On July 17, 2015 we had the opportunity to tour General Electric Transportation's locomotive plant in Erie, Pa. The occasion was a monthly meeting of the Western Pa. Water Pollution Control Association, which I have been a member of for 34 years! We meet monthly at an industrial or municipal facility in Western Pennsylvania to enhance our knowledge of water treatment process technology. On this day, we were primarily interested in learning about GE's wastewater treatment technologies. However, for those that attended, there was a special treat in store - a tour of the locomotive assembly line! About 40 members of the association attended the meeting and a luncheon that followed. This report includes photos and information we learned that day as well as what I was able to find on the Internet. ~ Andy |
This video shows both the overhead crane in action and the export locomotive being moved out of the assembly area on a flat car. GE Transportation's sprawling facility covers 340 acres and parts of it date back 100 years or more. There is a two-mile test track along the eastern edge of the plant where locomotives are tested for different durations, depending upon the customer's requirements. With 5,500 current employees, it is the largest employer in the Erie region, but there are often layoffs when orders are slow. 2015 is shaping up to be their biggest year yet with a projected 500 locomotives produced. Below is a detailed map of the facility.
16 Comments
Cory Stansbury
7/30/2015 04:42:16 am
I have read that GE offered tours every Saturday during the summer. However, this was from a forum back in 2008 or 2009. Do you know if this still exists, or do you have to arrange special accommodations? I'd like to visit the plant in the next month, but have not been able to find any information. Thanks, and great pictures.
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Andy Blenko
8/6/2015 06:55:16 am
Cory - I am not aware of this, although I have not researched it. Our group got a tour because someone knew someone.
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Heath
6/9/2016 06:42:45 am
I'd like to get a tour of this facility. Can you email me any people I could reach out to?
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Andy
7/25/2016 11:18:02 am
Heath - I did not set up the tour which we attended, but I would think they would have a community relations person you could hopefully contact by phone. Good luck.
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Ruth
7/24/2016 05:43:00 pm
How many trains are made in Erie in a year?
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Andy
7/25/2016 11:19:44 am
Ruth - They told us during the tour that they build about 1,000 locos per year, with production evenly split between their plants in Fort Worth, TX and Erie, Pa - 500 at each plant.
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Dk
2/18/2017 11:54:51 am
Ok
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Yafie A Raihan
3/25/2017 12:14:40 pm
There Are 2 Picture That Spotted The CC 206 Locomotive. This Unit Are Now In Indonesia And Use Red Cowhanger
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9/30/2017 08:20:03 am
I am a job seeker.I would like to apply for registration and for apply a job.I have bundle of experience in Locomotive Engineering.kindly register to me.
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joe bronz
6/1/2021 03:32:47 pm
I am e-mailing you to ask if you have tours for the general public.............I know of a a young man who has a disability and he loves trains.. He is graduating from the local RISD ..a school for the disable . I know he would LOVE to see the big trains how they are assembled. If you do not who would have them... He lives in Saginaw Michigan...
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Daniel Eggerding
9/16/2021 07:33:34 pm
Do you still have tours of your General Electric Transportation's locomotive plant in Erie, Pa. ? I am a retired Electrical Controls Engineer.
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Daniel Eggerding
10/29/2021 11:29:33 am
Please tell me if there are any Tours or museum hours during November 19 to November 29?
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Gary J Baginski
11/7/2021 07:53:49 am
Yeah I did work at the Erie plant . Way back in the day there were 13000 people that worked there . I did work in Building 5 for a year but most of my time was in building 13 and 17 but it's not there anymore. In building 5 they made the Main frame for the Dash 8.
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2/13/2022 11:08:22 am
and can I have lots and rows General Electrics just for me the train engines engines?!
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2/13/2022 11:12:36 am
And can I have the General Electrics train engines engines just for me?!
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8/3/2022 08:16:56 am
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