GECX DEMONSTRATORS, PT1

As seen in the last post, GE's new Tier 4 demonstrators are now on the property...

The brand new ET44AC's are given the once-over by the crew in the yard, as the GE reps show off the units. The ET-Series is the culmination of a 15-year journey to improve locomotive emissions and satisfy EPA regulations. Beginning in 2000, the EPA issued a series of emissions standards to be met by locomotive manufacturers, referred to as "Tiers". In 2005, Tier 2 was introduced, which resulted in the ES-Series Evolution Line of locomotives from GE. By 2015, the fourth, and most stringent, level, Tier 4 was mandated, which brought about the new ET-Series engines. To test the new design -which features significant changes from the ES-Series- in 2013, GE built five test units, three of which are now here in  Hillsdale.

This rooftop view shows the PTC (Positive Train Control) antenna array on the cab roof, along with the raised roofline of the engine cab (GE terminology), and the forward-facing horn.

The rear view shows the massive radiators, along with the raised number plate and, just to the right of it, the rear-facing horn poking out of the radiator! The split-horns were only found on the test-units, along with the raised roofline.

The massive bulk of the ET44AC is apparent as a worker walks past 2023.

The third of the three consecutively-numbered units, 2024.

GECX 90, GE's mobile test lab, has accompanied the trio to Hillsdale for their testing on the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania. And next week, they will, indeed, be tested!