GE Transportation

Last updated
GE Transportation
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Transportation
Energy
Mining
Founded1907;117 years ago (1907)
Headquarters,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Rafael Santana
(President and CEO) [1]
ProductsEvolution Series Locomotive
Dash Series Locomotive
L250 Marine Engine
360 AC Drive Systems
752 DC Drilling Motor
Wind Turbine Drive Systems
V228 Series engine
Durathon UPS
RevenueUS $8.2 Billion (2019)
Number of employees
27,000+
Parent Wabtec
Divisions Rail
Marine
Mining
Drilling
Wind
Stationary Power
Energy Storage
Website www.wabteccorp.com
GE Transportation rolling stock covered hopper car 'NAHX 44703' and GE Transportation car 'NCHX 38781' in the Duryea Yard, Pennsylvania, in July 2013. (View looking toward Sayre and Waverly, NY.) FAB's IMG 4275 GE-General Electric Rail Services NAHX 44703 Cylindrical Covered Hopper.JPG
GE Transportation rolling stock covered hopper car 'NAHX 44703' and GE Transportation car 'NCHX 38781' in the Duryea Yard, Pennsylvania, in July 2013. (View looking toward Sayre and Waverly, NY.)

GE Transportation is a division of Wabtec. It was known as GE Rail and owned by General Electric until sold to Wabtec on February 25, 2019. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. The company was founded in 1907. It is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while its main manufacturing facility is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine manufacturing takes place in Grove City, Pennsylvania. [2] In May 2011, the company announced plans to build a second locomotive factory in Fort Worth, Texas, which opened in January 2013.

Contents

The GE ES44C4, a diesel-electric freight locomotive of the GE Evolution Series. BNSF 7038 GE ES44C4.JPG
The GE ES44C4, a diesel-electric freight locomotive of the GE Evolution Series.

Rail products

GE Transportation is the largest producer of diesel-electric locomotives for both freight and passenger applications in North America, believed to hold up to a 70% market share of that market. [3] The only other significant competitor is Caterpillar-owned Electro-Motive Diesel, holding an approximate 30% market share. [4]

GE Transportation also produces related products, such as railroad signaling equipment, and parts for locomotives and railroad cars, as well as providing repair services for GE and other locomotives. Current locomotives in major production include the GE Evolution Series; for a complete listing, see the list of GE locomotives.

History

GE produced its first locomotive in 1912, and continued to produce switcher locomotives through the 1920s and 30s, while also producing electrical equipment for diesel engines from other manufacturers. Heavy involvement in main-line rail transportation began with a partnership with ALCo in 1940. ALCo had been the second-largest producer of steam locomotives, and was moving into diesel traction, but needed help to compete with the newly-emergent GM Electro-Motive Division. In the partnership, ALCo built the locomotive bodies and prime movers, while GE supplied the electrical gear as well as marketing and servicing infrastructure.

At first, the partnership was reasonably successful, producing the popular RS-1 road switcher, but by 1950 Alco-GE was struggling to keep up with EMD. In 1953, GE dissolved their partnership with ALCo and took over the gas turbine-electric venture that had started series production the previous year. In 1956 GE launched the Universal Series, which succeeded in establishing them as the main competitor to EMD. The subsequent Dash 7 Series failed to build market share, however the Dash 8 Series did better and by the end of the 1990s the Dash 9 Series established a market lead which the Evolution Series extended.

In the spring of 2007, GE Transportation Systems rolled out a prototype hybrid diesel-electric locomotive to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. In September 2010, GE Transportation announced plans to commercialise a hybrid design by 2014–15. [5]

On July 27, 2017, GE Transportation announced that all production of locomotives would move from Erie, Pennsylvania, to Fort Worth, Texas, by the end of 2018. [6] However, following the merger with Wabtec, the Erie plant remained open as operations from the former MotivePower plant in Boise, Idaho, were consolidated at Erie. [7] [8]

Mergers and acquisitions

On November 12, 2017, GE announced they would sell or spinoff the Transportation Division. [9]

In addition to the railroad industry, GE Transportation, a Wabtec company, also serves the following industries: Marine, Mining, Stationary Power, Drilling, and Drivetrain Technologies (wind gear boxes).

On May 21, 2018, GE and Wabtec announced that GE Transportation, valued at $11.1 billion, would be divested from GE and subsequently merged with Wabtec in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction by early 2019. [10] Upon completion on February 25, 2019, the merged company was 50.8% owned by Wabtec shareholders, with GE shareholders owning 24.3% and GE itself owning 24.9%; GE also received $2.9 billion in cash. [10] [11]

Propulsion products

In addition to railroad locomotives and equipment, GE Transportation Systems also produces large electric motors and propulsion systems for the mining, oil drilling, and wind turbine industries. GE also provides medium-sized, medium-speed diesel engines for several smaller vessels, mostly tugboats and other similarly-sized vessels. These marine engines are marinized versions of their locomotive engines.

Battery products

GE’s battery business serves the rail, marine, telecommunications and energy sectors, including new smart grid technology. [12] [13]
GE's Durathon battery production takes place at their facility in Schenectady, New York.

