Locomotive Phases

Last updated March 07, 2008
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Trainiax --> Drawings --> Locomotive Phases --> 6-axle GE Locomotives
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| Locomotive Phases | 6-axle GE Locomotives |

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U30C
Phase 1a: (Late U28C carbody) Radiators/intakes wider than hood, raised walkway over radiators, footboards, short handrail notch in stepwell, double circular door latches, tall exhaust stack, eight left-side equipment doors, square brake chain pipe, rectangular headlight casing, cab side drip rail, speed recorder cables on every axle
Phase 1b: Shorter radiator intakes, two smaller intakes added
Phase 1c: Shorter exhaust stack
Phase 2a: Rear of hood widened to match radiators, flush/flat radiator intakes, lowered walkway over radiators, horizontal drip rail on radiators, taper ahead of radiators, circular brake chain pipe
Phase 2b: No taper ahead of radiators, six left-side equipment doors, uneven handrail stanchion spacing
Phase 2c: Raised/corrugated radiator intakes
Phase 2d: No horizontal drip rail on radiators
Phase 2e: Full-length handrail notch in stepwell
Phase 3a1/3a2: No footboards, speed recorders on 1 or 2 axles only
Phase 3b1/3b2: Oval headlight casing, no cab side drip rail
Phase 3c: Shorter, wider right-side battery boxes
Phase 3d1: Square door latches standard, right-side battery boxes moved rearward, right-side handrail stanchion spacing changed
Phase 3d2: Separate headlight casing, hinged numberboards

Other details:
--Phase 3a1, 3b1 and 3c have double circular door latches; Phase 3a2 and 3b2 have square door latches.
--Units rode on at least 5 FB-3 truck types: one GSC and two Adirondack castings with low-mounted brake cylinders, and GSC and Adirondack castings with high-mounted brake cylinders.
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C30-7, C36-7

Phase	Built	Left-side eq. doors	Exhaust silencer	Stack base	Rear #-boards	Rear class lights	Cab side windows
1	1979.06 - 1979.11	2 short, 3 long	No	Small	Flush	High	4
2a	1980.01 - 1980.07	"	Yes	Large	Raised	Low	"
2b	1980.07 - 1981.01	"	"	"	"	"	2
2c	1981.03 - 1986.05	1 long, 1 short, 3 long	"	"	"	"	"

Left-side eq doors: Latched panels under cab; size indicated starting from front
Stack base: Rectangular base around exhaust stack

Other details:
- Doors under forward section of radiator may or may not have 3 narrow vertical intakes. Some units had similar intakes retrofitted.
- Units rode on 5 FB-3 truck types: Adirondack or GSC castings, with low- or high-mounted brake cylinders, and Adirondack castings with clasp brakes (NW versions).
- Only Phase 1 and 2c apply to the C36-7. Some later units featured modified radiator and dynamic brake intakes. Other units indistinguishable from C30-7.
- Some Phase 2a through 2c units lack exhaust silencer, but have larger stack base.
- Conrail units have 3-step end platforms in place of standard 4 steps.
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C30-7A
CR 6550-6599 was the only order of C30-7A's. Phase spotting features shared with Phase 2c C30-7, except with 6 central engine access doors per side instead of 8.
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C32-8, C39-8
No major production variations. CR 6610-6619 was the only order of C32-8's. C32-8 shorter than C39-8. Overall look shared with early B32-8 and B39-8.

Other details (C39-8):
NS 8550-8563: covered front jacking pad, rectangular rear jacking pad, framed rear intakes, two dynamic brake intakes
NS 8564-8613: angular rear jacking pad, three dynamic brake intakes
NS 8614-8638: flush rear intakes
CR 6000-6021, NS 8639-8663: exposed front jacking pad, rectangular rear jacking pad

--Most versions can be seen with a mix of Adirondack and GSC truck castings.
--NS versions had original bolted panel at left rear of hood replaced by two doors.
--C32-8 is 2' 9" shorter (67' 11") with length removed in fuel tank and center section of hood.
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From C39-8 to C39-8E
--Raised and angular cab roof, with horizontal cab headlights
--Streamlined dynamic brake/central air intake area (fewer doors and seams)
--Hood made same width along entire length
--Less-visible door hinges
--Standard double door latches (replacing single central door handles)
--Shorter central hood doors
--Canted radiator intakes
--Neater rear hood doors and intakes
--New rear hood end with vertical headlights
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C39-8E
No major production variations. NS 8664-8688 was the only order. Most ride on Adirondack truck castings. Overall look shared with B39-8E and B40-8.
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From C39-8E to C40-8
--Longer fuel tank
--Air reservoirs moved from fuel tank ends to notch in right fuel tank side
--Front (or dual) anticlimbers added
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C40-8
No major production variations.

