GE "C40-8" and "C40-8W" Locomotives: Data Sheet, Specs, Roster

Last revised: January 1, 2025

The C40-8 model and its variants (C40-8W, C40-8M, and C44-8W/C41-8W) began General Electric's dominance in locomotive manufacturing. This reign lasted from the 1990s until GE sold its transportation division to Wabtec Freight in February, 2019.

The C40-8 series was the pinnacle of the "Dash 8" line that had been launched in 1984 when a group of prototypes began testing on four different railroads.

These early locomotives were offered in a variety of horsepower ratings and axle settings, largely ranging from 3,200 to 3,900 horsepower.

With the C40-8 series, GE uprated all of its road-switchers to an even 4,000 horsepower. As the company continued pushing the envelope on its 7FDL prime mover, late era C40-8's were uprated to over 4,100 horsepower, and finally 4,400 horsepower.

The latter became a highly popular rating that witnessed more than 2,300 examples sold in the C44-9W model, a locomotive that remained in GE's catalog from 1993 through 2005.

The success of the C40-8 series, which itself saw some 1,677 examples produced between 1989-1994, was a forebearer of GE's massive success during the 1990s.

Today, you can still find examples operating on CSX Transportation, Canadian National, and Union Pacific. However, now at 30+ years of age their numbers are dwindling quickly.

Photos

A pair of sharp new Conrail C40-8W's, #6112 and #6115, have a westbound/northbound freight at Renovo, Pennsylvania on March 29, 1991. Photographer unknown. American-Rails.com collection.

Overview

The C40-8 began production in December, 1987 as an uprated version of the earlier C39-8. The original variant sported GE's classic Standard Cab. However, that would change with the North American Safety Cab.

This wide cab had first appeared in December, 1989 when a group of 50 units built for Union Pacific (#9356-9405) rolled out of Erie. The new design changed the model's rating to C40-8W with "W" simply referring to "Wide."

As Greg McDonnell notes in his book, "Locomotives, The Modern Diesel & Electric Reference: 2nd Edition," the model featured the latest in software upgrades and carbody improvements (redesigns to the cooling system, dynamic brakes, and radiators for a more streamlined appearance), a process that began with late C39-8 variants.

Orders for the C40-8 took off quickly in late 1987 with five Class Is ordering the Standard Cab design including:

Chicago & North Western (77)

Union Pacific (256)

CSX Transportation (147)

Conrail (25)

Norfolk Southern (50)

Additionally, Estrada de Ferro Carajás of Brazil acquired three units. Interestingly, as Brian Solomon notes in his book, "GE Locomotives," Norfolk Southern did not wish to spend the additional cost of the new wide cab design.

As a result, the company not only purchased 50 examples of the C40-8 but also another 125 examples of the later C40-9, receiving its final Standard Cab units in 1995. Through September, 1991, when the last C&NW units were delivered, GE had sold some 585 examples of the C40-8.

A pair of Santa Fe C40-8W's, about a year old, have a long freight south of Bragdon, Colorado on September 14, 1993. American-Rails.com collection.

The wide cab, at least from an outward appearance, has changed little on new GE products since the C40-8W. It features a sloped and beveled front nose, thin rectangular windshields, and a front access door leading to the pilot and front steps.

When production had ended in November, 1994 the C40-8W had sold nearly twice as many examples as its predecessor (847).

In addition to the original variants, GE built three others:

C40-8M (Identical to the original save for its full width cowl cab and carbody. It was purchased only in Canada by British Columbia Railway, Canadian National, and Quebec North Shore & Labrador.)

C41-8W (Equipped with an additional 100 horsepower; acquired by Santa Fe and Union Pacific.)

C44-8W (Boasting with an additional 400 horsepower, CSX purchased 53 examples.)

Data Sheets

C40-8, C40-8W, C40-8M, C44-8W

Entered Production	12/1987 (Union Pacific #9100)
Years Produced	12/1987 - 3/1994
GE Class	C40-8, C40-8W, C40-8M, C44-8W
Engine	7FDL16 (16 cylinder)
Engine Builder	General Electric
Horsepower	4000-4400
RPM	1050
Length (C40-8, C40-8W, C44-8W)	70' 8"
Length (C40-8M)	71' 8"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	15' 4 1/2"
Width	8' 10"
Weight (C40-8)	391,000-420,000 Lbs
Weight (C40-8M)	388,000-395,000 Lbs
Weight (C40-8W)	394,000-400,000 Lbs
Weight (C44-8W)	412,000 Lbs
Fuel Capacity	4,600 Gallons
Air Compressor	3CDC (Westinghouse)
Air Brake Schedule	26L (Westinghouse)
Trucks	C-C
Truck Type	FB3
Truck Wheelbase	13' 7"
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors (C40-8)	752AG (6) or 752AH (6), GE
Traction Motors (C40-8W, C40-8M, C44-8W)	752AH (6), GE
Traction Alternator (C40-8, C40-8W, C40-8M)	GMG194, GE
Traction Alternator (C44-8W)	GMG197, GE
Auxiliary Generator	GY27, GE
MU (Multiple-Unit)	Yes
Dynamic Brakes	Yes
Gear Ratio	83:20
Tractive Effort/Starting	106,790 Lbs
Tractive Effort/Continuous	92,750 Lbs at 10.9 mph
Top Speed	70 mph

