GE Transportation

File:BNSF 7038 GE ES44C4.JPG freight locomotive of the GE Evolution Series]]

GE Transportation is the largest producer of diesel–electric locomotives for both freight and passenger applications in North America, believed to hold up to a 70% market share of that market.{{cite book|editor1-last=Middleton|editor1-first=William|editor2-last=Smerk|editor2-first=George|editor3-last=Diehl|editor3-first=Roberta|editor-link1=William D. Middleton|title=Encyclopedia of North American Railroads|year=2007|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-34916-3}} The only other significant competitor is Caterpillar-owned Electro-Motive Diesel, holding an approximate 30% market share.{{cite web

|url=http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=30491

|title=Caterpillar expected to make Electro-Motive more competitive

|first=Bob

|last=Tita

|date=2010-06-04

|work=ble-t.org

|publisher=Dow Jones & Company, Inc

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927143721/http://www.ble-t.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=30491

|archive-date=2011-09-27

|quote=Hamilton said Electro-Motive has about 30% of the North American market...

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File:FAB's IMG 4275 GE-General Electric Rail Services NAHX 44703 Cylindrical Covered Hopper.JPG

GE Transportation also produces related products, such as railroad signaling equipment, and parts for locomotives and railroad cars, as well as providing repair services for GE and other locomotives. Current locomotives in major production include the GE Evolution Series; for a complete listing, see the list of GE locomotives.

GE produced its first locomotive in 1912, and continued to produce switcher locomotives through the 1920s and 30s, while also producing electrical equipment for diesel engines from other manufacturers. Heavy involvement in main-line rail transportation began with a partnership with ALCo in 1940. ALCo had been the second-largest producer of steam locomotives, and was moving into diesel traction, but needed help to compete with the newly-emergent GM Electro-Motive Division. In the partnership, ALCo built the locomotive bodies and prime movers, while GE supplied the electrical gear as well as marketing and servicing infrastructure.

At first, the partnership was reasonably successful, producing the popular RS-1 road switcher, but by 1950 Alco-GE was struggling to keep up with EMD. In 1953, GE dissolved their partnership with ALCo and took over the gas turbine–electric venture that had started series production the previous year. In 1956 GE launched the Universal Series, which succeeded in establishing them as the main competitor to EMD. The subsequent Dash 7 Series failed to build market share, however the Dash 8 Series did better and by the end of the 1990s the Dash 9 Series established a market lead which the Evolution Series extended.

In the spring of 2007, GE Transportation Systems rolled out a prototype hybrid diesel–electric locomotive to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. In September 2010, GE Transportation announced plans to commercialise a hybrid design by 2014–15.{{cite web|url=http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/ge-hybrid-locomotive-ready-for-the-market-in-2014-15.html|access-date=2010-09-23|title=GE hybrid locomotive ready for the market in 2014–15|website=International Railway Journal|date=2010-09-23|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926155450/http://www.railjournal.com/newsflash/ge-hybrid-locomotive-ready-for-the-market-in-2014-15.html|archive-date=2010-09-26}}

On July 27, 2017, GE Transportation announced that all production of locomotives would move from Erie, Pennsylvania, to Fort Worth, Texas, by the end of 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/ge-transportation-to-end-locomotive-production-in-erie.html|title=GE Transportation, a Wabtec company to end locomotive production in Erie|date=July 27, 2017|website=Railway Gazette International|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807085142/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/ge-transportation-to-end-locomotive-production-in-erie.html|url-status=dead}} However, following the merger with Wabtec, the Erie plant remained open as operations from the former MotivePower plant in Boise, Idaho, were consolidated at Erie. [https://www.railwaygazette.com/business/wabtec-to-close-motivepower-plant/54623.article Wabtec to close MotivePower plant] Railway Gazette International September 21, 2019{{Cite web|url=https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/41072366/wabtec-to-close-locomotive-manufacturing-company-in-boise-consolidate-operations-into-erie-site|title=Wabtec to Close Locomotive Manufacturing Company in Boise, Consolidate Operations into Erie Site|website=www.erienewsnow.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-25}}

