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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.
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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. [citation needed]
Technical
editThe C39-8 is powered by a 3,900 horsepower (2,900 kW) 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 40-inch (1,016 mm) wheels which allowed the C39-8 a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).
Depending on customer options, the C39-8 carried between 3,900 to 4,500 US gal (14,763 to 17,034 L; 3,247 to 3,747 imp gal) of diesel fuel, 360 to 400 US gal (1,363 to 1,514 L; 300 to 333 imp gal) of lubricating oil, and 380 to 420 US gal (1,438 to 1,590 L; 316 to 350 imp gal) 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 108,600 lbf (483,000 N) at 10.8 mph (17.4 km/h).
Original owners
edit| 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. |
Current use
editApart 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]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Norfolk Southern C39-8E diesel locomotive is one of only two remaining". October 17, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ Burkhart, M.T. (April 28, 2020). "Last of its Kind: Rare GE Runs Final Miles in Pennsylvania". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ "FCCA Photographic Roster". Railroad Picture Archives. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- McDonnell, Greg (2008). Locomotives: The Modern Diesel and Electric Reference. Erin, Ontario: Boston Mills Press. ISBN 978-1550464931.
- Solomon, Brian (2003). GE Locomotives: 110 Years of General Electric Motive Power. St. Paul, MN, USA: MBI Publishing. ISBN 9780760313619.
- Solomon, Brian (2010). Modern Locomotives: High Horsepower Diesels 1966–2000. New York: Crestline. ISBN 978-0785826811.
- Withers, Paul (2007). Norfolk Southern Locomotive Directory 2006-2007. Withers Publishing. ISBN 978-1-881411-49-9.
- "Greenbrier Hotel to use two locomotives for private luxury train". Archived from the original on June 26, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
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