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The GE C44-9W

The GE C44-9W is one of the most successful present-day diesel locomotive ever built. Before General Electric unveiled their Evolution Series in 2005, the C44-9W had sold nearly 2,500 units to Class I railroads in the United States and more than 200 additional models to foreign railroads! Much of this model's high sales numbers hinged on one railroad in particular, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway who bought well over 1,500 examples (although other Class Is also purchased 100 or more). The success of the model, which replaced the earlier "Dash 8" line, was due to its reliability, simplicity, and powerful prime mover all traits which by the 1990s GE was well known for. Today, just as with EMD's ultra-successful SD40-2 model, nearly every other locomotive you will see pulling a Class I freight train is either a C44-9W or similar model (i.e., ES44AC, C40-9W, etc.).

The GE C44-9W, which began production in 1993 was essentially the only "Dash 9" model produced, the other being the C40-9/W variant built exclusively for Norfolk Southern (other variants were also built for foreign railroads). However, despite having a smaller locomotive catalog GE hit a home run with the C44-9W. The model followed the earlier "Dash 8" series in the mid-1990s and outwardly, the two models' carbodies were virtually identical. The GE C44-9W featured the builder's four-cycle model 7FDL16 prime mover, which could produce 4,400 horsepower (although it was listed at only 4,390 hp) with a tractive effort of 105,640 pounds at slow speeds (and 142,000 pounds starting).

The model was also one of the first to be equipped with the relatively new high-adhesion (or HT-C) truck, which helped to improve wheel-to-rail contact. The GE C44-9W held the same meaning behind its designation as earlier models. For instance, the "C" referred to the unit having a C-C truck setup (three axles per truck) while the "44" referred to it having 4,400 horsepower. Of note, the horsepower rating of between 4,000 to 4,400 has since become the operating norm for railroads. The high horsepower competition between GE and Electro-Motive Division during this time proved to be unsuccessful as railroads came to realize that 6,000 horsepower locomotives were just not very economic. In any even, the "9" reference simply meant it was a model of GE's "Dash 9" series and the "W" designation meant it was equipped with the wide, safety cab.

By the latter 1990s General Electric was a renowned and reliable locomotive builder although arguments remain at which company produces a better locomotive, GE or EMD (currently, GE's models are hailed as being more reliable while EMD's have always been regarded for their ruggedness and longevity). In any event, railroads loved the C44-9W and from their introduction in late 1993 GE continued to produce them until late 2004 when they were replaced by the newer Evolution Series (ES). At this time, GE had sold nearly 2,500 units to nearly every major Class I railroad which at the time included the Santa Fe (100), later BNSF (1,697), Canadian National (228), Chicago & North Western (130), Southern Pacific (101), BC Rail (14), Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway (11), and Union Pacific (40).

Additionally, foreign lines to purchase the model included Estrada de Ferro Carajás and Ferrovia Norte do Brasil S/A of Brazil (both of which bought 84), as well as Fortescue Metals Group and Hamersley Iron/Pilbara Iron of Australia (which purchased 77 combined). As you can, the model's top buyer was BNSF. However, some Class Is were more interested in GE's alternating current AC4400CW model being cataloged at the same time. This locomotive was purchase by far more lines and sold much better than the C44-9W. Its success lay in its AC traction motors that were much more efficient offering far superior tractive effort making them ideal for use in heavy drag service. In any event, today almost all C44-9Ws produced by GE remain in revenue service on the big railroads. For a total production roster of GE C44-9Ws please click here. Also, for technical data of the locomotive please click here. Lastly, for more information about the GE C44-9W and all of the builder's "Dash 9" models please refer to the chart below.

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GE "Dash 9" Series

Model Type	Units Built	Date Built	Horsepower
C40-9	125 (Built for NS)	1995	4,000
C40-9W (Built for NS)	1,090	1996-2004	4,000
C44-9W	2,483	1994-2004	4,390
C44-9WL	27	1994-1995	4,400
C44-9WM (Built for Brazilian Railroads)	84	1997-2005	4,400
BB40-9WM (Built for Brazilian Railroads)	141	1997-2006	4,000

For more information on early General Electric diesel locomotives consider Mike Schafer’s Vintage Diesel Locomotives, which looks at virtually all of the classic builders and models from Alco PAs to early EMD Geeps. If you’re interested in classic GEs, or diesels in general, this book gives an excellent general history of both.

You may also want to consider the book Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive by author J. Parker Lamb. As the title implies the book looks at the history and development of the diesel locomotives, covering 200 pages, from its earliest beginnings to the newest designs and models operated today. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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