GE Dash 8-40C explained

C40-8
Powertype:Diesel-electric
Length:70inchesft8inchesin (ftin)
Height:15feet
Width:10feet
Locoweight:391600lb
Gauge:
, Brazil
Builder:GE Transportation Systems
Buildmodel:C40-8
Builddate:1987 - 1992
Totalproduction:585
Aarwheels:C-C
Primemover:GE FDL
Operator:Various
Disposition:nearly all have been retired as of 2022
Locale:North America, Brazil

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 (4000abbr=onNaNabbr=on) of the unit, although some units may be re-rated to 4100hp.

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 ~4135hp 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 4135hp, 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

bgcolor=c0c090 Railroadbgcolor=c0c090 Quantitybgcolor=c0c090 Road numbersbgcolor=c0c090 Notes
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company778501-85778575-8577 were 4150hp, all units were passed on to UP and later sold to CREX and later Canadian National
Conrail256025-6049Split between CSX and NS, all units remaining in Conrail colors are retired
CSX Transportation1577489-7498, 7500-7646, 9280-9299Classed 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 previously sold to Pan Am reacquired and renumbered 9280-9299. 7520 was wrecked and retired.
Estrada de Ferro Carajás4501-504
Norfolk Southern Railway898300-8313, 8689-87638300-8313 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 Railroad2559100-9355, 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.

See also