GE C39-8

The GE C39-8 is a 6-axle road switcher 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.

GE C39-8
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGE Transportation Systems
ModelC39-8
Build date1984 – 1987
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter40 in (1,016 mm)
Length70 ft 8 in (21.54 m)
Fuel capacity3,900–4,500 US gal (15,000–17,000 l; 3,200–3,700 imp gal)
Prime mover7FDL-16
Performance figures
Maximum speed70 mph (113 km/h)
Power output3,900 hp (2,900 kW)
Career
OperatorsSee table
LocaleUnited States

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.

Technical

The 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
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.
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.

As of April 2020, former Norfolk Southern and 8212 (née Conrail 6017) is in service with those numbers on the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad based in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.[1]

NREX 7483
gollark: ~play bee sounds
gollark: ~play laser noises
gollark: Have you ASKED roads?
gollark: What if they don't want to?
gollark: Yes, I am very script kiddie for preferring languages people can actually read and write.

See also

References
  1. ModelTrainStuff (April 24, 2020). The Last of Its Kind on North American Rails. YouTube.
  • 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 1-881411-49-4.
  • "NS C39-8". Retrieved August 28, 2007.
  • "NS C39-8E". Retrieved August 28, 2007.
  • "Conrail Cyclopedia". Retrieved August 28, 2007.
  • "CSX Photo Archives". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2007.
  • "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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