GE C44-9W
DCC Ready

Southern Pacific  No. 8116

Bloody Nose!

The headliner of GE’s 1993 freight locomotive line was the 6 motor, 4400hp C44-9W “Dash 9.”

Slightly longer than its predecessors at 73 feet, 2 inches, the C44-9W used a new HiAd, bolsterless low-weight truck that was designed for better grip on the rails no matter the weather.

A split cooling system lowered engine temperatures and fuel consumption as well, granting these locomotives a longer operation life and lower overhead costs.

The SP C44-9W’s featured a post Rio-Grande merger scheme with Speed lettering and the iconic “bloody nose” grey and red paint scheme.

Many of these C44-9Ws would join the UP fleets and eventually be repainted into the yellow and grey heraldry accordingly.

It was not uncommon, however, to see these bloody nose SP units running on UP trains for some time before they were repainted.

• Windshield wipers
• Coupler lift bars
• MU hoses
• Narrow end platforms with grey/white handrails
• Air conditioner unit
• Snow plow with openings for the MU hoses
• Accurate radiator and side panel details
• Grab irons
• Radio antenna
• Precisely engineered weight distribution for more pulling power on steep grades and long trains
• Lighted ditch lights in the high mount position for SP and UP (ex-SP) units
• Prototypical Late Hi-Adhesion trucks
• Sound friendly construction with a speaker housing in the fuel tank

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