GE Dash 8-40C

{{Short description|Model of diesel-electric locomotive produced by General Electric}}

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = C40-8

| powertype = Diesel-electric

| length = {{convert|70|ft|8|in|abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|15|ft|4.5|in|2|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|10|ft|3.5|in|2|abbr=on}}

| locoweight = {{convert|391600|lb|abbr=on}}

| fuelcap = {{convert|5000|usgal|impgal l|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Solomon|2005|page=98}}

| gauge = {{RailGauge|ussg|allk=on}}
{{RailGauge|5ft3in|lk=on}}, Brazil

| image = UP 9214 19910510 CA Cajon.jpg

| caption = UP 9214, a C40-8, leads an eastbound train up California's Cajon Pass on May 10, 1991.

| builder = GE Transportation Systems

| buildmodel = C40-8

| builddate = 1987–1992

| totalproduction = 607

| aarwheels = C-C

| primemover = GE 7FDL-16

| operator = Various

| disposition = nearly all have been retired as of 2022

| locale = North America, Brazil

}}

File:CN 2109.jpg]]

The GE C40-8 is a model of 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems between 1987 and 1992. It is part of the GE Dash 8 Series of freight locomotives, and its wheel arrangement is of a C-C type.

This locomotive model is often referred to as a Dash 8-40C or simply "Dash 8". "Dash 8" in general refers to the electrical control series, "Dash" being a carryover from the older syntax of C40-8. The "40" refers to the baseline horsepower rating ({{convert|4000|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=or}}) of the unit, although some units may be re-rated to {{convert|4100|hp|kW|abbr=on}}.

Later units were supplied with a wide-nose cab and are designated Dash 8-40CW, the "W" indicating a wide-nose cab.

C41-8

Some railroads, the Chicago and North Western Railway in particular, upgraded some of their units to ~{{convert|4135|hp|kW|abbr=on}} and designated them as C42-8. This designation was modified by the Union Pacific Railroad to C41-8 after its takeover of C&NW in 1995. Former C&NW units are usually identified by a grab-iron on the front nose just above the Union Pacific shield logo, and/or the "C41-8" designation on the cab side. The final three C&NW C40-8s were built with {{convert|4135|hp|kW|abbr=on}}, and the prior 32 units were similarly modified as well. Although none of these units were ever officially classed as C41-8 by GE, a safety cab version was built as the Dash 8-41CW.

Original Owners

class="wikitable"

! bgcolor=c0c090 | Railroad

! bgcolor=c0c090 | Quantity

! bgcolor=c0c090 | Road numbers

! bgcolor=c0c090 | Notes

Chicago and North Western Transportation Company

|77

|8501-8577{{sfn|Wilson|2009|page=80}}

|8575-8577 were {{convert|4150|hp|kW|abbr=on}}, all units were passed on to UP and later sold to CREX and later Canadian National; Unit 2127 resold to Rock Island Rail

Conrail

|25{{sfn|Solomon|2014|page=122}}

|6025-6049{{sfn|Wilson|2009|page=80}}

|Split between CSX and NS, all units remaining in Conrail colors are retired

CSX Transportation

|157

|7489-7498, 7500-7646,{{sfn|Stakem|2019|page=28}} 9280

|Classed as C40-8, 7489-7498 are ex-Conrail. All retired from May 2016 to February 2017, most have been sold off to other railroads or have been scrapped. 24 units sold to Pan Am; later to Berkshire & Eastern {{cite web |url=https://www.thedieselshop.us/BERX.HTML |title=Berkshire & Eastern }}following Pan Am purchase; Unit 7627 reacquired by CSX and renumbered 9280. 7520 was wrecked and retired.

Estrada de Ferro Carajás

|501-504

Norfolk Southern Railway

|89

|8300-8313, 8689-8763{{sfn|Wilson|2009|page=80}}

|8300-8313 are ex-Conrail. All units were to be rebuilt with a new wide cab, upgraded electronics, etc. 8500-8504, 8506-8513 being rebuilt with an NS "Crescent" nose/cab (The same on the SD60Es), 8505 being rebuilt with a GE widenose and cab. They are classified as a Dash 8.5-40CW but are labeled as D8.5-40CW. However, due to repeated failures, all Norfolk Southern C40-8's will be sold or scrapped, and 47 new ET44AC and three ES44AC locomotives will replace them. Last remaining units retired in 2017.

Union Pacific Railroad

|255

|9100-9355,{{sfn|Solomon|2014|page=122}} 9185 (2nd)

|9185 (first) returned to GE, became testbed. As of early 2019, all units have been sold/auctioned off except 9152, 9240, and 9259.

References

= Bibliography =

{{cite book |last=Solomon |first=Brian |author-link= |date=2014 |title=GE and EMD Locomotives: The Illustrated History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JubUBAAAQBAJ&dq=ge+c40-8&pg=PA122 |location= |publisher=Voyageur Press |page= |isbn=9780760346129}}
{{cite book |last=Stakem |first=Patrick H. |author-link= |date=2019 |title=The Locomotive Fleet CSXT |url=https://archive.org/details/l-csxt/mode/2up |location= |publisher= |page= |isbn=}}
{{cite book |last=Solomon |first=Brian |author-link= |date=2005 |title=CSX |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZI4-xleAptoC&dq=ge+dash+8-40c&pg=PA98 |location= |publisher=Voyageur Press |page= |isbn=9781610603751}}
{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=Jeff |author-link= |date=2009 |title=The Model Railroader's Guide to Diesel Locomotives |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gt8OtslzijYC&dq=ge+dash+8-40c&pg=PA80 |location= |publisher=Kalmbach Publishing, Co. |page= |isbn=9780890247617}}