GE Dash 9-40C

The GE Dash 9-40C, also called a C40-9, was 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 was 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 featured GE's direct current B13B traction motors.[1]

GE Dash 9-40C
Norfolk Southern 8801
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGE Transportation Systems
ModelGE Dash 9-40C
Build dateJanuary–April 1995
Total produced125
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
TrucksGE HiAd
Wheel diameter40 in (1,000 mm)
Wheelbase13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
Length73 ft 2 in (22.30 m)
Loco weight410,000 lb (190 t), full supplies - (fuel oil, lube oil, sand).
Fuel capacity4,600 US gal (17 kL)
Lubricant cap.410 US gal (1.6 kL)
Sandbox cap.40 cu ft (1.1 m3)
Prime moverGE 7FDL-16
Traction motorsdirect-current GE B13B
Performance figures
Maximum speed70 mph (110 km/h)
Power output4,000 hp (3,000 kW)
Tractive effort109,000 lbf (480 kN) (continuous)
140,000 lbf (620 kN) (starting)
Career
LocaleUnited States
Current ownerNorfolk Southern Railway
DispositionAll rebuilt as AC44C6M, one cab reused for a switcher at GE's Erie Plant

The C40-9 featured the standard cab design and was 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 had rooftop-mounted air conditioner units which gave them their distinct "top hat" look.

Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) was 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.

As of 2023, all C40-9 units have been rebuilt.[4] The cab of NS #8808 would later be reused for a custom-built switcher at GE's Erie plant.

References
  1. "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. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  4. "NS Diesel Locomotive Roster - GE Dash 9-40C (D9-40C)/Dash 9-44C (D9-44C) Nos. 8802-8887". www.nsdash9.com. Retrieved 2018-09-05.


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