Hello everybody, I have some questions about the CSX unit #9001. I was searching the internet for some information about this unit and got some (for me) confusing answers. I read here, that the units #9000-9002 have shorter frames than the other C44-9W units, because the first three units have the older Dash 8 frame. But wikipedia says, that the Dash 8 has the same lenght as the Dash 9. Well, now I'm a little bit confused... so has the #9001 really a different appearance, compared to all the other C44-9W units? Not only the CSX units, but also the units operated by other railroads. The second thing I'm wondering: Could it be, that the #9001 got a new enginge the last years? If you believe this site the #9001 was reclassifed from a C44-9W to a C40-9W. Does anyone know why and when they changed the engine? Thanks for your help! Regards from Germany Chris
I can't help with much, but I know CSX is de-rating these locomotives to 4000 HP, which explains the new designation. If you would have asked a couple days ago, I might have been able to answer more since my lead engine was the 9000 on Friday.
From what I remember at the time, those locomotives were built with dash 9 internals and the higher horsepower rating, but still used the old carbody and trucks. So, externally they look like Dash 8-40CW's, but internally are different.
CSX's C44-9Ws are classified by some sources as C44-8Ws. Notice that they look like a late C40-8W (thick radiator wings like all C44-9Ws). They were built around the time of the first C44-9Ws for CNW and before the last C40-8Ws for LMS.
Sorry for not responding earlier, but I've been busy the last days. Thanks for your help so far. :thumbs_up: Bummer, but this question didn't came up earlier. Do you know, why CSX is de-rating these engines? And when they started? Well, is there externally (means carbody) an obvious difference between the C40-8W and the C44-9W? I compared some pics, but didn't find a difference.
The most obvious difference is the size of the "Wings" of the radiator. I would assume they are derating them to save on fuel consumption. Norfolk Southern's Dash 9s have always been derated to 4000HP for that reason.
Fuel consumption and wear-and-tear. So far, the AC4400s have not been de-rated, just the ES44s and the CW44-9s.
Comparing some pics of C40-8Ws, I saw that not all Dash 8 engines have the same radiator "wings". This one has other "wings" than this one. The "wings" of the last one look more than the wings of the Dash 9. And the wings of the CSX #9001 also look like the Dash 9 wings. So, if they carbody of the #9001 is actually a carbody of a Dash 8, I can't find any differences to the "real" Dash 9. @ BnOEngrRick: Sounds plausible. Do you know when CSX started derating their engines? I think must have been sometime in the last 12 months.
Not sure how long ago the program started, but it was just after completion of delivery of the ES44s that I noticed they were getting derated. I found out because the password in the onboard computer changed when they were derated.
I don't see a difference in the wings on those. The nature of the photo and the solid blue makes it a little harder to decern the wings perfectly, but they look the same as the ATSF unit to me. In particular note the radiator grills underneath. There are 2 sections on a Dash9 and only 1 on a dash 8
@ YoHo: Yeah, you're right, the picture of the CR units is not the best. Maybe this one is better. If you compare the angle between carbody and wings on the picture with the ATSF unit, you can see what I mean. CSX #9001 nearly has an 90° angle, while the angle of the ATSF unit is bigger. And if you now compare CSX #9001 with this Dash 9 unit, you have to admit that the wings look more like a Dah 9, than the ATSF Dash 8. But, yeah, you're absolutely right. An obvious difference are the radiator grills underneath the wings. I never recognized that. In this case CSX #9001 looks more like an Dash 8. @ BnOEngrRick: Do you know when the delivery of the ES44s was completed? A circa date would be enough. 2009? 2010?
The other big difference between Dash 8 and Dash 9 are of course the Dash 9 has different trucks. either, Hi-Ad or Steerable. The Dash-8 has the previous standard GE trucks. I don't know if they have a name. But truck differences don't really help tell the carbodies apart.
Yep, trucks of #9001 also look like the Dash 8 ones. But what do you think of the wings? There's a difference, or am I blind? Could it be, that GE produced more than one batch of the Dash 8? So they probably redesigned the wings in a later batch.
After hitting RRpicturearchives for 9001, I have to agree with this post. Those units look like Dash-8s except with thicker wings. If I were going to "Bash" one of these units, I'd get a Dash 8-40CW and an Athearn BB dash 9 shell and cut and swap the radiators. As for other differences, you'd have to start counting hood doors and looking at other vents and such. There might be a difference in the intakes and Dynamics too.
CSX's -9 are basically -9 in late -8 bodies. 9000-9002 look just like the late -8 with the split cooling radiators, CSX got 18 -8, 7390-7396, 7918-7929, like this from the Conrail merger that use to be part of the LMS lease fleet . Now you can tell apart 9003-9052 from the rest of the -8 fleet by looking at the steps, they have six steps instead of the -8 five. CSX has been downrating all the 4400HP DC units to 4000 HP like NS. The AC units are staying at 4400 HP.
@ sundowner: You're talking about "late Dash 8s", so I assume, that there really existed different batches of the Dash 8 series... or am I wrong? Well, now most differences between #9001 and all other Dash 9s are listed. Think, thats enough for me. Thanks everyone for their help!!! I really would be stranded without your help guys! Thanks a lot! Last question is when CSX started derating their C44-9Ws?
According to an NS crewman, NS derated them because they thought the engine would rip the couplers ouyt of the middle of long trains at 4400 horses. They were then told that if they derated any more engines, that their Warranty was going to be "derated" and they were screwed when something broke.
Yes there are difference in the early and late CW -8. Mostly the thickness of the radiator wing. CSX started the derating late last year.
