GE 44-ton switcher
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| Power type | Diesel-electric |
|---|---|
| Builder | GE Transportation Systems |
| Model | 44-ton switcher |
| Build date | 1940 – 1956 |
| Total production | 348 |
| AAR wheel arr. | B-B |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) |
| Total weight | 44 ton |
| Prime mover | 2 × Caterpillar D17000 (in most cases) |
| Cylinders | 2 × V8 |
| Power output | 400 hp (300 kW) |
| Locale | North America |
The GE 44-ton switcher is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Electric between 1940 and 1956. It was designed for industrial and light switching duties, often replacing steam locomotives that had previously been assigned these chores. This locomotive's specific 44-ton weight was directly related to one of the efficiencies the new diesel locomotives offered compared to their steam counterparts, reduced labour intensity. In the 1940s, the steam to diesel transition was in its infancy in North America, and railroad unions were trying to protect the locomotive fireman jobs that were redundant with diesel units. One measure taken to this end was a stipulation that locomotives weighing 45 tons or more required a fireman in addition to an engineer. The 44 ton locomotive was born to skirt this requirement. 348 examples of this locomotive were built for North American railroads.
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| Diesel locomotives built by GE | |
| Industrial and switch engines | 60-ton boxcab, 100-ton boxcab, 600-hp centercab, 1000-hp centercab, DEY-2, EN-6, 25-ton, 35-ton, 43-ton, 44-ton, 45-ton, 50-ton, 60-ton, 65-ton, 70-ton, 80-ton, 95-ton, 100-ton, 110-ton, 125-ton, 126-ton, 128-ton, 1800-hp transfer, 2000-hp transfer, U6B |
| Universal Series: | UD18, U18B, U23B, U25B, U28B, U30B, U33B, U36B, U23C, U25C, U28C, U30C, U33C, U36C, U50, U50C |
| Passenger locomotives: | U28CG, U30CG, U34CH, P30CH, Genesis series (P40DC, P32AC-DM, P42DC) |
| Dash-7 series: | B23-7, BQ23-7, B30-7, B30-7A, B36-7, C30-7, C30-7A, C36-7 |
| Dash-8 series: | B32-8, B32-8WH, B39-8, B40-8, B40-8P, B40-8W, C32-8, C39-8, C40-8, C40-8M, C40-8W, C44-8W |
| Dash-9 series: | C40-9, C40-9W, C44-9W |
| AC series: | AC4400CW, AC6000CW |
| Evolution Series: | ES40DC, ES44DC, ES44AC |
