GE Dash 9-40CW

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GE Dash 9-40CW
Power type Diesel-electric
BuilderGE Transportation Systems
ModelGE Dash 9-40CW
Gaugeft 8½ in (1435 mm)
Power output4,000 hp (2,980 kW)
LocaleUnited States

The GE Dash 9-40CW is a 4,000 hp (2,980 kW) diesel locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems of Erie, Pennsylvania. The engine can be upgraded to 4400 horsepower by a road foreman by unlocking a switch in the electrial compartement when extra power is needed. It is also known as the C40-9W or "Dash 9". The only buyer of this locomotive has been Norfolk Southern. Their reasoning is that a slightly less powerful locomotive can still perform the same tasks but will put less stress on its components and thus will require less maintenance. Norfolk southern also uses a standard control stand with GE IFD's mounted on top of them rather than using the desktop control system. Union Pacific Railroad, its competitor BNSF Railway as well as Canadian National own Dash 9s, but those are C44-9Ws.

The Dash 9 is limited to a primary crew of just 2, an engineer and conductor — trainees and/or brakemen must ride in a very cramped seat behind the conductor. Because of more stringent emissions requirements that came into effect in the United States on January 1, 2005, the Dash 9-40CW has been replaced by the GE ES40DC.