Other details:
--Most ride on GSC truck castings.
--New anticlimber introduced partway through production, with end handrail coming to anticlimber edge.
--Tall hood door under radiator changed from bolted to latched
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From C40-8 to C40-8W (aside from the new cab)
--Handbrake in rear of hood instead of cab nose

Several changes resulted from a thinner main frame on the C40-8W:
--Thinner walkway side frame
--Lower walkway height
--Lower overall height over central hood and radiators
--Raised front hood section (or "hump"), to match taller cab roof. Extra height of hood section added above central air intake.
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C40-8W
Phase 1: Thin radiators
Phase 2: Thick (Dash-9 style) radiators

Other details:
--ATSF units have "Gull-wing" cab roof.
--UP C41-8W's and C40-8W's are identical except for nose door window (later removed) and 5-step platforms on C41-8W .
--CSX C44-8W's share spotting features with Phase 2 C40-8W's.
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From Dash-8 to Dash-9
--New Hi-Ad "Roller Blade" trucks (with all traction motors oriented in the same direction)
--Overall length increased from 70' 8" to 73' 2" (hood lengthened in central air intake area)
--Shorter central air intake
--New step design
--Longer, twice-beveled fuel tank
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C40-9W
Most details are consistent with those of Phase 2a C44-9W.

Other details:
NS 8889-8947
NS 8948-9128 (single continuous handrail behind AC cabinet, first handrail stanchion moved rearward to clear couple knuckle box)
NS 9129-9258 (taller rear-most intake on left side, electronic hand brake with no brake wheel, coupler knuckle box screen replaced by holes)
NS 9259-9529 (new air reservoir dryer)
NS 9530-9744 (electronic bell)
NS 9745-9841 (coupler knuckle box removed, first handrail stanchion moved forward)
NS 9842-9978 (electronic hand brake with brake wheel)

--AC cabinet is directly behind cab on left side.
--Coupler knuckle box is on left walkway behind AC cabinet.
--Air reservoir dryer is under walkway on right side, behind fuel tank.
--All units have early Dash-9 style front handrail.
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C44-9W
Phase 1a: Even-height rear intakes, 4 steps, notched stairwell side sheet, straight air reservoir cutout in fuel tank
Phase 1b: 5 steps
Phase 2a: Uneven-height rear intakes, straight-edged stairwell side sheet, notched air reservoir cutout in fuel tank
Phase 2b: New front handrail

Other details:
--Units with high capacity dynamic brakes have 3 intakes behind the cab; units with regular dynamic brakes have 2 intakes.
--ATSF and BNSF units have "Gull-wing" cab roof.
--BNSF Phase 2b units have 4 cab side windows.
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C44-9WL
Phase 1: 4-window cab, notch in left rear of fuel tank, non-standard cab access panels on left side
Phase 2a: 2-window cab, longer notch in left rear of fuel tank, notched air reservoir cutout in fuel tank
Phase 2b: standard cab access panels on left side
Phase 2c: No notch in left rear of fuel tank, new air reservoir dryer.

Other details:
--Air reservoir dryer is under walkway on right side, behind fuel tank.
--No Canadian C44-9WL's had AC cabinet, normally directly behind cab on left side.
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AC4400CW
Phase 1a1: 6 tall, narrow inverter cabinet panels, notched stairwell side sheet, single handrail behind cab on left, central air intake immediately behind dynamic brake intakes, hinged square panel on right raised walkway, grilled intakes under cab on right, straight air reservoir cutout in fuel tank
Phase 1a2: notched air reservoir cutout in fuel tank
Phase 1b1: straight-edged stairwell side sheet, no angled panel behind right radiator intake
Phase 1b2: bolted square panel on right raised walkway
Phase 1c1: double handrail behind cab on left, louvered intakes under cab on right (except CP version), small rectangular grill on left cab side moved rearward
Phase 1c2: narrower horizontal panels under inverter cabinet
Phase 2a: central air intake moved rearward, 4 upper inverter cabinet panels (1 + group of 3) with 3 lower X-panels
Phase 2b: 2 large X-panels replace group of 3 upper panels

Other details:
--Units with high capacity dynamic brakes have 3 intakes behind the cab; units with regular dynamic brakes have 2 intakes.
--BNSF units have 4 cab windows.
--CSX units have early Dash-9 style front handrail (less prominent bend) through all production.
--Grills and panels under left cab side show many variations
--Very early units had vertical shock struts behind brake rods, later replaced on some units with angled struts as seen later in production.
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Michael Eby 2008