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GE Dash 9-44CW

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GE C44-9W
BNSF C44-9W #5518 at the Port of Long Beach on February 4, 2005.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGE Transportation Systems
ModelC44-9W
Build date1993–2004
Total produced3,668
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo′Co′
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm), Brazil
TrucksGE HiAd
Wheel diameter42 in (1,067 mm)
Length73 ft 8 in (22.45 m)
Width10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
Height16 ft 0 in (4.88 m)
Loco weight425,000 lb (192,800 kilograms)
or 212.5 short tons (189.7 long tons; 192.8 t)
Fuel capacity5,000 US gal (19,000 L; 4,200 imp gal)
Prime moverGE 7FDL16
Engine typefour stroke cycle V16 diesel engine
AspirationTurbocharged
AlternatorGE GMG197
Traction motorsGE 5GE752AH DC
Cylinders16
Transmissiondiesel electric with silicon diode rectifiers,
Performance figures
Maximum speed74 mph (119 km/h)
Power output4,400 hp (3,281 kW)
Tractive effortStarting: 142,000 lbf (64,410 kgf) @25%
Continuous: 105,640 lbf (47,917 kgf) @13 mph (21 km/h)
Career
OperatorsVarious, see table
LocaleNorth America, Brazil, Australia

The GE C44-9W is a 4,400 hp (3,281 kW) diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems of Erie, Pennsylvania. Keeping in tradition with GE's locomotive series nicknames beginning with the "Dash 7" of the 1970s, the C44-9W was dubbed the Dash 9 upon its debut in 1993.

Part of GE's "Dash 9" series of locomotives, the Dash 9-44CW shares its frame, HiAd trucks, 16-cylinder 7FDL engine, and 752AH-31 traction motors with the GE Dash 9-40CW. But while the more common 9-44CW offers 4,400 horsepower (3,300 kW), software in the 9-40CW's engine-governing unit restricts its power output to 4,000 horsepower (3,000 kW).

The design has since proven popular with North American railroads, although some railroads, such as CSX and Canadian Pacific, preferred its AC equivalent, the AC4400CW. Because of more stringent emissions requirements that came into effect in the United States on January 1, 2005, the Dash 9-44CW has been replaced in production by the GE ES44DC.

Many North American railroads have ordered the C44-9W. They were originally ordered by Chicago & North Western Railway, Santa Fe, BNSF, CSX, Southern Pacific, Canadian National Railway, BC Rail, and Union Pacific Railroad. Norfolk Southern purchased the very similar Dash 9-40CWs.

Rebuilds

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The BNSF AC44C4M is an Ex-ATSF GE C44-9W rebuilt with AC traction motors and an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement. The internal controls are similar to those of the newer GE ES44C4.[1]

Original owners

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Railroad Quantity Road numbers Notes Ref(s)
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 100 600–699 To BNSF 600-699; ATSF 666 renumbered to BNSF 599 in the early 2000s; 21 units rebuilt as AC44C4M.
BC Rail 14 4641-4644; 4645–4654 4641-4644 equipped with 'Canadian style' four-window cab, classified as Dash 9-44CWL.
BNSF Railway 1697 700–799, 960–1123, 4000–4199, 4300–5532 4470-4537, 4556-4587, 4591, 4592 and 4772-4978 sold to GECX following lease expiration with some being resold to G&W. 4385 and 4934 were wrecked and retired in 2002 and 2013 respectively. Some units sold to Fortescue Metals Group, Quebec, North Shore & Labrador, Canadian National, and Norfolk Southern (including ex-KCS units) and rebuilt into AC44C6M models. 100 units sold to KCS and some later sold to NS. 5530-5532 are warranty protection units, which were renumbered from 5841-5843. 25 of the GECX units were rebuilt to NS AC44C6Ms.
Canadian National Railway 233 2200-2205; 2500–2522; 2523-2726; 2727 2500-2522 equipped with 'Canadian style' four-window cab, classified as Dash 9-44CWL; 50 units rebuilt into AC44C6M models. 2727 rebuilt from 2667. Units 2697-2726 sub-lettered for Illinois Central. Non four-window cab variants came equipped with a different style cab where the nose slants down on both sides, allowing the windows to be notched at the bottom outer corners, known as "teardrop" windows [2]
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company 130 8601–8730 To UP 9665-9699, UP 9740-9834. [3]
CSX 53 9000–9052 Dash 8-40CW carbody with Dash 9 software. Many units sold off. Unit 9011 was wrecked and scrapped in 2005.
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil) 67 801–867
Ferrovia Norte do Brasil (Brazil) 50 9001–9050
Fortescue Metals Group, Western Australia 23 001–015 (new) 016-024 (RTO)
General Electric (testbed) 1 905
Pilbara Rail, Western Australia 72 7043–7050, 7053–7098, 9404–9409, 9428–9436, 9470–9472 (re-numbered to 9401–9403) [4][5]
Norfolk Southern 1090 8889–9978 These were uprated from 4000 to 4400 HP. All to be rebuilt to AC44C6Ms. 8917, 9100, 9368, 9522, 9632, 9796, 9847, 9874, and 9939 were wrecked and retired.
Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway 11 404–414 Retired.
Southern Pacific Railroad 101 8100–8200 To UP 9564-9664. 9593 was wrecked and retired. [6]
Union Pacific Railroad 40 9700–9739 To be rebuilt into AC44C6M. Classified C44ACM. 9707, 9716, and 9731 were wrecked and retired. [7]
Totals 3,773 — — —
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  • Santa Fe #664 in Wyoming
    Santa Fe #664 in Wyoming
  • Canadian National #2557 in Canada
    Canadian National #2557 in Canada
  • Norfolk Southern #9562 in Ohio
    Norfolk Southern #9562 in Ohio
  • BNSF # 5087 in Sacramento
    BNSF # 5087 in Sacramento

See also

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  • GE C38AChe, based on the GE Dash 9-44CW design and operating on the Qinghai-Tibet route in China

References

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  1. ^ Cotey, Angela (September 9, 2015). "BNSF receives first rebuilt locomotives from GE, EMD NEWSWIRE". Trains. Archived from the original on September 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Canadian National Locomotives".
  3. ^ "Union Pacific".
  4. ^ Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010s. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 420–421. ISBN 9781921719011.
  5. ^ "Dash 9-44CW". Railpage. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  6. ^ "Union Pacific".
  7. ^ Lassen, David (July 27, 2022). "UP plans major locomotive rebuild program (updated)". Trains. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  • Freight Trains. Modern Marvels. History Channel. March 15, 2008.
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