I went on a photography shoot today and I saw 2 -8’s from CSX. It seemed to me that they had steerable trucks. I didn’t think steerable truck’s were being produced when the -8’s were being manufactured. Any idea if this is what I saw.
EMD were first with steerable trucks with the SD70-series, and GE responded by offering their own steerable trucks with for the Dash9/AC44CW, though some Class 1s didn’t take this option. CSX does have 4400hp GEs that are internally C44-9Ws, though use the Dash8 CW frame and body. CSX conisders these C44-9Ws, though some railfans dub them C44-8Ws.
GE has never offered their steerable truck on a DC motored locomotive. So no Dash-8 or Dash-9 ever had GE’s steerable truck. Only AC4400CWs, AC6000CWs, and ES44ACs were built with steerable trucks from GE. Even amongst these models, only some of the buyers ordered them with the extra cost steerable trucks. In the US some of CSX’s AC4400CWs, all of their AC6000CWs, and their ES44ACs have the steerable trucks. KCS also has AC4400CWs and ES44ACs with the steerable GE trucks. Three UP AC4400CWs had steerable trucks as a test but UP decided to stay with the regular Hi-Ad trucks and these locomotives had their trucks replaced. All BNSF GE’s have the non-steerable Hi-Ad trucks.
It was probably what Loyn said, a -9 internally but in the frame of a -8. I was on the right side of the locomotives, there were 2 of them both facing forward ( a southbound out of Laffayette,) so I didn’t see if it had the large box just behind the cab indacating that it might of been a AC4400CW. That moment was very intense because at the same time as the CSX units were passing,NS 6590 a SD70 was blasting by at track speed with a auto rack train. A ralfan’s nightmare, witch one do you take a picture of?! ps. my avatar is a picture of one of the locomotives! Thank you all,
No it would not be what Loyn said, as already stated GE has never offered DC traction locomotives with steerable trucks. No DASH 8 or DASH 9 locomotive has ever had steerable trucks. If it was a CSX GE with steerable trucks it would either be an AC4400CW, AC6000CW or ES44AC.
Bryan Jones
Ok, it must have been a AC4400CW. Not quite sure on this one but the KCS unit just to the right of where I am typing this look’s simalir to the unti’s I saw. Thank’s for repling I’ lerning more every day! My avatar is a picture of the untit.