CSX's 40th Anniversary
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of CSX Corporation, let’s focus on some of its motive power. One of my favorite things about this railroad is that it has been acquiring both Electro-Motive (EMD) and General Electric (GE) diesel locomotives that directly competed with each other. For example, when the Chessie System and Seaboard System merged into CSX Transportation in 1986, the first locomotive models purchased new by the railroad were the EMD SD60 (3,800 horsepower) and the GE DASH 8-40C (4,000 hp.). Both of them are certainly equivalent to each other because they were built during the 1980’s and are considered to be North America’s first mass-produced locomotives with onboard microprocessor controls.
While CSX has bought both EMD and GE locomotives, the latter ones have dominated the system, especially due to the railroad’s satisfaction with its AC4400CW and Evolution Series units. Regardless of their quantities, I would like to do a comparison of diesel types from both builders to illustrate how they are equivalent to each other. Let’s focus on the third and fourth generation diesels from early computer control to the compliance with the Tier 4 emissions standards. Below are two lists of CSX models: one for EMD and one for GE. Both will have the same number of models to best explain their competition. Unless otherwise noted, some of them represent all examples purchased new while others include both new and previously owned copies. CSX also assigns its own designation to many locomotive types. For instance, the railroad calls its GE locomotives C40-8, CW40-8, CW44AC, etc. In both lists, there will be the CSX designation included with the original model name if applicable.
EMD 1. GP60 – All former EMD demonstrator units 2. SD60 3. SD60M and SD60I – All pre-owned by CR 4. SD70M – All former EMD demonstrator units 5. SD70MAC (SD70AC) 6. SD80MAC (SD80AC) – All pre-owned by CR 7. SD70ACe* 8. SD70ACe-T4 (ST70AH)*
GE 1. DASH 8-40B (B40-8) – All pre-owned by CR and NYSW 2. DASH 8-40C (C40-8) 3. DASH 8-40CW (CW40-8) 4. DASH 8-44CW/DASH 9-44CW (CW44-9)* 5. AC4400CW (CW44AC)* 6. AC6000CW (CW60AC)* 7. ES44AC/ES44AH* 8. ET44AC/ET44AH*
*All purchased new by CSX CR = Conrail NYSW = New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
There are several additional notes to consider with regard to competing locomotives. First of all, the GE DASH 8-40CW competed with the EMD SD60M as many U.S. railroads began to purchase the so-called “wide-cabs” during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Technically, Conrail purchased two similar SD60 comfort cab types, SD60M (original) and SD60I (isolated cab version), but I’m counting both of them as one model because they have the same wide nose style and are mechanically identical to each other. Secondly, the GE DASH 9 Series competed with the DC traction SD70 Series, although CSX purchased a fleet of transitional DASH 8-44CW units as sort of a DASH 8/DASH 9 hybrid. Because they featured DASH 9 electronics, CSX designated these late-production DASH 8’s as DASH 9-44CW’s (or CW44-9’s). Lastly, during the high horsepower race of the mid-1990’s, EMD and GE developed their own 6,000-hp locomotives: SD90MAC and AC6000CW. CSX never bought any EMD SD90MAC but did acquire some of the former Conrail 5,000-hp SD80MAC units, which were still relatively powerful, compared to the average 4,000–4,400-hp rating in recent years. Even the slight horsepower difference between EMD and GE locomotives is still competitive today (i.e., 4,300 hp. on the SD70ACe vs. 4,400 hp. on the ES44AC).
Of course, there are many more types on the CSX roster, and some of them listed above had been retired in the past several years. But this writing is meant to show a comparative all-time roster that includes both current and retired locomotives. I hope this gives you an idea how CSX has bought equivalent models from both EMD and GE, up to and including the Tier 4 units. I sincerely give credit to a reference website called CSX Photo Archives, which did an excellent job contributing the information about each locomotive model within the roster. If you like to see more types of locomotives, including those inherited from predecessor railroads, I highly recommend this source. You’ll also enjoy a guide to the paint scheme phases from CSX, Chessie, Seaboard, Conrail, and other related railroads. Thinking of those memories is indeed a fun way to honor CSX at age 40 and beyond, and remembering its locomotives is no exception!
NOTE – This photo below shows the Trains Magazine November 2006 issue, which does feature a CSX train on its cover. I originally thought about posting a photo of the CSX at 40 special issue that I ordered from Kalmbach Hobby Store earlier this month. However, according to an email I received two days ago, my delivery may be delayed up to four weeks due to COVID-19. Fortunately, I have successfully received a digital copy of the special issue via Zinio because I ordered the print/digital combo. It is, of course, a very exciting and well-explained magazine so I highly recommend it for a true CSX fan!
