Railroad Trains for the Soul: CSX AC6000CW Operator's Familiarization
The AC6000CW is General Electric’s second diesel freight locomotive with alternating current traction motors. Due to the success of computerized AC technology, GE was able to increase horsepower output in a single engine. However, the company could no longer maximize the amount of power in its existing design, which was the 4,400-hp 7FDL-16 diesel engine. To solve the problem, GE partnered with Deutz MWM to create a completely new engine called the 7HDL-16 in an effort to produce 6,000 hp. It should be noted that this video only discusses the production version of the AC6000 for CSX, as opposed to the nearly identical “convertible” (FDL-powered) AC4400/6000CW built solely for Union Pacific.
The AC6000 has many features similar to the versatile AC4400, including the comfort cab, Hi-Ad trucks, single axle control, and split cooling. Additionally, GE offered the optional steerable trucks for both the AC44’s and AC60’s, so CSX chose that truck design for its later units. One of the major differences is obviously the 7HDL prime mover, which has 16 bigger cylinders and two turbochargers, but GE also applied electronic fuel injection to this new engine. There is even a brief comparison between the AC6000 and a typical Dash-7 locomotive (like the 3,000-hp C30-7) with respect to power output, tractive effort, and dynamic braking.
As we tour inside the operator’s cab of the AC60, there are three Video Information Display (VID) screens: two for the engineer’s console and one for the conductor’s. GE used three other terms to describe graphical interfaces that are somewhat synonymous to the VID’s, including Integrated Function Displays (IFD’s), Interactive Display Units (IDU’s), and Smart Displays. Nevertheless, these computer screens became a standard feature on all AC locomotives built by GE, and you’ll find lots of detailed information on the VID’s. Unlike the AC4400 from the previous video, the AC6000 can be started with an easy push of a button conveniently inside the cab. However, there are still some pre-startup procedures such as closing the battery knife switch, turning the engine control switch to the START position, and turning on all the circuit breakers required for normal operation. If you listen carefully, the huge HDL diesel engine sounds similar to the regular FDL engine.
The CSX AC6000 shown in this video is numbered 600, the first unit in the railroad’s fleet of that type. It was also initially painted in the same livery identical to the AC4400, including the lightning bolt below the number on the cab portion. However, the CSX lettering was soon changed from blue to yellow on the hood while the single lightning bolt was changed to a double bolt. This became a unique variant of the railroad’s “Bright Future” paint scheme for these gigantic diesels. It’s a pity that North American railroads no longer purchased high-horsepower locomotives, due to the unreliability of the 7HDL engine on the AC60.
According to Trains Magazine’s CSX at 40 issue, at least three of the CSX units, including No. 600, were repowered by the 7FDL engine for better performance. Others were refitted with the 16-cylinder configuration of GE’s new GEVO prime mover, which is normally intended for the Evolution Series ES44AC and ET44AC. Fortunately, the GEVO-12 can produce up to 4,400 hp in 12 cylinders, so it is possible to produce approximately 6,000 horses by adding four more cylinders. CSX already eliminated the majority of the AC60 units from its roster a few years ago, but these locomotives will always be a fan favorite within the trainspotter community. One can argue that the mighty AC6000CW is the king of all GE locomotives in the history of diesel power.
For your convenience, a playlist is provided to play all three separate YouTube clips as a 44-minute video. Thanks again to the CSX Transportation Historical Society for another incredible training video on a modern AC locomotive from General Electric. Long live the king!