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A single C44-9W demonstrator unit, numbered 8601, made its debut in 1993 (and later became C&NW 8601). While similar at first glance to predecessor models like the C40-8 and C40-8W, the Dash-9 series featured a few notable physical differences. Built on a slightly longer platform that allowed for a massive 5,000 gallon fuel tank, Dash-9s also featured thicker radiator “wings” at the rear of the carbody. This is usually the quickest way to differentiate them from previous models.
The C44-9W proved to be extremely popular over its production span with over 3,500 locomotives being sold new to ATSF, BC Rail, BNSF, CN, C&NW, NS (including 100 spartan cab equipped versions, nicknamed “Top Hats”), QNS&L, SP, and UP. Over the years, the Dash-9s could be found in a variety of assignments. The Dash-9 series remained in production until the early 2000s when it was superseded by GE’s “Evolution Series” ES40/44-series models. Age has begun to catch up with the earliest C44-9W and related models so some railroads are storing and/or rebuilding these veteran units.
Rivet Counter DASH 9-44CW Locomotives Also Feature
*NEWOperating front, rear, and side LED walkway lights
Fully-assembled
Printed and LED lighted number boards
Five (5) cabs
“Gullwing” with three (3) side windows
“Gullwing” with four (4) side window
Standard safety cab with low headlight
Standard safety cab with high headlight
Spartan cab with high headlight (C40-9)
Dayton Phoenix (DPG) Model 280620 or Motive Equipment (MEI) ME7000 HVAC Units
Hi-Ad trucks with separately applied brake cylinders, air plumbing, and struts (per prototype)
Early with reinforcement bulge
Late with cantilever struts on right front and left rear sideframes
Late with non-cantilevered struts on all four sideframes
Late with cantilever struts on all four sideframes
Rotating axle bearing caps
Nose door with or without window
Four (4) step or five (5) step see-through stepwells
Narrow or wide profile end handrails
One or two-piece nose top grab iron(s)
Early (curved) or late (angled) engine cab profile
Early flanged or late non-flanged exhaust stack housing
Early or late lifting lugs on ends of radiator wings
Low or high rear sand filler
Separate air tanks with lower or upper mounting brackets
Three (3) types of fuel fills per side: single; dual; dual with rear fill blanked
Spare coupler knuckle holders on truck sideframes or rear pilot face
GE “nub” pattern walkway tread
Accurately profiled frame with separately applied plumbing and traction motor cabling
Detailed cab interior with separate floor, rear wall, seats, and desktop controls or control stand, per prototype
Tinted cab side windows
26 individually-applied etched metal see-through radiator intake and exhaust grilles on sides and top of radiator compartment
“Bathtub” exhaust silencer
5,000-gallon fuel tank
Factory-applied detail parts: wire grab irons, snowplow, spare knuckles, trainline hoses, 3-hose MU clusters, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, mirrors, sunshades, air tanks, fuel tank mounted steel bell (unless noted), brake wheel and more
Semi-scale coupler buffer
Durable metal semi-scale Type E knuckle couplers
Motor with 5-pole skew wound armature
Dual flywheels
All-wheel drive
All-wheel electrical pick-up
Directional LED headlights
Printing and lettering legible under magnification
Operates on Code 70, 83, and 100 rail
Minimum Radius: 18″
Recommended Radius: 22″
DCC & sound equipped locomotives also feature:
ESU-LokSound v5.0 DCC and Sound decoder with “Full Throttle”
Two (2) cube-type speakers
Accurate FDL-16 prime mover and auxiliary sounds, horn, bell, and more
ESU-designed PowerPack with two (2) super capacitors
Operates on both DC and DCC layouts*
DCC & sound ready locomotives also feature:
Operate on DC layouts
DCC ready with 21-pin connector
*Not all sound and lighting functions on DCC and sound equipped versions are operable using DC