GE AC44C6M

The GE AC44C6M is an AC-traction 4,400-horsepower (3,300 kW) diesel locomotive, rebuilt from GE Transportation Systems Dash 9 locomotives. AC44C6M rebuilds have been done by GE (now Wabtec), American Motive Power, Inc., and Norfolk Southern Railway's Juniata and Roanoke Shops, starting in September 2015. The AC44C6M retains the 16-cylinder 7FDL-16 prime mover used in the core locomotive prior to rebuilding, but replace the Dash 9's DC traction motors with alternating current GE 5GEB13B7 traction motors. Externally, the rebuilds have received new wide-nosed cabs, a new front hood section, and a new inverter cabinet behind the cab, while retaining the underframe and engine and radiator compartments of the original Dash 9 units.

GE AC44C6M[1]
NS 4068 in Chesterton, Indiana
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGE Transportation Systems/American Motive Power, Inc/Norfolk Southern
ModelAC44C6M
Build dateAugust 2015-present
Total producedOver 700 (hundreds more planned)
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
TrucksGE HiAd
Wheel diameter40 in (1,000 mm)
Wheelbase13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
Length73 ft 2 in (22.30 m)
Loco weight432,000 lb (196 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 motorsGE 5GEB13B7 AC
Performance figures
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)
Power output4,400 hp (3,300 kW)
Tractive effort180,000 lbf (800 kN) (continuous)
200,000 lbf (890 kN) (starting)[2]
Career
LocaleUnited States
Current ownerNorfolk Southern, QNS&L,Fortescue Metals Group, Canadian National Railway

Rebuilding an old Dash 9 locomotive into an AC44C6M costs only 50-60% that of purchasing a brand new AC locomotive. [3] Wabtec claims a 17% improvement in fuel efficiency, 30% improvement in reliability, and a 55% improvement in haulage capability.[4]

History

Norfolk Southern was the launch customer and is the largest operator of this model, with over 500 locomotives rebuilt as of 2022. [5] All of their Dash 9-40C units, and significant numbers of their Dash 9-40CW units have been rebuilt into AC44C6Ms. The railway plans to rebuild all of its remaining Dash 9–40CW units into AC44C6Ms. Norfolk Southern's AC44C6M locomotive features a new under-floor air conditioner, cab signals, LSL (Locomotive Speed Limiter), DPU systems, PTC, and ECP braking ability. [6]

Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway has 19 AC44C6M locomotives. These were rebuilt from former BNSF Dash 9 locomotives. [7]

Fortescue Metals Group has 28 AC44C6M locomotives. These feature a larger radiator than other AC44C6M rebuilds. [8]

Union Pacific also announced plans to rebuild 75 of their Dash 9 locomotives into AC locomotives, presumably AC44C6Ms, as part of a large order to rebuild much of their GE locomotive fleet [9] Union Pacific is a major customer of the similar AC4400CWM rebuild program.

A Canadian National AC44C6M rebuild was spotted outside of a Wabtec facility in early September 2022. [10] This was later revealed to be an order for 50.

Similar rebuilds

The AC4400CWM is a similar rebuild program undertaken by GE/Wabtec, but starts with an AC4400CW and AC6000CW (UP only) instead of a Dash 9. Union Pacific, CSX, and Canadian Pacific Railway have rebuilt AC4400CW's into AC4400CWM's.

The AC44C4M is a similar rebuild program undertaken by GE and BNSF, but AC44C4M locomotives feature 4 traction motors and an A1A-A1A configuration rather than the AC44C6M's 6-traction motors in a C-C configuration. This is similar to the ES44C4 and ET44C4 that BNSF also operates. [11] These locomotives also retain their original cabs. BNSF has so far been the only customer of the AC44C4M, with 20 locomotives as of 2022.

Operators
Railroad Quantity Road numbers Notes
Norfolk Southern 627 4000–4760, 8520 Originally Built as C40-9s and C40-9Ws. 4001 wrecked and subsequently repaired. 4063 wrecked in 2018 and retired. 4000-4005 & 8520 were painted into special paint liveries, 8520 classed as AC44C6CF and retains original cab; later retired and sold.
QNS&L 19 430-448 Originally built as BNSF/GECX C44-9Ws.
Fortescue Metals Group 28 101-128 Originally built as BNSF/GECX C44-9Ws. Feature larger radiators for expanded cooling capacity, similar to ES44ACi and ES44DCi.
Union Pacific 75 TBD Planned rebuilding of UP's C44-9W's.
Canadian National Railway 110 3300- Rebuilding of CN's C44-9W.
CSX 122 7000 - 7036, 7200 - 7278, 7500 - 7508 Known As CM44ACs, Rebult from AC4400CWs
Knoxville Locomotive Works (KLWX) 1 8520 Ex-NS AC44C6CF.

[12]

References
  1. Toth, Chris (2019). "Norfolk Southern Diesel Locomotive Roster: GE AC44C6M Nos. 4000-4237, 4239-4274". NSDash9. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  2. Trains Locomotive, August 2016
  3. "Does Rebuilding Locomotives Beat Buying New?". 21 May 2020.
  4. "First Look: CN's Dash 9, Transformed". 17 October 2022.
  5. "GE Locomotive Modernization program expands under Wabtec | Trains Magazine".
  6. "GE AC44C6M Nos. 4000-4511, 4526-4600".
  7. "News photos: New QNS&L power on the move; Trains Magazine". 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  8. "Wabtec to modernize locomotives for Australian mining railroad; Trains Magazine". 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  9. "UP plans major locomotive rebuild program; Trains Magazine". 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  10. Berryman, Travis (2022-09-07). "CN 3300 and UP 7252". Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  11. "BNSF receives first rebuilt locomotives from GE, EMD; Trains Magazine". 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  12. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=CSX&mid=1546

Further reading
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