GE Dash 8-40C

File:CN 2109.jpg

CN 2109 in Waukesha, Wisconsin

The GE C40-8 is a model of 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems between 1987 and 1992. It is part of the GE Dash 8 Series of freight locomotives, and its wheel arrangement is of a C-C type.

This locomotive model is often referred to as a Dash 8-40C or simply "Dash 8". "Dash 8" in general refers to the electrical control series, "Dash" being a carryover from the older syntax of C40-8. The "40" refers to the baseline horsepower rating (Template:Convert) of the unit, although some units may be re-rated to Template:Convert.

Later units were supplied with a wide-nose cab and are designated Dash 8-40CW, the "W" indicating a wide-nose cab.

C41-8

Some railroads, the Chicago and North Western Railway in particular, upgraded some of their units to ~Template:Convert and designated them as C42-8. This designation was modified by the Union Pacific Railroad to C41-8 after its takeover of C&NW in 1995. Former C&NW units are usually identified by a grab-iron on the front nose just above the Union Pacific shield logo, and/or the "C41-8" designation on the cab side. The final three C&NW C40-8s were built with Template:Convert, and the prior 32 units were similarly modified as well. Although none of these units were ever officially classed as C41-8 by GE, a safety cab version was built as the Dash 8-41CW.

Original Owners

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
Chicago and North Western Transportation Company	77	8501-8577Template:Sfn	8575-8577 were Template:Convert, all units were passed on to UP and later sold to CREX and later Canadian National; Unit 2127 resold to Rock Island Rail
Conrail	25Template:Sfn	6025-6049Template:Sfn	Split between CSX and NS, all units remaining in Conrail colors are retired
CSX Transportation	157	7489-7498, 7500-7646,Template:Sfn 9280	Classed as C40-8, 7489-7498 are ex-Conrail. All retired from May 2016 to February 2017, most have been sold off to other railroads or have been scrapped. 24 units sold to Pan Am; later to Berkshire & Eastern following Pan Am purchase; Unit 7627 reacquired by CSX and renumbered 9280. 7520 was wrecked and retired.
Estrada de Ferro Carajás	4	501-504
Norfolk Southern Railway	89	8300-8313, 8689-8763Template:Sfn	8300-8313 are ex-Conrail. All units were to be rebuilt with a new wide cab, upgraded electronics, etc. 8500-8504, 8506-8513 being rebuilt with an NS "Crescent" nose/cab (The same on the SD60Es), 8505 being rebuilt with a GE widenose and cab. They are classified as a Dash 8.5-40CW but are labeled as D8.5-40CW. However, due to repeated failures, all Norfolk Southern C40-8's will be sold or scrapped, and 47 new ET44AC and three ES44AC locomotives will replace them. Last remaining units retired in 2017.
Union Pacific Railroad	255	9100-9355,Template:Sfn 9185 (2nd)	9185 (first) returned to GE, became testbed. As of early 2019, all units have been sold/auctioned off except 9152, 9240, and 9259.

See also

• List of GE locomotives