Layoffs at GE Ft. Worth Locomotive plant

[reinhardtjh]

Downturn in freight has finally hit GE locomotive manufacturing.

About 250 workers losing jobs at Fort Worth GE locomotive plant

Nearly the same article from an Erie, PA source:
Layoffs hit GE Texas plant

Freight rail volume has dropped 4.5 percent year-over-year and more than 15 percent of the nation's freight locomotives remain parked.

[Philip H]

The other under reported part is the rebuild programs the railroads have gone all in on.  With so many idled locos sitting around, and so many rebuild options out there, I am going to surmise that many railroads will go whole hog on that route. Seems to me GE could keep these folks employed if they switched business segments.

[reinhardtjh]

GE does a few.  NS has the Dash9 rebuild program that results in a DC to AC conversation called the AC44C6M.  Some are being rebuilt by NS at Roanoke and Altoona while NS has contracted with GE to produce others.  I don't know about any other road's rebuilds.  NS also has the Dash8.5 rebuild which, I think, was mostly being done by GE, but that program has stalled.  There might be technical issues.  It's just a rebuild, not a DC-AC conversion.

NS also has the SD90MAC to SD70ACU rebuilds.  Most are being done at Altoona, but EMD/Progress has a few.  But they may be busy as NS recalled 4 units sent to EMD so they could rebuild them at Altoona.

[sirenwerks]

Not too mention that all this talk about cutting off access to Mexican products has railroads considering a slower future.

[Spikre]

 
  isn't BNSF converting C44-9s to AC44C4s ?
  that would slow down their ordering new C4s.
     Spikre
       

[C855B]

Not too mention that all this talk about cutting off access to Mexican products has railroads considering a slower future.

Not according to the investor communities. It's been up-up-up since the election. I think its more related to refreshing current fleets. I think the rebuilding is a way to sidestep the expensive Tier IV requirements, where the higher cost of new makes extensive rebuilds more attractive.

[wazzou]

Reminds me of the old Super 7 days.