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) road switcher 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 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
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway	100	600–699	All now in service with the BNSF Railway. 666 renumbered to 599. 599–619 rebuilt to AC44C4M.
BC Rail	14	4641–4654	4641–4644 are model C44-9WL
BNSF Railway	1697	700–799, 960–1123, 4000–4199, 4300–5532	.
Canadian National Railway	228	2500–2727	2500–2522 are model C44-9WL, 2523–2727 are model C44-9CW, 2697–2726 are operated by Illinois Central. 2727 was previously 2667. The 2540 have been retired.
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company	130	8601–8730	All have been repainted or patch-renumbered into the Union Pacific Railroad's rosters as numbers 9665-9834. 9771 yet to be repainted.
CSX	53	9000–9052
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	67	801–867	model C44-9WM
Ferrovia Norte do Brasil S/A(Brazil)	50	9001–9050	model C44-9WM; fitted with Dash 8 trucks and has a modified cab.
Fortescue Metals Group, Western Australia	15	001–015	Fitted with ECP brakes from New York Air Brake
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)
Norfolk Southern	1090	8889–9978	Originally rated at 4,000 hp re rated to 4,400 hp in 2013–2014. 9939 and 9796 wrecked and were retired.
Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway	11	404–414
Southern Pacific Railroad	101	8100–8200
Union Pacific Railroad	40	9700–9739	9707 wrecked and was retired.
GE Capital Leasing (GECX)	5	9008, 9018, 9043, 9049 and 9050	Units are former CSX, which were on lease to Norfolk Southern Railway, until Late January 2019.
Larry's Truck & Electric	4	9007, 9009, 9020 and 9029	Units are former CSX.
Totals	3,668

References

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

External links

• 9-44CW pictures Trainspo