Western Railroad Discussion > WABTEC/GE Battery Unit

Heard something about this unit, GECX 3000, the battery powered one, is either leaving or has left the GE Plant in Erie along with a pair of new BNSF Units. Supposed to be headed to Argentine and remaining there til after Thanksgiving. So heads up perhaps as this one makes its way west. Ben

Is that the one going to Long beach, CA?
Go

No, this is the road unit going to the Son Joaquin Valley in Cali.

Out 

It should be on its way. It left on an NS 309 a couple of days ago on the eastern board.

Passed me at CD 253 in Port Clinton, Ohio around 1730 on 11/19. I chased it and the wife took pics from my back yard. This was the best she could do.

It was bracketed by a BNSF ET44C4 on both ends, respectively loco 6 of 7 in that 309s consist.

Also watch out for the Virtual Railfan grab bag on YouTube. Once its released, im betting they will have that unit on there from Elkhart, IN.

Edit: It was sent out of Elkhart on an 19K to KC so it should be on the way.

Michael Fair
Royal Oak, MI



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/20 21:37 by bath_wildcat.

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GECX 3000 was also used as a test bed for LNG operations on Florida East Coast.

Posted from Android

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> GECX 3000 was also used as a test bed for LNG
> operations on Florida East Coast.
>
> Posted from Android

Different locomotive. This unit is one of a kind.This is also the first time this particular version of GECX 3000 has left the ex GE grounds in Erie. Ben

ns2557 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > GECX 3000 was also used as a test bed for LNG
> > operations on Florida East Coast.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Different locomotive. This unit is one of a
> kind.This is also the first time this particular
> version of GECX 3000 has left the ex GE grounds in
> Erie. Ben

Thank.s  They just recycle the #s, and move on?  I think the other one was an ES44

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ns2557 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > GECX 3000 was also used as a test bed for LNG
> > > operations on Florida East Coast.
> > >
> > > Posted from Android
> >
> > Different locomotive. This unit is one of a
> > kind.This is also the first time this
> particular
> > version of GECX 3000 has left the ex GE grounds
> in
> > Erie. Ben
>
> Thank.s  They just recycle the #s, and move on? 
> I think the other one was an ES44

Same unit - LNG GECX 3000 was converted to Battery-Electric GECX 3000

Willing to bet the only parts reused from the LNG unit were the frame and the cab.
Such is the life of a dedicated test and development unit.

Wasn't GECX 3000 also the Alco rebuild now on D-L (talk about a different model!) 

Out 

callum_out Wrote:
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> Wasn't GECX 3000 also the Alco rebuild now on D-L
> (talk about a different model!) 
>
> Out 

Believe you are correct. Guess alumnium cans are not the onlythings that get recycled huh? Ben

ns2557 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> callum_out Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Wasn't GECX 3000 also the Alco rebuild now on
> D-L
> > (talk about a different model!) 
> >
> > Out 
>
> Believe you are correct. Guess alumnium cans are
> not the onlythings that get recycled huh? Ben

No, that is incorrect. GECX #5000 was the M630 which was rebuilt and given the “Super 7” upgrades. This is now D-L #3007 and still wears the patched GE paint job.

The first GECX #3000 was a C30-S7R built in the early 1990’s using a former Southern Railway U33C as a core unit.

The second GECX #3000 was a brand new ES44AC that was a test unit for running in natural gas.

The current GECX 3000 battery powered unit was rebuilt from the natural gas powered ES44AC, reusing the frame and cab but with the mechanical components from the conventional ES44AC being stripped and replaced as part of the battery power conversion.

Posted from iPhone

Bryan Jones
Brooks, KY
Bryan's Train Photos

redneckrailfan Wrote:

>
> The first GECX #3000 was a C30-S7R built in the
> early 1990’s using a former Southern Railway
> U33C as a core unit.

Rebuilt in 1989 by Morrison Knudsen in Boise under contract to GE.

GECX 3000 is now in Kansas City

Posted from iPhone