Part of GE's "Dash 9" series of locomotives, the Dash 9-40CW shares its frame, HiAd trucks, 16-cylinder 7FDL engine, and 752AH-31 traction motors with the GE Dash 9-44CW. But while the more common 9-44CW offers 4,400 horsepower (3,300 kW), software in the 9-40CW's engine-governing unit restricts its power output to 4,000 horsepower (3,000 kW), although the engineer can override this restriction when desired.[1] The Dash 9-40CW was basically an extension of the previous order for the standard cab GE Dash 9-40C, built under the same premise that a lower power rating would prolong the life of the engine and use less fuel.[2]
Early production units built for CSX were designed with carbodies externally identical to the predecessor Dash 8-40CW with the first three units of the series also being built on Dash 8-40CW frames, and were designated C44-8W originally, as they were built as 4400 horsepower units before being downrated to 4000 horsepower. The CSX units were equipped with GSC ''Floating Bolster'' 3 Trucks instead of the standard Hi-ad trucks commonly found on later models.
In 2005, GE replaced the C40-9W in its locomotive catalog with the Evolution Series model, the ES40DC. Like the Dash 9-40CWs, Norfolk Southern's ES40DC locomotives are rated at 4,000 hp (3,000 kW) to conserve fuel. The change in output is accomplished electronically; mechanically, the two models are essentially the same.[3]
BB40-9W
GE also produced a narrow-gauge version of the Dash 9-40CW, known as the BB40-9W. All 141 examples of this locomotive are owned by the EFVM railroad in Brazil. They are equipped with four type B trucks, two at each end replacing the conventional type C trucks. This is necessary because EFVM tracks are 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) narrow gauge. Unlike the North American axle load limit of 71,500 lb (32.4 tonnes) on standard gauge railways, the narrow gauge railway over which the units operate allows only 51190 lb (25 tonnes). The units are numbered 1113 to 1253.