In November 2015, French multinational Alstom, which now specialises in rail, acquired GE Transportation's Signaling & Train Control division.{{Cite web |date=2016-07-19 |title=Alstom to Supply ITCS Signalling System for Qinghai-Tibet Railway in China |url=https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/press-release/12233828/alstom-alstom-to-supply-itcs-signalling-system-for-qinghai-tibet-railway-in-china |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Mass Transit}}

On November 12, 2017, GE announced they would sell or spinoff the Transportation Division.{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-ge-transportation-20171113-story.html|title=GE looks to sell or spin off Chicago-based transportation division|author=Robert Channick|date=November 13, 2017|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}

In addition to the railroad industry, GE Transportation, also serves the following industries: Marine, Mining, Stationary Power, Drilling, and Drivetrain Technologies (wind gear boxes).

On May 21, 2018, GE and Wabtec announced that GE Transportation, valued at $11.1 billion, would be divested from GE and subsequently merged with Wabtec in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction by early 2019.{{cite web | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-getransportation-m-a-wabtec/ge-to-merge-transportation-unit-with-wabtec-in-11-1-billion-deal-idUSKCN1IM12I | title=GE to merge transportation unit with Wabtec in $11.1 billion deal | publisher=Reuters | date=May 21, 2018 | access-date=May 27, 2018}} Upon completion on February 25, 2019, the merged company was 50.8% owned by Wabtec shareholders, with GE shareholders owning 24.3% and GE itself owning 24.9%; GE also received $2.9 billion in cash.[https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/business/single-view/view/wabtec-and-ge-transportation-complete-merger.html Wabtec and GE Transportation complete merger] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801015058/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/business/single-view/view/wabtec-and-ge-transportation-complete-merger.html |date=2020-08-01 }} Railway Gazette International February 25, 2019

In addition to railroad locomotives and equipment, GE Transportation Systems also produces large electric motors and propulsion systems for the mining, oil drilling, and wind turbine industries. GE also provides medium-sized, medium-speed diesel engines for several smaller vessels, mostly tugboats and other similarly-sized vessels. These marine engines are marinized versions of their locomotive engines.

GE’s battery business serves the rail, marine, telecommunications and energy sectors, including new smart grid technology.{{cite news| url=http://albany.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2009/07/27/daily11.html | first=Pam | last=Allen | title=GE plans $100M battery plant for Schenectady | date=2009-07-27}}[http://www.getransportation.com/na/en/docs/3238819_1249566341_Battery%20Plant%20Press%20Release%20FINAL%2008_05_2009.pdf]{{dead link|date=August 2013}}
GE's Durathon battery production takes place at their facility in Schenectady, New York.

A battery locomotive is in development as of 2020.{{Needs update|date=March 2022}}{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

On November 13, 2020, GE sent out its first battery electric locomotive numbered 3000 to the BNSF Railway for testing on its mainline in California between Stockton and Barstow, California. It underwent various tests throughout 2021 to see the feasibility of a fully battery powered locomotive on the California main lines{{cite web|url= https://www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and-rolling-stock/bnsf-and-wabtec-prepare-to-test-battery-electric-locomotive/56906.article |title= BNSF and Wabtec prepare to test battery–electric locomotive|publisher=Railway Gazette International, July 8, 2020|access-date=July 29, 2020}}{{Needs update|date=March 2022}}

• List of GE reciprocating engines
• List of GE locomotives
• GE Infrastructure

{{Reflist}}

{{General Electric}}

{{NA Loco builders}}

{{GE diesels}}

Category:General Electric Infrastructure subsidiaries

Category:Former General Electric subsidiaries

Category:Locomotive manufacturers of the United States

Category:Engine manufacturers of the United States

Category:Diesel engine manufacturers

Category:Locomotive engine manufacturers

Category:Marine engine manufacturers

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Pittsburgh

Category:Railway signalling manufacturers

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1907

Category:Wabtec

Category:2019 mergers and acquisitions