GE Dash 9-40C

GE Dash 9-40C

Norfolk Southern 8845
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder GE Transportation Systems
Model GE Dash 9-40C
Build date January–April 1995
Total produced 125
Specifications
AAR wheel arr C-C
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Trucks GE HiAd
Wheel diameter 40 in (1,000 mm)
Wheelbase 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
Length 73 ft 2 in (22.30 m)
Loco weight

410,000 lb (190 t), full supplies -

(fuel oil, lube oil, sand).
Fuel capacity 4,600 US gal (17 kL)
Lubricant cap 410 US gal (1.6 kL)
Sandbox cap 40 cu ft (1.1 m3)
Prime mover GE 7FDL-16
Traction motors direct-current GE B13B
Performance figures
Maximum speed 70 mph (110 km/h)
Power output 4,000 hp (3,000 kW)
Tractive effort 109,000 lbf (480 kN) (continuous)
140,000 lbf (620 kN) (starting)
Career
Locale United States
Current owner Norfolk Southern Railway

The GE Dash 9-40C, also called a C40-9, is a 4,000-horsepower (3,000 kW) diesel locomotive that was built by GE Transportation Systems of Erie, Pennsylvania, between January 1995 and March 1995. The C40-9 is equipped with the 16-cylinder 7FDL-16 prime mover which is rated at a lower power than the 4,400 hp (3,300 kW) GE Dash 9-44CW that debuted a year earlier in 1994.[1] It features GE's direct current B13B traction motors.[1]

The C40-9 features the standard cab design and is the only model in the Dash-9 series to do so. It is essentially identical to the wide-cab C40-9W model otherwise. All units have rooftop-mounted air conditioner units which gives them their distinct "top hat" look.

Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) is the only operator of this model.[2] The company owns 125 units, numbered 8764–8888.[3] NS specifically requested the standard cab and may have purchased more units had the Federal Railroad Administration not required it to purchase the wide-cab C40-9W version instead.[1]

Upgrade

In mid 2015, NS started to upgrade its C40-9s into 4400 hp. C44-9s by upgrading the wattage to 3,281 kW, up from the as-delivered 3,000 kW. The units are being upgraded as they go in for their 184-day maintenance cycle.

Also in 2015, NS 8879 became first NS GE Dash 9-40C to be converted from DC to AC traction. The locomotive was rebuilt with a new GE wide nose and cab, and had locomotive speed limiter (LSL) and cab signals installed. These traction motor replacements are part of a Norfolk Southern / General Electric project to test the economic feasibility of converting Norfolk Southern's large (125 units), but relatively old Dash 9 fleet to AC traction. (BNSF Railway is also considering a similar upgrade program for its even bigger - originally 1797 units - C44-9W fleet). Work on the 8879 was sub-contracted out to and completed by American Motive Power, Inc. (AMP) in Dansville, NY. Two more units were soon added to the conversion program, NS C40-9 8799 and NS C40-9W 8900. Norfolk Southern's units will be called AC44C6M.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The GE C40-9/W". American-Rails.com. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Wilson, Jeff (2009). The model railroader's guide to diesel locomotives. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing Company. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-89024-761-7.
  3. ↑ "Norfolk Southern Motive Power". The Diesel Shop. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
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