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. 8687 damaged in collision with semi truck in 1992.
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 8212 (née Conrail 6021) is in service on the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad based in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.[1]

NREX 7483

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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