I am trying to find out if GE used the same traction motor in their 44 ton and 45 ton industrial switchers. I know that the 44 ton engines had 4 motors, while the 45 ton engines had but two.

I would appreciate any knowlege that anyone can share with me on this matter.

Both use GE 733 series motors, but with different gear ratios. 4000 RPM is the maximum motor speed, so the gearing for the 44-tonner gives 30 mph max loco speed, and the 45-ton gearing results in 20 mph max speed.

The 44-ton locos were regarded as "railroad grade", with 4 motors and higher duty cycle, and the 45-tonner was very definitely an "industrial" locomotive.

Howard P.

Some General Electric instruction books give 35 mph as the speed limit for their 44 ton locomotives. 45 ton General Electric locomotives were also available built with 5 tons of ballast in the frames and sold as 50 ton locomotives. Since everything else was the same, the same 20 m.p.h. speed limit applied.

So, if I had access to some motors for a 44 tonner, I could adapt them to the 45 tonner using the old gears?

There are some minor variations in the 733 motor as used in different applications by GE. Some 44 tonners use the same pinion as some 45 tonners, but not always. The important thing is to make sure any substitute motor has the same pinion and the one being replaced. The mechanical mounting of the motor to the gearbox can also differ slightly, but most variations can be interchanged.

If you need any parts, check with Dennis Lavender at Western Star Rail Service, Newark, OH 740-344-3336.