Re: GEs for Victoria?

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <36e20b29.21216655@news.netconnect.com.au> krel4203@netconnect.com.au (Krel ) writes:
>From: krel4203@netconnect.com.au (Krel )
>Subject: Re: GEs for Victoria?
>Date: Sun, 07 Mar 1999 05:27:16 GMT

>On Sat, 6 Mar 1999 18:03:44 +0800, "David & Jan Winter" <
>>
>>GE certainly have given EMD cause for concern in the North American market.
>>I'm not sure Goninan have had quite the same effect on Clyde - more the
>>tendering system has the impact of creating winners and destroying losers
>>with the net effect that next order, there'll be no competition - and the
>>issuer of tenders loses. NR should've supported Aussie industry (as should
>>all buyer/leasers) with a long term 50-50% build split. That's the true
>>win:win outcome, but government silliness has precluded it. 

>NR made a commercial decision to duy GEs. Why would they split an
>order and create two sets of everything - maintainence contracts,
>spares, operating specifications, etc? Whether we like GEs or not
>splitting the order would have begun to recreate the old railway
>problem of government interference and trying to appease every
>interest group and forgetting about what is best for the railway.

>Cheers

>Krel

Id have to totally agree with Krel here, Rail operators these days have to 
make decisions on the basis of profitability and operating costs,and not 
to preserve particular industries .
One of Rails major costs today , thanks to the Federal Govt is fuel , (an 18c 
/ litre fuel excise applies ) and to this end Rail operators have got to go 
for fuel efficient locos.
GE locos use 4 stroke diesel engines which are simply much more fuel efficient 
than their equivalent 2 stroke counterparts, and its not a trivial differance .
As an example , an NR class flat out in 8th notch is producing 4000 HP at the 
rail, and consuming 189 gals/hr , whilst an SRA 90 or AN class ,(the 
closest equivqlent ) under the same conditions , is making 3750 HP at the rail 
and consuming a whopping 274 gals/hr.
This is not a trivial differance.
In an environment where tjhere isnt a huge tax on fuel , these differances may 
be ignored , but not in Australia.

NR would have done better with freight versions of the ELs , which are 
marginally even more fuel efficient than the NRs.

I do understand now that GM  make 4 stroke diesels in the US.
Maybe Mark could provide a bit more info.


MD