Railroad Trains for the Soul - More GE DASH 8 Demos
In 1983, General Electric built its first DASH 8 demonstrator locomotive with six-wheel trucks and designated it as C36-8 (number 607). The paint scheme on this unit looked similar to the one on the single four-axle B36-8 demo (No. 606). Both of these locomotives were the only DASH 8’s rated at 3,600 horsepower and no production units were ever built with that rating. Like its four-motored brother, No. 607 had its output increased to 3,900 hp and thus redesignated as C39-8.
In response to the oil crises of the 1980’s, GE planned a concept of an alternative fuel source called coal slurry, which involves a mixture of pulverized coal and water. The six-axle DASH 8 prototype (renumbered as 609) had its 16-cylinder 7FDL diesel engine replaced by a 12-cylinder version to make enough room for the coal-burning equipment. Most of the exterior body modifications occurred between the operator’s cab and the prime mover compartment. The locomotive was also repainted in a simple white scheme with red diagonal stripes on the nose and the “Coal-Fueled Diesel” lettering on both sides of the engine hood. The United States Department of Energy provided funding for this experiment in 1991 but the concept didn’t last too long.
Eight years later, No. 609 was refitted back with the standard V16 engine and modified with DASH 9 components. This locomotive was renamed C39-9 and renumbered to 899. However, according to its builder’s plate, the actual model name for No. 899 is C44-9 and its net horsepower rating is 4400, a standard feature on a regular DASH 9 locomotive. While the unit still retains its conventional cab, the rest of its body was completely changed to be used as an exhaust emissions testbed. Alongside the B39-8 wide-cab prototype No. 809 (rebuilt from B36-8 No. 606), the C44-9 unit No. 899 is still active on the GE demonstrator locomotive roster.
1st photo: An HO scale model of the as-built C36-8 No. 607
Photo source: scaletrains.com
2nd photo: C39-8 "Coal-Fueled Diesel" No. 609
3rd photo: C39-9 (or C44-9) No. 899
4th photo: Inside the cab of No. 899
5th photo: Builder's plate on No. 899
Photo source: rrpicturearchives.net
