GE Dash 9-44CW
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.
GE C44-9W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() BNSF C44-9W #5518 at the Port of Long Beach on February 4, 2005. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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
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
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 and some 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, and 4772-4999 sold to GECX following lease expiration, some units sold to Fortescue Metals Group and Quebec, North Shore & Labrador and rebuilt into AC44C6M models | |
Canadian National Railway | 228 | 2500–2522; 2523-2727 | 2500-2522 equipped with 'Canadian style' four-window cab, classified as Dash 9-44CWL | [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. | |
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 | All to be rebuilt to AC44C6Ms. | |
Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway | 11 | 404–414 | Retired. | |
Southern Pacific Railroad | 101 | 8100–8200 | To UP 9564-9664. | [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 | — | — | — |
Gallery
See also
- GE C38AChe, based on the GE Dash 9-44CW design and operating on the Qinghai-Tibet route in China
References
- "BNSF receives first rebuilt locomotives from GE, EMD". Trains. September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015. (subscription required)
- http://thedieselshop.us/CN.HTML
- http://thedieselshop.us/UP.HTML
- Oberg, Leon (2010). Locomotives of Australia 1850s-2010s. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 420–421. ISBN 9781921719011.
- "Dash 9-44CW". Railpage.
- http://thedieselshop.us/UP.HTML
- "UP plans major locomotive rebuild program; Trains Magazine". July 27, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- Freight Trains. Modern Marvels. History Channel. March 15, 2008.
External links

- 9-44CW pictures Trainspo