GE delivers 5,000th Evolution Series locomotive

[MEC407]

From International Railway Journal:

GE Transportation has rolled out the 5000th Evolution Series locomotive to be built since the platform was first launched in 2005. The 5000th unit, a 3.28MW ES44AC, was delivered to United States Class I freight operator Union Pacific (UP) and is numbered 7964.

UP will feature the locomotive in its Denver Post Cheyenne Frontier Days event which is part of its 150th anniversary celebrations taking place this year. The Evolution Series is GE's most successful global locomotive platform with units now operating in North and South America, Australia, Africa and Asia.

Read more at: http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/lo ... -loco.html

[MEC407]

Close-up photo of the 5,000th ES: http://www.nathanzachman.com/Trains/Die ... &lb=1&s=X2

[Allen Hazen]

Thanks for posting those links! Nice photo.
--
Press release mentions "Evolution" locomotives serving in Australia and Asia, so the 5,000 includes export models as well as domestic-style ES44AC/DC/C4. But probably still averaging over 500 domestic ES types a year since type launch in 2005, of which the majority are ES44AC. So GE is closing in on the SD40-2's record as the most-produced second generation diesel locomotive!
--
Coincidentally, I just ran across a photo of Boeing's 5000th B-17, which was delivered (and flown by the Air Force) decorated with the signatures of many production workers...

[Fan Railer]

Have they already transitioned into tier 3 production models of the prime mover? or are those still in testing?

[GEVO]

All new NA Class 1 Railroad Locomotives had to be Tier 3 compliant for 2012 so the transition began late last year. Not all Evolution Locomotives have that restriction though as they are sold worldwide.

Tier 4 is required for NA Class 1's in 2015.