RR economy

(cont'd)

Of course, all this RR industry growth stimulates growth in the industries that serve railroads because RRs are tremendous customers as well as producers.

GE Transportation, for 100 years a locomotive builder, has opened a huge new plant in Texas."With the help of massive, overhead cranes, a lean staff of 400 newly hired GE workers in matching black polo shirts, some toting iPads, snap locomotives together like kids with a Lego set, popping five preassembled modules onto a 73-foot-long steel platform. 

"The 12-cylinder engines are brought in from GE’s plant in Grove City, Pa.; the alternators come from the Erie factory; the traction-motor combos from a GE facility in Mexico.

"These 220-ton rolling power plants are majestic. But GE’s locomotives–as well as those from rivals like Caterpillar, Siemens and Bombardier–are smart, too, crammed with as many as 250 sensors and 20 or more microprocessors to monitor critical functions and performance. By analyzing the massive reams of data collected, GE helps railroads and their customers increase their productivity, decrease fuel use and minimize downtime. "

The efficiency and value that railroads are achieving have created wealth that supports thousands of families. 

See the locomotive building process at the Texas plant here.