GE AC6000CW

GE AC6000CW

A CSX Transportation AC6000CW passing through the New River Gorge, West Virginia in February 2008

Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder GE Transportation Model AC6000CW Build date 1995–2001

Specifications AAR wheel arr. C-C UIC class Co′Co′ Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Wheel diameter 42 in (1,067 mm) Length 76 ft 0 in (23.16 m) Width 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) Height 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m) Axle load 72,000 lb (32,658.7 kilograms; 32.7 tonnes) max Loco weight 423,000–432,000 lb (192,000–196,000 kilograms) 212–216 short tons (189–193 long tons; 192–196 t) Fuel type diesel fuel Fuel capacity 5,500 US gal (21,000 l; 4,600 imp gal) or 6,200 US gal (23,000 l; 5,200 imp gal) Prime mover GE 7FDL16, 7HDL16, GEVO-16 (rebuilds) RPM range 200 - 1050 Engine type 45° V16, four stroke cycle Aspiration Twin turbocharger, model 7S1408D Displacement 251.2 liters (15,330 cu in) (7HDL16, GEVO-16) 175.2 liters (10,690 cu in) (7FDL16) Alternator GE GMG201 Traction motors GE GEB13 AC Cylinders 16 Transmission diesel electric AC Alternator to DC link to AC Traction inverters and Motors MU working Yes Loco brake Dynamic and Electropneumatic brake Train brakes WABCO EPIC 3102 Electropneumatic, others with WABCO 26L pneumatic

Performance figures Maximum speed 75 mph (121 km/h) (worn wheels) Power output 6,000 hp (4,500 kW) Tractive effort Starting: 188,000 lbf (840 kN) Continuous: 166,000 lbf (740 kN) @ 11.6 mph (18.7 km/h) Factor of adh. 2.16 to 2.35

Career Operators CSX Transportation Union Pacific Railroad BHP Billiton Locale North America, Australia

The AC6000CW is a 6,000-horsepower (4,500 kW) diesel electric locomotive built by GE Transportation. This locomotive, along with the EMD SD90MAC, is among of the most powerful single-engined diesel locomotives in the world. The only locomotive to surpass them is the dual-engine 6,600-horsepower (4,900 kW) EMD DDA40X.

The AC6000CW was designed at the height of a horsepower race between the two major locomotive manufacturers, Electro-Motive Division of London, Ontario and GE Transportation of Erie, Pennsylvania in the early to mid 1990s. The goal was 6,000 horsepower (4,500 kW).

GE partnered with Deutz-MWM of Germany in 1994 to design and construct the 6,250 hp (4,660 kW) 7HDL engine for the locomotives. The first locomotive constructed was the "Green Machine" GE 6000, the nickname due to the green paint scheme. The first production models were also built in 1995: CSX Transportation 600-602, and Union Pacific Railroad 7000-7009. After testing was completed by GE, they were released to their respective owners in late 1996.

The initial locomotives suffered from various mechanical problems with the most severe being the engine itself. There were major vibration problems which were addressed by increasing the engine mass to alter the resonant frequency. This in turn caused problems with the twin turbochargers. These problems caused GE to push back full production of the new model until 1998. Changes such as stiffer materials and increased engine wall thickness (to increase mass) were in place at full production.

GE built 106 AC6000CWs for Union Pacific with the older, proven 7FDL engine, rated for 4,400 hp (3,300 kW). These units were originally supposed to be converted to the 6,250 hp (4,660 kW) 7HDL engine after the problems were worked out with the engine, but this never occurred. GE considers these units as AC6000CW "Convertibles," while UP classifies them as CW44/60ACs or AC4460CWs.

The AC6000CW ended production in 2001, although Union Pacific's 75xx series remains in daily use as of 2010, mostly on rock and gravel trains in Texas. Union Pacific designates these units as C60AC, CSX as CW60AC.