UP 9214, a C40-8, leads an eastbound train up California's Cajon Pass on May 10, 1991.
(The original uploader was Slambo at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
GE C40-8 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
The GE C40-8 is a model of 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems between 1987 and 1992. It is part of the GE Dash 8 Series of freight locomotives, and its wheel arrangement is of a C-C type.
This locomotive model is often referred to as a Dash 8-40C or simply "Dash 8". "Dash 8" in general refers to the electrical control series, "Dash" being a carryover from the older syntax of C40-8. The "40" refers to the baseline horsepower rating (4,000 hp or 3,000 kW) of the unit, although some units may be re-rated to 4,100 hp (3,100 kW).
Later units were supplied with a wide-nose cab and are designated Dash 8-40CW, the "W" indicating a wide-nose cab.
C41-8
Some railroads, the Chicago and North Western Railway in particular, upgraded some of their units to ~4,135 hp (3,083 kW) and designated them as C42-8. This designation was modified by the Union Pacific Railroad to C41-8 after its takeover of C&NW in 1995. Former C&NW units are usually identified by a grab-iron on the front nose just above the Union Pacific shield logo, and/or the "C41-8" designation on the cab side. The final three C&NW C40-8s were built with 4,135 hp (3,083 kW), and the prior 32 units were similarly modified as well. Although none of these units were ever officially classed as C41-8 by GE, a safety cab version was built as the Dash 8-41CW.
Original Owners
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago and North Western Transportation Company | 77 | 8501-8577 | 8575-8577 were 4,150 hp (3,090 kW), all units were passed on to UP and later sold to CREX and later Canadian National |
| Conrail | 25 | 6025-6049 | Split between CSX and NS, all units remaining in Conrail colors are retired |
| CSX Transportation | 157 | 7489-7498, 7500-7646, 9280-9299 | Classed as C40-8, 7489-7498 are ex-Conrail. All retired from May 2016 to February 2017, most have been sold off to other railroads or have been scrapped. 24 units previously sold to Pan Am reacquired and renumbered 9280-9299. 7520 was wrecked and retired. |
| Estrada de Ferro Carajás | 4 | 501-504 | |
| Norfolk Southern Railway | 89 | 8300-8313, 8689-8763 | 8300-8313 are ex-Conrail. All units were to be rebuilt with a new wide cab, upgraded electronics, etc. 8500-8504, 8506-8513 being rebuilt with an NS "Crescent" nose/cab (The same on the SD60Es), 8505 being rebuilt with a GE widenose and cab. They are classified as a Dash 8.5-40CW but are labeled as D8.5-40CW. However, due to repeated failures, all Norfolk Southern C40-8's will be sold or scrapped, and 47 new ET44AC and three ES44AC locomotives will replace them. Last remaining units retired in 2017. |
| Union Pacific Railroad | 255 | 9100-9355, 9185 (2nd) | 9185 (first) returned to GE, became testbed. As of early 2019, all units have been sold/auctioned off except 9152, 9240, and 9259. |
CN 2109 in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
(Cr4410, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builder: GE Transportation Systems
Model: C40-8
Build date: 1987–1992
Total produced: 585
Specifications
Configuration: AAR C-C
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Gauge: 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm), Brazil
Length: 70 ft 8 in (21.54 m)
Width: 10 ft 3.5 in (3.14 m)
Height: 15 ft 4.5 in (4.69 m)
Locomotive weight: 391,600 lb (177,600 kg)
Prime mover: GE FDL
Career
Operators: Various (see table above)
Locale: North America, Brazil
Disposition: Nearly all units were retired by 2022
