When is GE going to Open New Locomotive Plant in Fort Worth?

[Swafford]

Good Day,

Any news on when is GE going to open New Locomotive Plant in Fort Worth?

Regards,
Swafford

 

[kenw]

everything I read says 2012, so they have a few more months.

 

[Swafford]

I wonder what railroad will be presented as the 1st engine produced at the Fort Worth Plant? I'm thinking BNSF....................

 

[kenw]

I wonder what railroad will be presented as the 1st engine produced at the Fort Worth Plant? I'm thinking BNSF....................

safe bet on that.....

 

[linda45]

GE will open its new Locomotive plant in Fort Worth by the year End.

__________________________
locomotive leasing companies

 

[UP Scott]

Come on Ken, you really think it's BNSF Is that just a Texas thing? Just kidding... Been a bit since I've been reading and posting. Just had to rib you a bit Ken, hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
Later...

 

[RCH]

GE did manage to get the plant opened in 2012. The track was FRA qualified on Dec. 14 and the open house was the following day.

I don't have a rundown of the specific locomotives they will be producing and what will be first, but a representative told me most of the 2013 production would be BNSF and NS. They are going to assemble kits at first, but will eventually build them from raw materials once the entire factory is under way.

 

[kenw]

http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=34&ArticleID=25212

so far no complete locomotive has been built (from reading the article, it says 'later this month"). Production so far has been wheels which is an associated factory and don't necessarily go to just locomotives.

 

[RCH]

The mining vehicle plant is located just to the north of the locomotive plant, although it appears to be fenced off as one campus. There is signage designating which plant is which at the north entrance, though. The wheels produced are for the mining vehicles, those massive dump trucks you see in coal mines.

I haven't spent much time in Fort Worth since delivering the locomotive for their open house in December, but I know we have delivered frames to them. They make for an unmistakable load.

I know when locomotive production ramps up there will be a yard job that will run pairs of locomotives north and south on the Main 1 portion of the Fort Worth sub that adjoins the plant in order to test various functions of the locomotives. I haven't paid much attention to the details of the job since I will never be able to hold it with my seniority. From what I hear, this job will be posted in the next month or so.

 

[Swafford]

Good Day Gentlemen,

Thanks for the updates................

Any news to report on the GE Fort Worth Plant? Any ES44AC seen yet?

Regards,
Swafford

 

[papio]

They've built and painted at least one for BNSF!

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,3041276,3041276#msg-3041276

 

[RCH]

I saw three more from the 71xx series today at the Alliance roundhouse. I think everything so far is the ES44C4 model.

 

[Swafford]

Good Day,

Thanks for the update. Can any of the new engines be seen at the plant? I thought about driving over to the plant tomorrow.

Regards,
Swafford

 

[RCH]

I've only been over there by rail before and I left by road. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure where public access ends and company access begins. If you were to see a locomotive there, it would be on the north side of the building. I know there is a road that leads to the north side of the building between the locomotive plant and the mining equipment plant to the north, but I was in a company van at the time so I can't tell you if you could get access or not. I don't believe there is any road nearer than that, other than Farm to Market road 156, which runs parallel to and west of the BNSF Fort Worth Sub. I'm not sure if you can see the area on the north side of the building from the road or not.

If you head over to Alliance Yard, you should be able to get a view of the roundhouse from John Day Road. Chances are good you'll see one or more of the new locomotives there.