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GE AC44C6M[1]
NS 4068 in Chesterton, Indiana
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
Builder
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, Union Pacific Railroad

The GE AC44C6M is an AC-traction 4,400-horsepower (3,300 kW) diesel locomotive, rebuilt from GE Transportation 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 replaces 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.

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

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BNSF was the first railroad to order locomotive rebuilds with an order for 21 AC44C4Ms that were delivered in September 2015.[5][6]

These were followed shortly by Norfolk Southern's AC44C6M's, which were first delivered at the end of 2015, and rebuilt from their Dash 9-40C locomotives.[7] Norfolk Southern is the largest operator of the AC44C6M, with over 600 locomotives rebuilt as of 2022, and a further 330 by 2025.[8] 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 (on some units).[9][10]

Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway has 19 AC44C6M locomotives. These were rebuilt from former BNSF Dash 9 locomotives.[11]

Fortescue Metals Group has 28 AC44C6M locomotives. These feature a larger radiator than other AC44C6M rebuilds.[12]

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. [13] Union Pacific is a major customer of the similar AC4400CWM rebuild program. All of these locomotives are classified as C44ACM, which is similar to the C60AC (including convertibles) and C44AC rebuilds. All of the rebuilds use UP's new paint scheme that was introduced in late 2022.

A Canadian National AC44C6M rebuild was spotted outside of a Wabtec facility in early September 2022.[14] This was later revealed to be an order for 50.[15] 60 more units were ordered in 2023 for a total of 110.[16]

Similar rebuilds

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The AC4400CWM is a similar rebuild program undertaken by GE/Wabtec, but starts with an AC4400CW or AC6000CW (UP only) instead of a Dash 9. Union Pacific, CSX, and CPKC have rebuilt several hundred AC4400CW into AC4400CWM models.

The AC44C4M is a rebuild similar to the AC44C6M, 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. These locomotives also retain their original cabs. BNSF has so far been the only customer of the AC44C4M, with 21 locomotives. They are numbered 599-619 and were formerly ATSF C44-9W units.

Operators

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Railroad Quantity Road numbers Notes
Norfolk Southern 962 3919–4366, 4368-4880 8520 Originally built as C40-9s, C40-9Ws, and AC4400CWs. They were uprated from 4,000 to 4,400 horsepower in 2013-2014. 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. 4761-4880 has been ordered in 2024 and are undergoing rebuild. 4822 was rebuilt in May 2024 and was repainted into the Honoring Railroaders paint scheme.[17] 4856-4880 will be rebuilt from former GECX/BNSF Dash 9s. 3919-3963 will be rebuilt from KCS/BNSF Dash 9s and 3964-3999 will rebuilt from CEFX AC4400CWs and are planned to deliver in 2025. 4367 was renumbered to 4400. 4851 was rebuilt in November 2024 and painted into the TAG heritage scheme.
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 9500,

9600, 9700, 9800 series

Planned rebuilding of UP's C44-9W's. These are all classified as C44ACM.
Canadian National Railway 110 3300-3409 Rebuilding of CN/BNSF C44-9W.
Knoxville Locomotive Works (KLWX) 1 8520 Ex-NS AC44C6CF.

[18]

References

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  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. ^ Blaze, Jim (21 May 2020). "Does Rebuilding Locomotives Beat Buying New?". Railway Age. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023.
  4. ^ Luczak, Marybeth (17 October 2022). "First Look: CN's Dash 9, Transformed". Railway Age. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023.
  5. ^ Koenig, Stephan M. (2 May 2019). "GE Locomotive Modernization program expands under Wabtec NEWSWIRE". Trains. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022.
  6. ^ "BNSF receives first rebuilt locomotives from GE, EMD NEWSWIRE". Trains. 2015-09-09. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  7. ^ Cotey, Angela (2015-12-28). "Norfolk Southern debuts new 4000-series AC converted locomotives". Trains.<
  8. ^ "Wabtec to modernize 330 locomotives for Norfolk Southern". Trains. 2022-04-22. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  9. ^ "GE AC44C6M Nos. 4000-4511, 4526-4600".
  10. ^ Vantuono, William (2021-08-09). "Wabtec Delivers Locomotive Overhaul No. 1,000". Railway Age. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  11. ^ "News photos: New QNS&L power on the move". Trains. 2021-12-21. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  12. ^ "Wabtec to modernize locomotives for Australian mining railroad". Trains. 2022-06-06. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  13. ^ "UP plans major locomotive rebuild program (updated)". Trains. 2022-07-27. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  14. ^ Berryman, Travis (2022-09-07). "CN 3300 and UP 7252". Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  15. ^ Lassen, David (17 October 2023). "Canadian National receives first diesel in Wabtec remanufacturing order". Trains.
  16. ^ "CN orders 60 more modernized diesels from Wabtec". Trains. 26 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Newest Norfolk Southern paint scheme salutes its railroaders". Trains. 2024-06-10. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
  18. ^ http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=CSX&mid=1546

Further reading

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