Production Rosters

C40-8

(Total Built = 584)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Union Pacific	9100-9174	45549-45623	1872	11/1987-2/1988	75
Union Pacific	9175-9184	45724-45733	1874	7/1988-12/1988	10
Union Pacific	9186-9284	45735-45833	1874	7/1988-12/1989	99
Union Pacific	9350-9355	45834-45839	1875	12/1988	6
Union Pacific	9285-9349	45840-45904	1875	12/1988-2/1989	65
Union Pacific	9185 (2nd)	45905	1875	11/1988	1
Conrail	6025-6049	45906-45930	1877	3/1989	25
CSX Transportation	7500-7539	45991-46030	1878	5/1989-6/1989	40
CSX Transportation	7540-7589	46031-46080	1878	8/1989-9/1989	50
CSX Transportation	7590-7593	46081-46084	1878	12/1989	4
Chicago & North Western	8501-8530	46085-46114	1880	6/1989-8/1989	30
CSX Transportation	7594-7646	46318-46370	1892	6/1990-8/1990	53
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	501-504*	46242-46245	1886	9/1989	4
Norfolk Southern	8710-8713	46631-46634	1897	3/1991	4
Chicago & North Western	8531-8542	46371-46382	1887	8/1990	12
Norfolk Southern	8689-8709	46383-46403	1897	12/1990	21
Chicago & North Western	8543-8574**	46771-46802	1898	7/1991-9/1991	32
Chicago & North Western	8575-8577***	46803-46805	1898	9/1991	3
Norfolk Southern	8714-8763	47076-47125	1805	12/1990	50

* Built to 5'-3" broad gauge.

** Uprated to 4,150 horsepower in the spring of 1992.

*** Out-shopped from Erie with 4,135 horsepower.

C40-8W

(Total Built = 796)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Union Pacific	9356-9405	46192-46241	1881	12/1989-3/1990	50
Conrail	6050-6099	46246-46295	1882	5/1990-6/1990	50
Union Pacific	9406-9455	46531-46580	1895	11/1990-1/1991	50
Conrail	6100-6149	46635-46684	1896	3/1991-4/1991	50
CSX Transportation	7650-7735	46685-46770	1899	4/1991-8/1991	86
Union Pacific	9456-9480	46811-46835	1802	10/1991	25
CSX Transportation	7736-7758	46856-46878	1899	11/1991	23
Santa Fe	800-866	46929-46995	1803	4/1992-5/1992	67
CSX Transportation	7759-7817	46996-47054	1804	6/1992-8/1992	59
CSX Transportation	7818-7845	47152-47179	1804	11/1992-12/1992	28
Conrail	6150-6179	47184-47213	1808	2/1993	30
CSX Transportation	7846-7876	47214-47244	1809	1/1993-2/1993	31
CSX Transportation	7877-7899	47245-47267	1809	4/1993	23
CSX Transportation	7900-7917	47314-47331	1809	4/1993-5/1993	18
Santa Fe	867-926	47335-47394	1811	3/1993-7/1993	60
Conrail	6180-6229	47395-47444	1813	6/1993	50
Conrail	6230-6265	47810-47845	1822	6/1994	36
LMS (Conrail)	700-739	48104-48143	1828	8/1994-10/1994	40
LMS (Conrail)	740-759	48204-48223	1831	10/1994-11/1994	20

C41-8W

(Total Built = 108)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Union Pacific	9481-9530	47445-47494	1814	8/1993-10/1993	50
Santa Fe	927-951	47531-47555	1811	9/1993-10/1993	25
Union Pacific	9531-9555	47556-47580	1802	10/1993	29
Union Pacific	9556-9559	47640-47643	1814	12/1993	4

C40-8M

(Total Built = 84)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Canadian National Railway	2400-2429	46162-46191	1878	3/1990	30
British Columbia Railway	4601-4622	46296-46317	1883	4/1990	22
Canadian National Railway	2430-2454	47127-47151	1806	11/1992-12/1992	25
British Columbia Railway	4623-4626	47180-47183	1807	2/1993	4
Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway	401-403	47637-47639	1849	3/1994	3

C44-8W

(Total Built = 53)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
CSX Transportation	9000-9002	47332-47334	1820	7/1993	3
CSX Transportation	9003-9052	47584-47633	1817	2/1994-3/1994	50

Sources

Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.

Marre, Louis A. and Pinkepank, Jerry A. Contemporary Diesel Spotter's Guide, The: A Comprehensive Reference Manual To Locomotives Since 1972. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1989.

McDonnell, Greg. Locomotives: The Modern Diesel & Electric Reference, 2nd Edition. Buffalo: Boston Mills Press/Firefly Books, 2015.

Solomon, Brian. American Diesel Locomotive, The. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 2000.

Solomon, Brian. GE and EMD Locomotives: The Illustrated History. Minneapolis: Voyageur Press, 2014.

Solomon, Brian. GE Locomotives: 110 Years Of General Electric Motive Power. St. Paul: MBI Publishing, 2003.

Interestingly, the first "Dash 9s" were rolling out of Erie as GE completed the final C40-8W orders, which included the LMS lease fleet painted in Conrail colors.

It is interesting to note that while present-day General Electric locomotives are known for reliability, they have not held up as long as some Electro-Motive models.

For instance, SD40 series locomotives have been, and continue to be, extensively rebuilt by Class Is such as at Norfolk Southern. Here, examples (now more than 40 years old) remain on the active rosters having been extensively rebuilt with the latest electronics and microprocessors.

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