National Railway Equipment genset switchers

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While Railpower was still dabbling with their hybrid "Green Goat" switchers, NRE rocked the switching locomotive world with its first Genset switcher, alternately known at first as a TES, or Truck Engine Switcher. The original unit was UPY 2005, and had a pair of 700-hp Cummins QSK19 engines on either side of a center-mounted cab. The original invoked a lot of comparisons to ALCo's diminutive C-415 switcher.

NRE, or National Railway Equipment, has a large used locomotive lease fleet, and also does extensive rebuild work. They have shops in thier home base of Dixmoor, IL, along with shops in Mt. Vernon and Silvis, IL and the former VMV shop in Paducah, KY. The similarity of the UPY 2005 to an early ALCo design is no coincidence, as NRE also owns the rights to ALCo's designs.

The moderate success of the 2005 yielded an order from UP for 60 three-engine locomotives, which were given the model designation 3GS21B, for 3 gensets, 2,100 hp, B-trucks (2 axles). The earlier prototype was given the model number 2GS14B for its 2 gensets and 1,400 hp. By the time the UP orders started to come online, BNSF was taking a look, with an initial order for six, which was later upped to 14. BNSF has the largest fleet of NRE gensets, with a total of 72 at work. Norfolk Southern has since placed an order for two, and NRE has built several demonstrators.

Though slower to gain acceptance, the 2GS14B has found a limited market as well. NRE rolled out a demonstrator unit that looked a lot closer in appearance to the road-switcher configuration of the 3GS21B. So far, NRE has also sold units to the Fort Worth & Western and Rail America subsidiary Dallas, Garland & Northeastern. DGNO has placed an additional order, but details of that order aren't known yet.

Unlike Railpower, NRE's 3-engine genset locomotives feature all-new frames as well. Most of the 2GS14B's have actually been built on recycled frames, but at least two so far - the pair for DGNO - have been built on new frames as well. In each case, they use rebuilt trucks, but since new trucks are being manufactured, an all-new locomotive isn't out of question.

In addition to the two four-axle models, NRE has announced a six-axle, three engine model, classed as a 3GS21C. The first units are under construction at NRE Mt. Vernon as of late 2007. The first went to Pacific Harbor Line in early 2008, followed by one for Norfolk Southern, and a second unit for PHL.

Like Railpower, NRE has announced a six axle, four engine model designated a 4GS28C. None have been built - yet. They also are building single engine 700hp switchers, called 1GS7B's. The first of those, for Bunge North America, was released in Sept. 2008.

Rosters (Click model number to advance to that model's roster page)

Model	Owners	Numbers	Notes:
1GS7B	Bunge NRE Viterra, Inc.	8001-8004 700 2010	The first single-engine genset locomotive built by NRE is the 1GS7B model for Bunge North America. It appears to have been built on a recylced EMD SW-type frame, but its heritage is unknown. The 1GS7B uses a single Cummins QSK-19 engine for a 700 hp rating. It's more of a switcher rebuild/refresh option than an emissions reduction initiative.
2GS14B	CSX Transportation DGNO FWWR NRE SEPTA Union Pacific	1317-1319? 140-141 2013-2014 2007 70 Y2005	NRE gave the market its first genset locomotive with the UPY 2005, but much has changed since the little center-cab unit rolled out. Present models look more akin to the 3GS21B, with a shorter hood and one less stack owing to the one less engine. NRE demonstrator 2007 and Fort Worth and Western's pair are built on recycled EMD GP frames, while the two for Dallas, Garland and Northeastern are built on all-new frames.
3GS21B	BNSF California Northern Canadian Pacific CSX Transportation MBTA Metro Stevedore Neptune Terminals Norfolk Southern Nova Chemicals NRE NRE Pacific Harbor Line Union Pacific US Army	1220-1292 501-? 2100-2101 1300-1316 3248-3249 0805 808, 808A 300-301 9120 2008-2011 2020 30-31, 33-34 Y2701-2760 6500-6503	The 3GS21B model uses three Cummins QSK-19 diesel engines for a total horsepower of 2,100. Unlike the 2GS14B, all of the 3GS21's have been built on completely new frames, using little more than recycled trucks in the construction. The easiest way to tell the GS21 from the GS14 is by counting stacks. Both models have one exhaust stack per engine.
3GS21C	Norfolk Southern Pacific Harbor Line	3850 80-81	The first two units of this type are under construction at NRE Mt. Vernon. Like the other units, the 3GS21C uses a trio of Cummins QSK-19's. The original units ride on recycled EMD SD frames. They have a much larger appearance than the 3GS21B, with a bulge at the back of the hood for dynamics, and a bulge at the front of the hood that covers the location of the center back windows.

For corrections, questions or to contribute photos, please e-mail me at: potb101@aim.com. Thanks!

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