GE AC4400CW

GE AC4400CW
CSX AC4400CW #209 in Newport News, Virginia, next to a former C&O coal tower.
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder GE Transportation Systems Model AC4400CW Build date 1993 – 2004 Total produced 2,598
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 42 in (1,067 mm) Wheelbase 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m) Length 73 ft 2 in (22.30 m) Height 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m) Loco weight 426,000 lb (193,000 kg) Fuel capacity 5,000 US gal (19,000 L; 4,200 imp gal) Traction motors 6
Performance figures Power output 4,400 hp (3,300 kW) Tractive effort 180,000 lbf (800 kN) Starting 145,000 lbf (640 kN) at 13.7 mph (22.0 km/h)
Career Operators Various, see table Locale North America

The GE AC4400CW is a 4,400 horsepower (3,300 kW) road switcher diesel-electric locomotive that was built by GE Transportation Systems between 1993 and 2004. It is similar to the Dash 9-44CW, but features AC traction motors instead of DC, with a separate inverter per motor. In appearance, the AC4400CW is similar to GE's more powerful locomotive, the AC6000CW.

A relatively high-powered locomotive, the AC4400CW is "the most successful present day locomotive."^[1] Over the 11 years in which it was produced, GE constructed 2,598 examples for North American railroads. In 2005, all Class I freight railroads except Norfolk Southern and Canadian National owned at least one AC4400CW. As a result of more stringent emissions requirements that came into effect on January of that year, GE no longer offers the AC4400CW, replacing it with the ES44AC.

Two AC4400CW units were used in the filming of the 2010 hit movie Unstoppable.

CP AC4400CW #9560 and CP SD40-2 #6029 head west towards the NS Elkhart Yard, 2009.

Role in Unstoppable

The plot of the movie Unstoppable required Denzel Washington and Chris Pine to climb aboard the locomotives of a runaway freight train. To film the movie, four Canadian Pacific AC4400CW locomotives (numbers 9777, 9758, 9782, and 9751), were repainted as two fictional "Allegheny and West Virginia Railroad" locomotives (nos. 777 (nicknamed "Triple 7") and 767). 9777 and 9782 were painted as 777, while 9758 and 9751 were painted as 767.

Kansas City Southern AC4400CW no. 4575 with self-steering trucks in October 2014

Design variations

The AC4400CW was the first GE locomotive to offer an optional self-steering truck design, intended to increase adhesion and reduce wear on the railhead. This option was specified by Canadian Pacific, Cartier Railway, CSX, Ferromex, Ferrosur, and KCS.

CSX ordered many of its AC4400CW locomotives with 20,000 lb (9,100 kg) extra weight to increase tractive effort. These same units were also modified in 2006-2007 with a "high tractive effort" software upgrade and redesignated CW44AH.^[2]

Rebuilds

In 2017 Canadian Pacific Railway requested that General Electric modernize 30 of its 9500 and 9600-series AC4400CW units. The units were subsequently placed into service with the designation AC4400CWM (for Modernized). Noticeable differences between the original and the first batch of rebuilds (8100-8129) are a completely rebuilt cab and radial trucks instead of steerable.

The following year Canadian Pacific asked GE to similarly rebuild several more batches for a total of 110 locomotives. The second order (8130-8144) retains their steerable trucks. The third batch (8000-8034) will feature an Evolution Series sized fuel tank and radial trucks.^[3]

Union Pacific ordered many of their AC4400CWs with Computerized Tractive Effort software, giving them the designation of AC4400CW-CTE. This software package is now standard on their ES44ACs as well.

In 2018 Union Pacific placed a small order for 20 rebuilds from GE.

Operators

AC4400CW current operators, as of February 27, 2016 include:^[1]

References