Looks kinda like a D&H paint scheme, they just bought the CP D&H line, so maybe it's a heritage unit?
It is a DASH8-40-C rebuilt with AC traction motors and a new "wide" cab, all done by NS in-house. Progress Rail didn't have anything to do with it. NS created the scheme to visually show that it is something new. This unit and the second one, at least, will wear this new scheme. The BNSF unit has 3 axle trucks, but only the 2 outer axles have traction motors. When operating at low speeds where more power is needed, the middle axle can be "lifted" slightly to allow higher tractive effort on the outer axles by concentrating more weight on those axles. "C4" designates 6 wheel truck, 4 axles powered.
My thought here is this is just a one time paint scheme or a Demonstrator scheme -and not a permanent paint scheme for NS-, which demonstrates the conversion from DC to AC by General Electric . Tom
Rick, thank you. I hope NS management is trying this scheme to see how well it's accepted by employees, customers, and foamers. Maybe it'll become standard if enough folks comment positively on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media.
I can't seem to figure out how to edit a post now. I misspoke about the "C4" designation. 6 wheel truck, 4 wheels powered.
It looks like the designation of the donor locos for NS 4000-4001 leads to confusion. This page http://www.nsdash9.com/rosters/4000.html says the donor for 4000 is NS 9-40C 8799. However, NS calls 9-44CWs that GE builds as standard units for other roads 9-40Cs. Apparently NS had these derated in some way, but I believe at some point it was put out that if NS ever wanted to get 4400 hp out of them, it would be just a software upgrade. The spotting features for 4000 show the later GE trucks and the hood height consistent with 9-44 production, not 8-40C.
When I was younger, I knew 'em all, but starting 20-some years ago I found that I could no longer tell an EMD from a GE, much less identify which model they were. I've since given up and just enjoy the view.