GE Dash 9-44CW

GE C44-9W
BNSF C44-9W #5518 at the Port of Long Beach on February 4, 2005.
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder GE Transportation Systems Model C44-9W Build date 1993–2004 Total produced 3,668
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C  • UIC Co′Co′ Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm), Brazil Trucks GE HiAd Wheel diameter 42 in (1,067 mm) Length 73 ft 8 in (22.45 m) Width 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) Height 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m) Loco weight 425,000 lb (192,800 kilograms) or 212.5 short tons (189.7 long tons; 192.8 t) Fuel capacity 5,000 US gal (19,000 L; 4,200 imp gal) Prime mover GE 7FDL16 Engine type four stroke cycle V16 diesel engine Aspiration Turbocharged Alternator GE GMG197 Traction motors GE 5GE752AH DC Cylinders 16 Transmission diesel electric with silicon diode rectifiers,
Performance figures Maximum speed 74 mph (119 km/h) Power output 4,400 hp (3,281 kW) Tractive effort Starting: 142,000 lbf (64,410 kgf) @25% Continuous: 105,640 lbf (47,917 kgf) @13 mph (21 km/h)
Career Operators Various, see table Locale North 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

The BNSF AC44C4M is a 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.

Original owners

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes	Ref(s)
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway	100	600–699
BC Rail	14	4641–4654
BNSF Railway	1697	700–799, 960–1123, 4000–4199, 4300–5532
Canadian National Railway	228	2500–2727
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company	130	8601–8730
CSX	53	9000–9052
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)
Kansas City Southern	100	4400-4499
Norfolk Southern	1090	8889–9978
Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway	11	404–414
Southern Pacific Railroad	101	8100–8200
Union Pacific Railroad	40	9700–9739	To be rebuilt into AC44C6M.
Totals	3,669	—	—	—

Gallery

• 
  Santa Fe #664 in Wyoming
• 
  Canadian National #2557 in Canada
• 
  Norfolk Southern #9562 in Ohio
• 
  BNSF # 5087 in Sacramento

See also

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

References

• Freight Trains. Modern Marvels. History Channel. March 15, 2008.

External links

• 9-44CW pictures Trainspo