GE "C44-9W" Locomotives: Data, Specs, Roster

Last revised: January 2, 2025

The C44-9W solidified General Electric as the top locomotive builder. When production had ended the model had sold some 2,387 examples domestically and in Australia.

In addition, Canadian National and British Columbia Railway acquired 27 examples of the C44-9WL, equipped with a slight variation of the North American Safety Cab sporting four windshields.

Much of this model's massive success hinged on one railroad, BNSF, which acquired well over 1,500 examples. Dating back to the Santa Fe era, the railroad continuing purchasing C44-9W's from February, 1994 until August, 2005.

There were several factors for its blockbuster sales, ranging from the new HiAd trucks to the latest in microprocessor controls. Generally, it was well-liked for its reliability, efficiency, and simplicity.

From the 1990s until the mid-2000s, nearly every other locomotive on a Class I roster was seemingly a Dash 9. That changed with the Evolution Series' introduction in 2005.

Since then, thousands of these locomotives have been manufactured and now operate on all Class I railroads, in addition to a handful of smaller lines.

Photos

A former Chicago & North Western C44-9W, #8637, crosses the Boyer River near Dunlap, Iowa with a southbound/westbound Union Pacific freight on June 18, 2000. Wade Massie photo.

Overview

The C44-9W, which began production in 1993, was one of the last with General Electric's 7FDL prime mover. This engine had started it all for the company.

However, more stringent environmental regulations required a new prime mover to meet the Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 2 emissions regulations. GE delivered with its new GEVO power plant, unveiled in 2005.

The C44-9W was also the most powerful offered in the Dash 9 series, boasting 4,400 horsepower (listed at only 4,390 horsepower).

The first units to roll out Erie included a group of 65 completed for the Chicago & North Western between November, 1993 and January, 1994.

Interestingly, these units sat on the shop floor next to late era C40-8W's still in production for Conrail and the LMS lease fleet (painted in Conrail colors). This batch was not completed until November, 1994.

In addition, 53 examples of the uprated C44-8W, built for CSX, were not completed until March, 1994. Needless to say, it was a busy time at Erie as GE struggled to keep up with demand.

Enhancements

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 in the Dash 9s 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.)

Other upgrades included the latest microprocessors that monitored all aspects of locomotive operation for optimum performance. The use of computers was a game-changer in operational efficiency as their ability to reduce costs was unmatched.

The Dash 9 series continued the model designations from the earlier Dash 7 and Dash 8 lines. In regards to the C44-9W:

"C" referred to a six-axle (C-C) locomotive.

"44" designated the horsepower rating (in this case, 4,390).

"9" indicated that the "Dash 9" line was introduced in 1993.

Three new Burlington Northern Santa Fe C44-9W's (#4596-4598), still in their primer, at GE's Erie, Pennsylvania facility; December, 1999. American-Rails.com collection.

General Electric sold 2,366 units to every major Class I at the time except CSX Transportation and Kansas City Southern.

In additional, Norfolk Southern had purchased the C40-9 and C40-9W variant. These were virtually identical to the their uprated counterparts but sported only 4,000 horsepower, a rating NS felt sufficient to handle its tonnage needs.

In all, NS acquired 1,215 examples of this model; one of the largest single orders by an individual railroad up until that time.

Data Sheet

Entered Production	11/1993 (Chicago & North Western #8601)
Years Produced	11/1993 - 11/2005
GE Class	C44-9W
Engine	7FDL16 (16 cylinder)
Engine Builder	General Electric
Horsepower	4400
RPM	1050
Length	73' 2"
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	15' 4 1/2"
Width	9' 11"
Weight (C44-9W)	390,000 - 434,000 Lbs
Weight (C44-9WL)	385,000
Fuel Capacity	5,300 Gallons
Air Compressor	3CDC (Westinghouse)
Air Brake Schedule	26L (Westinghouse)
Trucks	C-C
Truck Type	Hi-Ad Bolsterless
Truck Wheelbase	13' 4"
Wheel Size	40" or 42"
Traction Motors	752AH (6), GE
Traction Alternator	GMG197, GE
Auxiliary Generator	GYA30A, GE
MU (Multiple-Unit)	Yes
Dynamic Brakes	Yes
Gear Ratio	83:20
Tractive Effort/Starting	140,000 Lbs*
Tractive Effort/Continuous	108,600 Lbs at 18.3 mph*
Top Speed	70 mph

* These tractive effort ratings denote a C44-9W with standard options. BNSF's fleet, for instance, weighed 415,000 pounds and featured 42-inch wheels enabling the locomotives to produce 105,640 pounds of continuous effort at 12.9 mph.

