Scale Trains HO Rivet Counter C40-9 Norfolk Southern

Description

Railroad Short Name: NS

General Electric wrestled the title of top domestic locomotive builder from EMD during the late 1980s with their Dash-8 series. GE once again positioned themselves to shakeup the locomotive world yet again less than a decade later. Entering the 1990s, GE completely revamped their locomotive lineup by utilizing customer feedback, learning from experience gained from previous locomotive series, and improvements in technology.

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.

Thanks to its long production span and customer options, small detail differences could be noted between various customer orders. This includes changes with HVAC system vendors (the large “A/C” box behind the cab on the conductors side), engine cab profile, radiator lifting lugs, hood end, trucks, fuel tank, stepwells, operator’s cab, and even handrail profiles.

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.

Locomotive Features:

• Fully-assembled
• Several different road numbers
• Era: As Delivered, series 8764-8888, built 1-4/95
• Road numbers 8765 and 8772

1. Early dynamic brake exhaust­

• Road numbers 8791, 8835, 8840 and 8888

1. Late dynamic brake exhaust

• GE spartan cab with cab-face condensation drain line, and late flat-top low hood
• Operating front, rear, and side LED walkway lights
• Front and rear deck mounted ­­alternating LED ditch lights
• Printed and LED lighted number boards
• Tall snowplow with open doors and grab irons
• Semi-scale coupler buffer
• Durable metal semi-scale Type E knuckle couplers
• 4-step stepwells with see through steps
• GE “nub” pattern walkway tread
• Wide profile end handrails
• Detailed cab interior with separate floor, rear wall, seats, and desktop controls or control stand, per prototype
• Dual Motorola ASP-16 “Firecracker” antennas mounted on clean air cab
• Roof top early Dayton-Phoenix air conditioner
• Early curved engine cab profile
• Lost-wax brass cast Nathan AirChime K5LAR24 horn mounted on engine cab
• Early flanged exhaust stack housing
• 26 individually-applied etched metal see-through radiator intake and exhaust grilles on sides and top of radiator compartment
• High-mounted rear sandfiller
• Early lifting lugs on ends of radiator wings
• Rear anticlimber
• Accurately profiled frame with separately applied plumbing and traction motor cabling
• 5,000-gallon fuel tank
• Separate air tanks with upper mounting brackets
• Fuel tank mounted steel bell
• Single fuel fills per side
• Late Hi-Ad trucks with separately applied brake cylinders, air plumbing, and non-cantilevered struts on all four sideframes
• Rotating axle bearing caps
• 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 bell, brake wheel, exhaust stack and more
• 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
• Paint colors match Tru-Color Paint color: Black TCP-010
• Operates on Code 70, 83, and 100 rail
• Minimum Radius: 18”
• Recommended Radius: 22”

DCC & sound ready locomotives also feature:

• Operate on DC layouts
• DCC ready with 21-pin connector