Florida East Coast Railway Completes Successful Inaugural Run of New GE Locomotives

Historic trip included intermodal, carload and automotive freight

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Nov 26, 2014, 07:48 ET

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, November 21^st, Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) completed the inaugural run of its first two new GE ES44C4 locomotives. Locomotives FEC 803 and FEC 804 provided state-of-the-art Tier 3 locomotive power to FECR Train 101; the company's most expedited through-freight train, transporting automotive, carload and intermodal freight from Jacksonville to Miami.

FECR's new Tier 3 locomotives on their inaugural run from Jacksonville to Miami, November 21, 2014.

FECR team members worked to prepare the locomotives for the first run, ensuring smooth operations for the historic inaugural trip. According to David Kobryn, FECR Locomotive Superintendent, "Within days of these units arriving in Jacksonville, our Mechanical Team had completed standard service procedures, equipped the units with WiTonix, and they were ready for service."

The new locomotives also got positive reviews from the FECR operations team."The new locomotives are quiet and comfortable in the cab. Overall I was impressed by the way they handled," said Donald Wolff, FECR Locomotive Engineer.

Mark Baker, FECR Conductor, similarly said, "The new GE locomotives are quieter with a comfortable ride and loud horn. The radio on the conductor side of the cab is a definite plus and good to have for emergencies."

"What a thrill it was to be able to be part of the crew for this historic event with the new GE additions to the FECR fleet," said Eric Usina, FECR Road Foreman of Engines. "These new GE locomotives exceeded my expectations in every way on this first run."

Fran Chinnici, Senior Vice President of Mechanical, Engineering and Purchasing was onboard this inaugural run with his key staff members and GE personnel. He said, "I am extremely pleased with the initial performance of these new locomotives and look forward to the many benefits these units provide, including fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. This exciting time for FECR was made even more special by all the FECR rail fans waving and taking pictures up and down the route."

Part of GE's Evolution Series, the ES44C4 locomotives are designed using advanced engine technology that lowers fuel consumption while also controlling NOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions. The company will receive a total of 24 ES44C4 locomotives from GE Transportation before the end of the year.

"As we continue to grow and expand, it is critical that we have dependable and efficient horsepower to support the transportation of intermodal, carload, auto and port business. With these new Tier 3 locomotives, we are well positioned to handle current and future customer needs," said James R. Hertwig, FECR President and CEO.

About Florida East Coast Railway
The Florida East Coast Railway ("FEC") is a 351-mile freight rail line located along the east coast of Florida. It is the exclusive rail provider for Port Miami, Port Everglades, and Port of Palm Beach. FEC connects to the national railroad network in Jacksonville, Florida, and provides carload and door-to-door intermodal solutions across North America to customers who demand cost-effective and premium quality service.

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SOURCE Florida East Coast Railway, LLC