NS No. 3524 (Dash 8-32B) at NS Hinman Yard.
(Railfan Jack at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped)
GE B32-8 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
The GE Dash 8-32B (also classified as B32-8 or D8-32B by some railroad companies) is a 4-axle 3,150 hp (2,350 kW) diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation between 1984 and 1989. It is part of the GE Dash 8 Series of freight locomotives.
A total of 49 examples of the Dash 8-32B model were built for North American railroads. The model is a 12-cylinder version of the (16 cylinder) Dash 8-40B and is powered by GE's 7FDL engine. The first units built for the Burlington Northern Railroad were labeled by GE as B32-8, while later units built for Norfolk Southern followed GE's practice after 1987 of spelling "Dash 8" in the model name. The GE Dash 8-32BWH (or B32-8WH) is a variant built with Head End Power (HEP) and a wide cab for Amtrak service.
Original owners
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Northern Railroad | 3 | 5497-5499 | Returned to GE |
| General Electric (demonstrator/testbed) | 1 | 832 | |
| Norfolk Southern | 45 | 3522-3566 | Units were renumbered to the 500 series in September and October 2013 to make room for EMD SD40-2 locomotives from Helm Leasing in the 3500 series. 3563 was retired after an engine failure and was donated to the Lake Shore Railway Historical Society. 561 (ex-3561) was sold to the Everett Railroad, and delivered by NS Local CB-10 on May 25, 2017; later sold to NIWX in late 2020-early 2021. As of September 2023, NIWX 561 is now owned by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. In 2022, NIWX 558 (ex-3558) was leased to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad that operates from Cumberland MD to Frostburg MD, and painted in the railroads paint scheme. First trip was on 9/22/2022. WMSR officially purchased 558 in September 2023 |
Preservation
- Norfolk Southern No. 3563 is preserved at the Lake Shore Railway Historical Society in North East, Pennsylvania. NS donated the locomotive in 2013.
- Western Maryland Scenic Railroad operates two Dash 8-32Bs, No. 558 and No. 561. Both locomotives are painted in a livery inspired by the Western Maryland Railway.
Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builder: GE Transportation
Model: Dash 8-32B
Build date: 1984 – 1989
Total produced: 49
Specifications
Configuration: AAR B-B
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Cylinders: 12
Performance figures
Power output: 3,150 hp (2,350 kW)
Career
Locale: North America
Disposition: 3 preserved, some sold off, remainder in storage awaiting fate.
