Power type Diesel-electric Model AC6000CW AAR wheel arr. C-C | Build date 1995–2001 UIC class Co′Co′ | |
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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.
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History
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.
CSX Transportation derated most of their AC6000CW units from 6000hp to 4600hp to make them more environmentally friendly. These units are classified as CW46AH.
On June 21, 2001, all eight of the Australian railroad BHP Billiton's GE AC6000s combined to set the world record for the heaviest and longest train. They hauled 99,734 tonnes (98,159 long tons; 109,938 short tons) and 682 wagons for 275 kilometres (171 miles) between Yandi mine and Port Hedland. The train was 7.3 kilometres (4.536 miles) long and carried 82,000 tonnes (81,000 long tons; 90,000 short tons) of iron ore. The record still stands.
Operators
In 2013/14 these were replaced by EMD SD70ACes. They were eventually scrapped in late 2014 after BHP couldn't find any buyers who were interested in acquiring the locomotives.