ERIE, Pa.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 23, 2002—Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman and the General Electric Company announced today that GE Transportation Systems has launched the "GE Evolution Series," a full line of more fuel-efficient locomotives that meets the EPA's emissions standards, two years ahead of schedule. "We're here for an important purpose - the launch of the cleanest diesel-powered locomotive ever made - a real technological and environmental accomplishment of which GE should be proud," said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman. "Our railroads are an important and efficient means of transportation and with the help of industry leaders, such as GE, it can also become one of the cleanest as well." GETS invested more than $200 million and six years of research and development into its new locomotive development program, said John Krenicki, Jr., President and CEO of GE Transportation Systems. The Evolution Series' 4,400-horsepower, 12-cylinder GEVO diesel engine reduces emissions 40 percent from current locomotives and features a platform that can be upgraded to meet EPA regulations beyond 2005, he said. "Six years ago, we pulled together a team of scientists, engineers and customers to explore how we could build the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly diesel electric locomotive. We wanted to not only meet EPA standards, but exceed them," said Krenicki. "The Evolution Series locomotive gives our customers a product that will continue to meet emissions regulations and save them fuel over the life of the locomotive. This is a locomotive that will evolve and serve them well over the next two decades. GE Transportation Systems will have the new Evolution Series locomotive ready for customers beginning in 2003, two full years before they must comply with the newest regulations, he said. GETS' technology investment in the emissions program has already yielded 25 U.S. patents, 13 patents pending and 18 invention disclosures. The Evolution Series' new GEVO 12-cylinder engine produces the same horsepower as a 16-cylinder engine, but produces lower emissions and is engineered to be more efficient. Joining Whitman at Monday's unveiling were several dignitaries, including U.S. Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) and Stephen D. Ramsey, Vice President of GE Corporate Environmental Programs. "Like the rest of the nation, the people of Pennsylvania care for the environment," English said. "We're proud to have developed this new, environmentally friendly locomotive right here in northwestern Pennsylvania." "GE is a world leader in putting technology to work to meet customer needs while addressing environmental concerns," said Stephen D. Ramsey, GE Vice President for Corporate Environmental Programs. "Today we add the world's cleanest locomotive to an array of GE technologies and products that are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. GE Transportation Systems has won the majority of new locomotive orders over the past three years, while totaling more than $1 billion in global services each year. Thirteen thousand (13,000) GE locomotives are operated worldwide, with six thousand five hundred (6,500) under maintenance service contracts.
On 01 October 2003, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF), took delivery of three GEVO locomotives, #5720, #5722, and #5723, in Chicago. The three locomotives were on their way to Montana for testing on grain trains and other heavy tonnage trains in mountain territory, and were part of a 30-unit GEVO locomotive set the BNSF has leased for testing. The units will be placed within the BNSF locomotive roster in spots #5718 through #5747. With the new BNSF locomotives being aesthetically, as well as technologically, different from the myriad of GE Dash 9's on the BNSF locomotive roster, Trainman_45 decided to kitbash a model of a new BNSF GEVO locomotive. Below in the gallery, one can see how Trainman_45 created his HO scale model.
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