Production Rosters

C44-9W

(Total Built = 2,366)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Chicago & North Western	8601-8609	47495-47503	1816	11/1993-12/1993	9
Chicago & North Western	8633-8635	47504-47506	1816	1/1994	3
Chicago & North Western	8610-8632	47507-47529	1816	12/1993	23
Chicago & North Western	8636-8665	47644-47673	1816	1/1994	30
Santa Fe	600-649	47674-47723	1818	2/1994-3/1994	50
Chicago & North Western	8666-8685	47724-47743	1825	4/1994	20
Hamersley Iron (Australia)	7065-7093	47744-47772	1824	10/1994-11/1994	29
Chicago & North Western	8686-8715	47780-47809	1825	4/1994-5/1994	30
Union Pacific	9700-9739	47846-47885	1826	7/1994-8/1994	40
Southern Pacific	8100-8200	47930-48030	1823	5/1994-12/1994	101
Santa Fe	651-699 (Odds)	48058-48082	1829	8/1994-9/1994	25
Chicago & North Western	8716-8730	48083-48097	1825	5/1994	15
Santa Fe	650-698 (Evens)	48144-48168	1829	9/1994	25
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	960-1123	49350-49513	1872	8/1996-1/1997	164
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	700-799	49983-50082	1879	6/1997-9/1997	100
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4700-4705	50083-50088	1879	10/1997	6
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4706-4770	50201-50265	1879	10/1997-5/1998	65
Canadian National	2523-2602	50302-50381	1877	2/1997-2/1998	80
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4771	50519	1879	5/1998	1
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4772-4971	50626-50825	1893	6/1998-12/1998	200
Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway	404-414	51014-51024	1885	6/1998-8/1998	11
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4972-4988	51607-51623	1893	12/1998	17
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4989-4999	51624-51634	1910	12/1998-1/1999	11
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4300-4598	51635-51933	1910	1/1999-12/1999	299
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4599-4606	51988-51995	1910	12/1999	7
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4607-4699	52131-52223	1917	12/1999-4/2000	93
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	5420-5499	52303-52224 (Reversed)	1917	9/2000-4/2000	80
British Columbia Railway	4645-4654	52602-52611	1927	8/2000-9/2000	10
Canadian National	2603-2642	52612-52651	1894	1/2001	40
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	5370-5419	52702-52653 (Reversed)	1917	12/2000-8/2000	50
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	5270-5369	53336-53237 (Reversed)	1938	8/2001-4/2001	100
Hamersley Iron (Australia)	7094-7096	52841-52843	1925	8/2000	3
Pilbara Rail (Australia)	9401-9403*	53455-53457	1970	10/2001	3
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	5223-5269	53793-53747 (Reversed)	1948	5/2002-3/2002	47
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4147-4199	53846-53794 (Reversed)	1948	9/2002-6/2002	53
Canadian National	2643-2672	53847-53876	1950	8/2002-9/2002	30
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4097-4146	53929-53880 (Reversed)	1953	11/2002-10/2002	50
Pilbara Rail (Australia)	9404-9409	54154-54159	1970	4/2003	6
Pilbara Rail (Australia)	7097-7098	54160-54161	1958	4/2003	2
Pilbara Rail (Australia)	9428-9430	54187-54189	1958	8/2003	3
Pilbara Rail (Australia)	9431-9432	54241-54242	1958	7/2003	2
Pilbara Rail (Australia)	7063-7064	54243-54244	1943	8/2003	2
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	5170-5222	54399-54347 (Reversed)	1960	11/2003-9/2003	53
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	4000-4096	54346-54250 (Reversed)	1960	9/2003-6/2003	97
Canadian National	2673-2696	54682-54705	1967	1/2004-2/2004	24
Canadian National	2200-2202	54706-54708	1967	1/2004	3
Canadian National	2203-2205	54709-54711	1967	2/2004	3
Pilbara Rail (Australia)	9433-9434	54766-54767	1974	5/2004	2
Pilbara Iron (Australia)	7061-7062	54768-54769	1974	5/2004-6/2004	2
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	5000-5169	54939-54770 (Reversed)	1973	8/2004-3/2004	170
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	5500-5529	54969-54940 (Reversed)	1973	8/2004	30
Burlington Northern Santa Fe	5530-5532	55114-55116	1973	3/2004	3
Canadian National	2697-2726	55117-55146	1978	6/2004-9/2004	30
Pilbara Iron (Australia)	7055-7060	55880-55885	1974	4/2005	6
Pilbara Iron (Australia)	7053-7054	56154-56155	1999	11/2005	2
General Electric (Demo)	905	56241	2103	5/2005	1
Pilbara Iron (Australia)	7043-7050	57094-57101	10	8/2006	8

