| GE C39-8 | |
| Powertype: | Diesel-electric |
| Builder: | GE Transportation Systems |
| Buildmodel: | C39-8 |
| Builddate: | 1984 - 1987 |
| Totalproduction: | 161 |
| Primemover: | 7FDL-16 |
| Length: | 70inchesft8inchesin (ftin) |
| Maxspeed: | 70mph |
| Fuelcap: | 3900usgal4500usgal |
| Poweroutput: | 3900hp |
| Wheeldiameter: | 400NaN0 |
| Aarwheels: | C-C |
| Locale: | United States |
| Operator: | See table |
The GE C39-8 is a 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive model built by GE Transportation Systems between 1984 and 1987. It is part of the GE Dash 8 Series of freight locomotives.
A total of 161 examples of this locomotive were built for two North American railroads: Conrail and Norfolk Southern Railway.
The C39-8 was a fairly unpopular locomotive with crews, cited factors such as a rough ride, tendency to overheat, frequent turbocharger issues, issues with the fuel injection system, and various other reliability issues.
The C39-8 is powered by a V16 7FDL-16 diesel engine driving a GE GMC187A2 main alternator. The power generated by the main alternator drove 6 GE 752AG traction motors, each with a gear ratio of 83:20 and connected to 400NaN0 wheels which allowed the C39-8 a maximum speed of 70mph.
Depending on customer options, the C39-8 carried between 3900to of diesel fuel, 360to of lubricating oil, and 380to of coolant. Like most North American diesel locomotives, the C39-8 uses normal water for cooling.
The C39-8 has a maximum tractive effort of 108600lbf at 10.8mi/h.
| GE C39-8 owners | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
| Norfolk Southern | 114 | 8550-8663 | 8550,8551 former GE demonstrators set up for short hood forward operation. 8552-8663 set up for long hood forward operation. All units have been retired. |
| Norfolk Southern | 25 | 8664-8688 | C39-8E (Enhanced) built in carbody similar to the GE C40-8. All have been retired. 8687 damaged in collision with semi truck in 1992. The entire incident was caught on camera. Unit 8688 currently used as a test bed in Altoona [1] |
| Conrail | 22 | 6000-6021 | After Conrail split in 1999, 13 units went to Norfolk Southern to become NS 8200-8212 and are no longer in service with NS, 9 units went to CSX to become CSXT 7480-7488 and have since been retired. |
Apart from Norfolk Southern's test bed, Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad's former Norfolk Southern 8212 (née Conrail 6021) is the last C39-8 in active use in North America.[2]
15 Norfolk Southern units were sold to Peru's Ferrocarril Central Andino (FCCA) after RDC acquired a significant part of the company in 1999. Many of them have been rebuilt by shortening the radiators.[3]