Florida East Coast Railway Acquires 24 Locomotives from GE Transportation

No, there are NO GRADES on the FEC main line between Jacksonville and Miami. The biggest "load factor" on the FEC is wind resistance, when not running "inland" behind the trees south of Jacksonville. As soon as a southbound train exits the tree shield, and encounters the Atlantic breezes, the train speed drops almost 10MPH. The old saying on the FEC, when I was there was, it is up-hill in both directions because it is so flat.

They'll be sorry !

I wonder what color scheme FEC has selected! Here is a ES44AC that I painted several years ago.

 

Regards,

Swafford

Does anyone know when Tier 4 emission standards kick in?  Also, does it require large engine modifications to go from Tier 3 to Tier 4?  Thanks.

I'll agree with that statement, since the FEC was historically a 100% EMD power railroad. Wonder how long it will take them to learn how to work on the GE units.

So they will no longer be an all EMD railroad?  Wow.  Didn't think they would buy any GEs.

Do you mean that the FEC will despose of ALL their EMD units?

No, they won't get rid of their EMDs.  I didn't think they would buy anything but EMDs.  Now they will have EMDs & GEs.

 

This surprises me too.  As Hot Water said, FEC has always been 100% EMD...  I have a feeling the crews won't be to thrilled with them, being used to the characteristics of EMD power...

Wounder if these P4's are an add on to the BNSF order.  It must be a good deal to do to AC and GE!

I think FEC in the past wanted to get to the recent ice rink of the South Atlanta via some agreement with NS.  Power for some sort of run through train?

Swafford, I would  expect that the FEC  will choose to paint these new loco's in the Champion scheme. Very pretty. I've also heard (rumor only) that these ES44C4's will be replacing the SD70's currently on the roster. I don't think that the SD40's will be replaced as they are being shopped for refurb and repaint.

In related news, the parent company of FEC has agreed to purchase the bankrupt Montreal, Maine and Atlantic RR.

From the Portland Press Herald

I'm not sure why FEC would give up their still new SD70M-2 locos. They even leased additional SD70 units so I guess they must have liked them.

I suspect some aspect of financing in play.   Why else complicate your operation with a bunch of el-cheapo, throw away clunkers?!!  Years ago, Espee had the right idea on how to handle this GE outfit: Buy 'em cheap, run 'em 'til they get sick (usually about three to five years), park 'em in the desert 'til their times up!  Maybe sell a few parts off 'em, or send some to Mexico.  

I had seen this topic discussed on another RR board - One poster (presumably a BNSF engineer) replied. "Why don't they just take some of our units - in fact take them all"

The ES44C4's in the "Champion" color scheme will look fantastic! FEC SD40-2's in their "Champion" color scheme below.

 

Regards,

Swafford

 

 

Out of curiosity may I ask what are you basing your opinions on?

 

I ask because I have friends and friends of friends that are engineers for a class I railroad and they all told me that they prefer running modern GE units.

I can't speak for the latest GE power, but I do have personal experience with the -7 through -9 series.  The -7's were junk, -8's were a *little* better but not great, and the NS C40-9 units were dogs.  They seemed sluggish and underpowered, and felt like they were going to shake themselves apart even when new.  Maybe the ES44's are better, I really don't know.

SWap between the two?

GP's would work for the MMA  but not SD70 too heavy

 

Gunny

They might have ordered them, but they have not acquired the Evolution Locomotives yet.

 

Where will they be built? In Texas or in Pennsylvania?

 

Andrew

I watched a video this summer of the "orange train" that pulls from FL to NJ ( near the Super Bowl site).

Which railroad makes that run?

speaking to the roster of engines on the MM&A-- Most of what they had were old GE C30-7, 8's ; B23's, and a few SD40's. Got this info from Railpictures.net---- very nice prototype picture site.

CSX

 

Bill

The "orange" train, a.k.a. The Tropicana train, is pulled by CSX and primarily runs between Bradenton FL and New Jersey.
FEC makes its own contribution by hauling some Tropicana reefers from Ft Pierce to Jacksonville. CSX picks those up and takes them the rest of the way to NJ.

CSX takes the juice train from Bradenton, FL to Greenville (Jersey City), NJ. (which is about 20 miles from East Rutherford, where Met Life stadium is located).

I wonder if they will use any of these on the planned new Miami to Orlando passenger train?

 

Bill 

Well since GE is the originator of the diesel electric locomotive and is no. 1 in sales may have something to do with it? 

Obtaining new locomotives involves a plethora of considerations, much of which was learned by trial and error since the end of WW2.  Initial price is only one aspect, What are the short and long term capabilities of the piece you're buying. What are the operating costs, both known and projected.  What of operating and shop compatabilities?  Crew and shop familiarity? Existing parts inventories?  And what do you have when the unit(s) are paid up?  This is just the tip of the iceberg, but even so, it's not exactly rocket science to see that for a long term investment, EMD is king!....And yes, there are today, considerations that never existed in the past, but as a rule these will have a greater effect on the Class 1 biggies, before they trickle down to the regionals. Tread lightly, FEC !

Or part them in San Antonio.  I think the SP did lease some GE's to the Family Lines and PC, and they came back as real junk.

 

Please explain more about that.

No doubt about it . . . early GE's were difficult to work on and were loaded with so many protective devices that they often finished the trip being pulled by the other units in the consist.  Several times I had to hold a Brakeman by his ankles while he opened a side access panel under the cab window and use a flagstick to reach in and push a reset button.  The difference between GE and EMD was like night and day. They just did not understand the reliability needed to cross the American Southwest, with diesel facilities not even in the same state with each other and grades that went on for hundreds of miles.

 

Then, in the 1980's, when GE began to be responsible for its products after sale with a maintenance contract, they learned what was important to protect and what wasn't, as well as how to make the locomotives more user-friendly for the railroads' Mechanical and Operating Departments.  They only got paid for the power produced by the locomotive and the percentage of availability.  Having had an epiphany, GE's became better with each succeeding order.  Aiding their sales were the fuel efficiency and the price of their locomotives.  You can't knock their customer service -- they listen -- and their products are no longer second-rate.

 

This isn't about an Engineer's personal bias.  Not taking anything away from EMD, but GE has a good product and a good record of performance, and will probably be at least as good an investment as an EMD overall.

Is GE still including maintenance as part of the sale? If so, isn't EMD doing the same thing?

 

Jeff C

What are the economics which have allowed FEC to remain an independent carrier?

Ever try to sell a used G.E. to anyone besides a scrapper ????   44 tonners need not apply.

Now there is a hot train on the UP Sunset Route which comes into Houston in the early PM.  Usually has CSX power and Tropicana Refers.  Is FEC part of this move?

CSX is on the West Coast of Florida.

 

Andrew

CSX also runs on the east coast from west palm beach to Miami(also Amtrak and our commuter operation[Tri-Rail]) -- but has no access to the 3 shipping ports: Port of Palm Beach, Port Everglades, and the Port of Miami. That access belongs to the FEC.