* Renumbered 9470-9472.

C44-9WL

(Total Built = 27)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Canadian National Railway	2500-2522	48349-48371	1827	12/1994	23
British Columbia Railway	4641-4644	48469-48472	1832	3/1995	4

C44-9WM

(Total Built = 148)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	801-802	49939-49940	1876	9/1997	2
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	803-805	50198-50200	1876	10/1997	3
Ferronorte (Brazil)	9001-9050	51934-51983	1904	12/1998-11/1999	50
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	806-809	51984-51987	1936	2/1999	4
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	810-813	53092-53095	1936	1/2001-2/2001	4
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	814	53483	1936	1/2002	1
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	803 (2nd)	53484	1936	1/2002	1
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	815-819	55459-55463	1984	1/2005-2/2005	5
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	820-825	55886-55891	1984	8/2005-9/2005	6
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	826-833	55948-55955	1984	10/2005-11/2005	8
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	834-856	58906-58928	1936	1/2008-2/2008	23
Estrada de Ferro Carajás (Brazil)	857-867	59123-59133	1932	5/2008-6/2008	11

BB40-9WM

(Total Built = 251)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1113-1122	49941-49950	1875	1/1997	10
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1123-1137	52587-52601	1926	4/2000	15
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1138-1145	53077-53084	1930	1/2001-2/2001	8
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1146-1157	53485-53496	1947	6/2002	12
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1158-1179	54559-54580	1969	1/2004-2/2004	22
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1180-1181	54712-54713	1969	2/2004	2
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1182-1184	55111-55113	1969	7/2004	3
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1185-1195	55464-55474	1983	1/2005	11
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1196-1251	55892-55947	1983	2/2005-1/2006	56
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1252-1253	56362-56363	1983	2/2006	2
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1254-1276	59395-59417	1941	10/2008-11/2008	23
Vitória-Minas Railway (Brazil)	1277-1309	60276-60308	2256	1/2011-6/2011	33
Vale Logistica Integrada (Brazil)	6020-6034	60785-60799	2266	2/2012-3/2012	15
America Latina Logistica (Brazil)	8300-8306	60989-60995	5921*	1/2012-2/2012	7
Vale Logistica Integrada (Brazil)	6035-6054	61380-61399	2276	8/2012-11/2012	20
Corredor Logístico Integrado do Norte (Brazil)	1850-1861	62974-62985	2289	1/1997	12

* GE kits assembled in Brazil.

C44MEi

(Total Built = 18)

Owner	Road Number	Serial Number	Order Number	Completion Date	Quantity
MRS Logística (Brazil)	3956-3973	58886-58903	1934	3/2008-5/2008	18

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.

A trio of Southern Pacific C44-9Ws (about a year old), led by #8100, and a SD45T-2 lead empties over Tennessee Pass at Minturn, Colorado on October 24, 1995. Marty Bernard photo.

Interestingly, the Dash 9 series was not GE's only big seller during the 1990s and early 2000s. Some Class Is were also quite fond of its alternating current variant, the AC4400CW (and more powerful AC6000CW) cataloged at the same time.

This locomotive was purchase by far several railroads and sold even better than the C44-9W. Its success lay in its AC traction motors that were much more efficient offering superior tractive effort, making them ideal for drag service.

Today, most C44-9W's remain in revenue service in their original configuration or have been overhauled, such as the upgrades being carried out at Norfolk Southern with its AC44C6M program.

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