somewhat surprised that a freight railroad, in this day and age, would buy into a completely new locomotive design that also uses a different fuel than its present fleet of locos. Should be interesting to see how that goes.