(1) Whatever you think of their politics, the Kazakhstanis are good for the money: another new story recently said K. was on ts way to being the second or third biggest oil exporter in the world!
(2) K. Railways was, i.i.r.c., one of the outfits that had GE re-engine some Soviet-era Russian-built diesels a few years ago. Evidently they were favorably imressed by GE's product!
(3) $2.1 million is an incredible bargain for a new locomotive these days, but maybe sensible for the "key components" (diesel engine + electronics/electricals: each, traditionally, about a third of the value), which may be all GE is counting. Full cost would include the "locomotive mechanical portions" done in Pavlodar (where, however, I'm morally certain hourly workers don't make the money their equivalents at Erie would).
(4) "Evolution Series," so far, has meant the new line of domestic locomotives with GEVO engines. Now, I wouldn't put it past GE to apply the new "brand name" to FDL-engined export models, but if these ARE to be GEVO equipped they will be among the first GEVO exports. (When are the 6,000 hp units for China supposed to come out? They'll, I assume, have 16 cylinder GEVOs.) So far railways not planning to operate their locomotives into the U.S. -- even North American ones like the Labrador iron-ore carrier -- have opted for FDLs.
(5) Soviet railways had lighter axle-loadings than U.S. The main lines in Kazakhstan may have been upgraded, but I would still expect these new GE locomotives to be lighter than a domestic ES44. Since the first ones aren't due until 2008, there's time to design a reduced-weight carbody. (Maybe they will look like a Genesis? Or like the high-altitude units built for China's Tibeta railway?)
Alltold, a VERY interesting development!
