#4738

GE Dash 8-40CW

🇺🇸 United States ·built by GE Transportation· from 1989· candian train

🛤️ diesel locomotive diesel ✓ in service

2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. CSX 7689 GE C40-8W: terry cantrell· CC BY-SA 2.0
2. CSX Transportation - 7685 & 3102 diesel locomotives (Marion, Ohio, USA) (43223619351): James St. John· CC BY 2.0

what is it?

The GE Dash 8-40CW is a 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems from 1989 to 1994. Often referred to as the C40-8W, it is part of the GE Dash 8 Series of freight locomotives. This locomotive model is distinguished from the predecessor Dash 8-40C by the addition of a newer "wide" or "safety" cab.

who runs it

see table

base stats

speed 113 km/htop speed
power 3.1 MWpower output
built 1,531made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 37 years ago, in 1989.
3.1 MW is about 36 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
21.3 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.

diesel locomotive: A diesel engine on board drives the wheels, usually through a generator (diesel-electric).

spec sheet

built: 1989–1994
status: in service
number built: 1,531
kind: Diesel-electric
traction: diesel
origin: 🇺🇸 United States
builders: GE Transportation
operators: see table
top speed: 113 km/h
power: 3.1 MW
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
wheel arrangement: C-C
length: 21.3 m

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q5513271, Wikipedia: GE Dash 8-40CW (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.