As you all are now aware, NMHR will soon have access to a diesel-electric locomotive. The particular unit will be a GE Dash-8-40BW manufactured in the early 1990s by General Electric. Deciphering this GE nomenclature goes as follows: Dash-8 signifies the generation of locomotives by its design year, in this case the late 1980s; The 40 indicates the horsepower, in this case 4,000 hp; the B signifies the axle arrangement, in this case two trucks with two axles per truck; and the W signifies the wide-cab design (also known as a comfort or safety cab).
Eighty-four Dash-8-40BWs were built for the AT&SF’s super fleet service, and they were passed along to BNSF when the BN-ATSF merger took place in December 1996. Some were also sold to other railroads.
Some of the specifications for this diesel-electric locomotive are as follows:
• Prime mover—GE 4,000 hp/3,000 kw, V-16 engine with generator
• Weight—280,000 pounds
• Maximum speed—70 mph
• Tractive effort—68,000 pounds
Our particular locomotive is still in the paint shop receiving its classic Warbonnet paint job. It is the ex-BNSF 534 and will carry the nomenclature BUGX 534. It should be arriving here later this summer!