GE "C40-9" and "C40-9W" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, History

Last revised: January 1, 2025

The C40-9 and C40-9W was, in many ways, a C44-9W built specifically for Norfolk Southern from January, 1995 through December, 2004. While initial C40-9 was de-rated to 4,000 horsepower, the later C40-9W's could actually be uprated to 4,400 horsepower simply by flicking a switch.

Interestingly, per NS's wishes its first order, a group of 125 locomotives (C40-9), were equipped with GE's Standard Cab. It was the final model to feature this design as wide cabs became standard on all new models after 1995.

Overview

The "Dash 9" series followed the previous "Dash 8s" in the mid-1990s with upgraded electronics and other components, and NS would come to own more than 1,200 examples of the C40-9 and C40-9W.

They served the railroad well for nearly 20 years. While most remain on the active roster the fleet has since entered a rebuild program.

Working in conjunction with General Electric, NS began upgrading its C40-9's in 2015 to 4,400 horsepower and a North American Safety Cab, thus giving them a C44-9W rating.

They also began testing a DC to AC conversion that year beginning with #8879. As part of the overhaul it received a GE wide nose/cab and locomotive speed limiter (LSL), as well as cab signals. It was reclassified as a AC44C6M.

Photos

This photo of Norfolk Southern C40-9 #8823 and C40-9W #8920 at Greensboro, North Carolina on September 19, 2004 provides a nice side-by-side comparison of the two variants. Warren Calloway photo.

The C40-9 and C40-9W were actually constructed more than a year after the C44-9W debuted (November, 1993) with the first rolling out of Erie in January, 1995.

Brian Solomon notes in his book, "GE Locomotives," the Dash 9 line was more of a marketing tool rather a complete redesign.

It largely continued refinements that began with the Dash 8 series. The notable improvements included:

Electronic Fuel Injection (Also known as EFI, this system both reduces fuel use and emissions. Both were big selling points in the 1990s, in part due to stricter government regulations.)

Split Cooling (This describes a system that uses two water circuits to more quickly cool engine intercoolers, which decreases air-intake temperatures and helps further reduce emissions. It also reduces fuel costs and extends engine life.)

HiAd Truck (The HiAd, or high adhesion, truck first appeared in the Dash 9 series. It is a bolsterless design which allows the wheels to freely pivot and reduces weight transfer. In doing so there is less wear to the wheels and track, thus reducing maintenance costs. It also allows for greater adhesion, as noted in the title.)

Reduction From 3 To 2 Blowers (GE redesigned the blowers to have a single large blower serve the traction motors instead of two, which reduced maintenance costs.)

One of the design's notable selling points was its incredible traction; 140,000 pounds of starting effort and 109,000 pounds of continuous effort (at 18.3 mph).

Production of the locomotive began in early 1995 and all the original C40-9's, a total of 125 units, were purchased solely by Norfolk Southern.

Very happy with this first batch, and desperately needing power to meet traffic demands of the economic boom ongoing at the time, NS returned for more and began purchasing the C40-9W.

Norfolk Southern C40-9 #8812 has departed Rockport Yard with train 133 as it rolls past BE Tower at Berea, Ohio on March 5, 2005. Wade Massie photo.

This wide cab variant was identical to its counterpart except for its North American Safety Cab, then standard on all new GE models.

Norfolk Southern never acquired the C44-9W. Its reasoning was sound and based solely on operational needs. As Mr. Solomon's book notes the railroad felt a 4,000 horsepower road-switcher was sufficient to handle the required tonnage.

As such, purchasing a model with greater horsepower, which requires more fuel, would be a waste of operational resources. Interestingly, the C40-9W's could actually achieve 4,400 horsepower.

Data Sheet

Entered Production	1/1995 (Norfolk Southern #8764)
Years Produced	1/1995 - 12/2004
GE Class	C40-9, C40-9W
Engine	7FDL16 (16 cylinder)
Engine Builder	General Electric
Horsepower	4000-4400
RPM	1050
Length	73' 2"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	15' 4 1/2"
Width	9' 11"
Weight	410,000 Lbs
Fuel Capacity	4,600 Gallons
Air Compressor	3CDC (Westinghouse)
Air Brake Schedule	26L (Westinghouse)
Trucks	C-C
Truck Type	Hi-Ad Bolsterless
Truck Wheelbase	13' 7"
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	752AH (6), GE
Traction Alternator	GMG197, GE
Auxiliary Generator	GY27, GE
MU (Multiple-Unit)	Yes
Dynamic Brakes	Yes
Gear Ratio	83:20
Tractive Effort/Starting	140,000 Lbs
Tractive Effort/Continuous	109,000 Lbs at 18.3 mph
Top Speed	70 mph

Production Rosters

C40-9

(Total Built = 125)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Norfolk Southern	8764-8888	48224-48348	1930	1/1995-4/1995	125

C40-9W

(Total Built = 1,090)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Norfolk Southern	8889-9008	49065-49184	1868	1/1996-5/1996	120
Norfolk Southern	9010-9128	49669-49787	1871	2/1997-6/1997	119
Norfolk Southern	9009	49938	1871	2/1997	1
Norfolk Southern	9129-9244	50382-50497	1884	2/1998-6/1998	116
Norfolk Southern	9245-9309	51120-51184	-	12/1998-5/1999	65
Norfolk Southern	9310-9394	51185-51269	1903	12/1998-5/1999	85
Norfolk Southern	9395-9534	52304-52443	1919	1/2000-5/2000	140
Norfolk Southern	9535-9559	52857-52881	1931	11/2000-12/2000	25
Norfolk Southern	9560-9694	52882-53016	1934	12/2000-4/2001	135
Norfolk Southern	9912-9916	53358-53362	1972	10/2004	5
Norfolk Southern	9695-9744	53400-53449	1941	11/2001-12/2001	50
Norfolk Southern	9745-9811	54004-54070	1956	1/2003-3/2003	67
Norfolk Southern	9812-9886	54970-55044	1972	2/2004-5/2004	75
Norfolk Southern	9887-9911	55045-55069	1972	8/2004-10/2004	25
Norfolk Southern	9917-9978	55363-55424	1972	10/2004-12/2004	62

Sources

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

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.

Norfolk Southern C40-9 #8840 leads a westbound freight east of Maher, West Virginia on June 29, 2004. Wade Massie photo.

They were equipped with a Engine Governing Unit, or EGU, that could toggle the horsepower setting between 4,000 and 4,400. Norfolk Southern continued to buy the later Evolution Series with 4,000 horsepower, known as ES40DCs.

By the time GE closed out the C40-9W order, Norfolk Southern owned nearly 1,100 units, and more than 1,200 in all. Up until that time it was one of the largest single orders ever for a particular model by an individual railroad.

Currently, NS has slowed its purchase of new locomotives. Instead, the Class I has focused on an extensive rebuild program of older models to extend their service lives and save money on new purchases.

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