Railroad Trains for the Soul: AC6000CW Convertibles & Demos
You’ve already seen the CSX AC6000CW in one of General Electric’s operator training videos, but it doesn't include a demonstrator locomotive of the same type. As an added bonus to follow up the previous blog post, here’s a video showing GE’s first AC60 demo unit No. 6000 (also nicknamed the “Green Machine” simply due to its paint scheme) testing with some of the Union Pacific AC4400/6000CW “convertibles”. The builder used to own a fleet of three AC60 demonstrators that were numbered between 6000 and 6002. Although the Green Machine was the first locomotive powered by the 6,000-horsepower 7HDL diesel engine, No. 6001 was a convertible unit powered by the more reliable 4,400-hp 7FDL engine. Nos. 6001 and 6002 were also painted in a red and gray scheme instead of this unique solid green paint.
Because both the 4,400-hp and the 6,000-hp versions are so closely identical to each other, there’s only one spotting difference that comes to mind. Convertibles feature one exhaust stack for the FDL while production units feature two stacks for the twin-turbocharged HDL. Union Pacific designated its less powerful versions as C44/60AC and the more powerful ones as C60AC. Similarly, CSX chose to name its HDL-engined locomotives CW60AC. While the UP convertibles are not as powerful as the production variants, these FDL-engined locomotives have continued their careers more reliably for about two decades.
A few years ago, UP began a modernization program involving the AC44/60CW’s as well as the regular AC44CW’s to upgrade them with the latest technology available for existing locomotives. Now designated as C44ACM, these units were only retrofitted with a new electrical cabinet and alternator compartment. As a result, they still retain their as-built cab design, including the original desktop control console that was once a standard feature on both the AC44’s and AC60’s. The desktop was used in a lot of the 1990’s-era diesel locomotives for both freight and passenger services. However, it was phased out by the mid-2000’s and replaced by the left-hand control stand design, which is now standard on more recent freight locomotives.
Hope you enjoy the memories of these amazing GE locomotives with their unmistakably large radiators that help cool their engines, large or small. Special thanks to Mark Labrozzi.
Here's a closer look at the GE AC6000CW "Green Machine" No. 6000.
Photo credit: Paul Rome
And this one painted red and gray.
Photo credit: Dan Gaines