A battery locomotive is in development as of 2020.[ needs update ][ citation needed ]

On November 13, 2020, GE sent out its first battery electric locomotive numbered 3000 to the BNSF Railway for testing on its mainline in California between Stockton and Barstow, California. It underwent various tests throughout 2021 to see the feasibility of a fully battery powered locomotive on the California main lines [14] [ needs update ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Locomotive Company</span> Defunct locomotive manufacturer

The American Locomotive Company was an American manufacturer that operated from 1901 to 1969, initially specializing in the production of locomotives but later diversifying and fabricating at various times diesel generators, automobiles, steel, tanks, munitions, oil-production equipment, as well as heat exchangers for nuclear power plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montreal Locomotive Works</span> Defunct Canadian locomotive manufacturer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GE U25B</span> GE U25B 2,500 hp diesel electric locomotive

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Motors Diesel</span> Subsidiary of General Motors

General Motors Diesel was a railway diesel locomotive manufacturer located in London, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1949 as the Canadian subsidiary of the Electro-Motive Diesel division of General Motors (EMD). In 1969 it was re-organized as the "Diesel Division of General Motors of Canada, Ltd." The plant was re-purposed to include manufacture of other diesel-powered General Motors vehicles such as buses. Following the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement in 1989, all of EMD's locomotives were built at the London facility. In 2005 new owners of EMD renamed the Canadian subsidiary "Electro-Motive Canada". The plant was closed by EMD's new owner Progress Rail in 2012, with EMD's production remaining in LaGrange, Illinois and Muncie, Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMD GP30</span> Model of American 2250 hp diesel locomotive

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GE Evolution Series</span> Series of diesel locomotive models

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electro-Motive Diesel</span> American locomotive manufacturer

Electro-Motive Diesel is a brand of diesel-electric locomotives, locomotive products and diesel engines for the rail industry. Formerly a division of General Motors, EMD is now owned by Progress Rail, a subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. Electro-Motive Diesel traces its roots to the Electro-Motive Engineering Corporation, founded in 1922 and purchased by General Motors in 1930. After purchase by GM, the company was known as GM's Electro-Motive Division. In 2005, GM sold EMD to Greenbriar Equity Group and Berkshire Partners, and in 2010, EMD was sold to Progress Rail. Upon the 2005 sale, the company was renamed to Electro-Motive Diesel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GE AC4400CW</span> Diesel-electric locomotive

The GE AC4400CW, sometimes referred as "AC44CW" is a 4,400 horsepower (3,300 kW) diesel-electric locomotive that was built by GE Transportation Systems between 1993 and 2004. It is like the Dash 9-44CW, but features AC traction motors instead of DC, with a separate inverter per motor. In appearance, the AC4400CW is somewhat similar to GE's more powerful locomotive, the AC6000CW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GE Dash 8-32B</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GE Dash 8-40CW</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wabtec</span> American manufacturing company

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The GE Universal Series is a series of diesel locomotives intended for the export market introduced by General Electric in early 1956. General Electric had previously partnered with Alco, producing locomotives for export using Alco's 244 engine, and provided electrical parts for Alco's domestic production. However, with the advent of the Universal Series, GE ended its partnership with Alco and entered the export locomotive market on its own.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GE boxcab</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GE Dash 9 Series</span> Series of American diesel-electric locomotive models

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian locomotive class WDG-4G</span> Broad-gauge freight-hauling diesel-electric locomotive class of Indian Railways

The Indian locomotive class WDG-4G is a class of dual-cabin freight-hauling diesel-electric locomotive used by the Indian Railways (IR). The locomotive is designed by GE Transportation and is based on its Evolution Series, which are used in North America. The class is meant for freight hauling and replaces the older American Locomotive Company (ALCO)-designed locomotives, which have been the mainstay diesels of Indian Railways since 1962. Equipped with a 12-cylinder fully turbocharged GEVO engine, it is claimed to be 50% more environmentally friendly than its predecessors and is the first in the country to be compliant with level one of the emission norms set by the International Union of Railways (UIC-1). The locomotive has two cabs for easy reversal, both of which are air conditioned.

References

  1. John Dineen Named President and CEO of GE Healthcare; Lorenzo Simonelli to Lead GE Transportation : Press Releases : News : GE Archived 2013-01-24 at archive.today
  2. "'High probability' for layoffs in Grove City, GE official says". Sharon Herald. 31 January 2009. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  3. Middleton, William; Smerk, George; Diehl, Roberta, eds. (2007). Encyclopedia of North American Railroads. Indiana University Press. ISBN   978-0-253-34916-3.
  4. Tita, Bob (2010-06-04). "Caterpillar expected to make Electro-Motive more competitive". ble-t.org. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Hamilton said Electro-Motive has about 30% of the North American market...
  5. "GE hybrid locomotive ready for the market in 2014–15". International Railway Journal . 2010-09-23. Archived from the original on 2010-09-26. Retrieved 2010-09-23.
  6. "GE Transportation, a Wabtec company to end locomotive production in Erie". Railway Gazette International . July 27, 2017. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  7. Wabtec to close MotivePower plant Railway Gazette International September 21, 2019
  8. "Wabtec to Close Locomotive Manufacturing Company in Boise, Consolidate Operations into Erie Site". www.erienewsnow.com. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  9. Robert Channick (November 13, 2017). "GE looks to sell or spin off Chicago-based transportation division". Chicago Tribune .
  10. 1 2 "GE to merge transportation unit with Wabtec in $11.1 billion deal". Reuters. May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  11. Wabtec and GE Transportation complete merger Archived 2020-08-01 at the Wayback Machine Railway Gazette International February 25, 2019
  12. Allen, Pam (2009-07-27). "GE plans $100M battery plant for Schenectady".
  13. [ dead link ]
  14. "BNSF and Wabtec prepare to test battery-electric locomotive". Railway Gazette International, July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.