Model of diesel-electric locomotive produced by General Electric
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C40-8
UP 9214, a C40-8, leads an eastbound train up California's Cajon Pass on May 10, 1991.
Type and origin
Power type
Diesel-electric
Builder
GE Transportation Systems
Model
C40-8
Build date
1987–1992
Total produced
607
Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR
C-C
Gauge
4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm), Brazil
Length
70 ft 8 in (21.54 m)
Width
10 ft 3.5 in (3.14 m)
Height
15 ft 4.5 in (4.69 m)
Loco weight
391,600 lb (177,600 kg)
Fuel capacity
5,000 US gal (4,200 imp gal; 19,000 L)[1]
Prime mover
GE 7FDL-16
Career
Operators
Various
Locale
North America, Brazil
Disposition
nearly all have been retired as of 2022
CN 2109 in Waukesha, Wisconsin
The GE C40-8 is a model of 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems between 1987 and 1992. It is part of the GE Dash 8 Series of freight locomotives, and its wheel arrangement is of a C-C type.
This locomotive model is often referred to as a Dash 8-40C or simply "Dash 8". "Dash 8" in general refers to the electrical control series, "Dash" being a carryover from the older syntax of C40-8. The "40" refers to the baseline horsepower rating (4,000 hp or 3,000 kW) of the unit, although some units may be re-rated to 4,100 hp (3,100 kW).
Later units were supplied with a wide-nose cab and are designated Dash 8-40CW, the "W" indicating a wide-nose cab.
C41-8
[edit]
Some railroads, the Chicago and North Western Railway in particular, upgraded some of their units to ~4,135 hp (3,083 kW) and designated them as C42-8. This designation was modified by the Union Pacific Railroad to C41-8 after its takeover of C&NW in 1995. Former C&NW units are usually identified by a grab-iron on the front nose just above the Union Pacific shield logo, and/or the "C41-8" designation on the cab side. The final three C&NW C40-8s were built with 4,135 hp (3,083 kW), and the prior 32 units were similarly modified as well. Although none of these units were ever officially classed as C41-8 by GE, a safety cab version was built as the Dash 8-41CW.
Original Owners
[edit]
Railroad
Quantity
Road numbers
Notes
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company
77
8501-8577[2]
8575-8577 were 4,150 hp (3,090 kW), all units were passed on to UP and later sold to CREX and later Canadian National; Unit 2127 resold to Rock Island Rail
Conrail
25[3]
6025-6049[2]
Split between CSX and NS, all units remaining in Conrail colors are retired
CSX Transportation
157
7489-7498, 7500-7646,[4] 9280
Classed as C40-8, 7489-7498 are ex-Conrail. All retired from May 2016 to February 2017, most have been sold off to other railroads or have been scrapped. 24 units sold to Pan Am; later to Berkshire & Eastern [5] following Pan Am purchase; Unit 7627 reacquired by CSX and renumbered 9280. 7520 was wrecked and retired.
Estrada de Ferro Carajás
4
501-504
Norfolk Southern Railway
89
8300-8313, 8689-8763[2]
8300-8313 are ex-Conrail. All units were to be rebuilt with a new wide cab, upgraded electronics, etc. 8500-8504, 8506-8513 being rebuilt with an NS "Crescent" nose/cab (The same on the SD60Es), 8505 being rebuilt with a GE widenose and cab. They are classified as a Dash 8.5-40CW but are labeled as D8.5-40CW. However, due to repeated failures, all Norfolk Southern C40-8's will be sold or scrapped, and 47 new ET44AC and three ES44AC locomotives will replace them. Last remaining units retired in 2017.
Union Pacific Railroad
255
9100-9355,[3] 9185 (2nd)
9185 (first) returned to GE, became testbed. As of early 2019, all units have been sold/auctioned off except 9152, 9240, and 9259.
See also
[edit]
Trains portal
List of GE locomotives
References
[edit]
^Solomon 2005, p. 98.
^ abcWilson 2009, p. 80.
^ abSolomon 2014, p. 122.
^Stakem 2019, p. 28.
^"Berkshire & Eastern".
Bibliography
[edit]
Solomon, Brian (2014). GE and EMD Locomotives: The Illustrated History. Voyageur Press. ISBN 9780760346129.
Stakem, Patrick H. (2019). The Locomotive Fleet CSXT.
Solomon, Brian (2005). CSX. Voyageur Press. ISBN 9781610603751.
Wilson, Jeff (2009). The Model Railroader's Guide to Diesel Locomotives. Kalmbach Publishing, Co. ISBN 9780890247617.
External links
[edit]
Media related to GE C40-8 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons
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Diesel locomotives built by GE Transportation / GE Rail
UP 9214, a C40-8, leads an eastbound train up California's Cajon Pass on May 10, 1991.
Trains portal
Media related to GE C40-8 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons