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The AC6000CW is a 6,000-horsepower (4,500 kW) diesel electric locomotive built between 1995 and 2001 by GE Transportation. It is among the world's most powerful single-engined diesel locomotives. The locomotive was designed for extremely high horsepower needs, such as pulling heavy coal and ore trains. Most examples were purchased by two railroads: Union Pacific and CSX. [3]
The AC6000CW was designed at the height of a horsepower race between the two major locomotive manufacturers, Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois with the SD90MAC, and GE Transportation of Erie, Pennsylvania with the AC6000CW, in the early to mid 1990s. The goal was 6,000 horsepower (4,500 kW).
GE worked with Deutz-MWM of Germany in 1994 to design and construct the 6,250-horsepower (4,660-kilowatt) 7HDL engine for the locomotives. [3] The first locomotive with a 7HDL was the "Green Machine" GE 6000, nicknamed for its green paint scheme. The first production models were also built in 1995: CSX Transportation 600-602, and Union Pacific Railroad 7000-7009. [3] All these locomotives were released to their respective owners in late 1996, once GE's testing was complete.
GE built 106 AC6000CWs for Union Pacific, but with the older, proven 7FDL engine installed, rated for 4,400 hp (3,300 kW). These units were originally intended to be converted to the 6,250 hp (4,660 kW) 7HDL engine after some problems with the 7HDL were solved, but the conversion never occurred. GE calls these units AC6000CW "Convertibles", while UP classifies them as C6044ACs or AC4460CWs.
The AC6000CW ended production in 2001. Union Pacific designates their units as C60AC, CSX as CW60AC and CW60AH.
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 lower 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.
CSX Transportation has re-powered many of their AC6000CW units from 16-7HDL engines to GEVO-16 to make them more reliable and environmentally friendly. These units are capable of 5,800 hp (4,300 kW) but are rated at 4,600 hp (3,400 kW) and classified as CW46AH.
On June 21, 2001, all eight of the Australian mining company BHP Billiton's Mount Newman railway AC6000s worked together 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. [4] The record still stands as of 2023 [update].
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In 2013/14 these were replaced by EMD SD70ACes. [7] Despite their historical significance, they were eventually scrapped in late 2014 after BHP couldn't find any buyers who were interested in acquiring the locomotives. [8]
Beginning in 2018, Union Pacific is sending its AC6000CWs to GE for rebuilding. The rebuilt units are classified as C44ACM.
• GECX #6002 (ex- Union Pacific #7511) was donated by GE to the Lake Shore Railway Museum in North East, Pennsylvania in 2022. It is the first modern AC traction locomotive to enter preservation. [9]