Norfolk Southern AC44C6M No. 4087

The AC44C6M is a class of locomotive of which all examples - on Norfolk Southern, at least - were rebuilt from C40-9’s or C40-9W’s. Modifications included replacing the old direct-current traction motors with alternating-current motors, because AC motors work better at lower speeds and are apparently easier to maintain. The conversion to AC44C6M spec also includes the replacement of the old ‘narrow-nose’ cab from the original C40-9 (and the C40-9W’s wide cab) with a cab and front long-hood section identical to that of the ES44AC. All the while, the locomotive retains her original G. E. 7FDL-16 prime mover and rear long-hood section. In the case of this engine - AC44C6M No. 4087 - she was rebuilt from C40-9 No. 8794 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. 8794 was built in 1995, as part of an order of 125 C40-9’s for Norfolk Southern. All other C40-9’s have since been rebuilt as AC44C6M’s, with 8794 being rebuilt in 2018. Overall Norfolk Southern have had at least 600 locomotives rebuilt as AC44C6M’s, with hundreds more to follow. The engines have been rebuilt either by NS themselves (at their workshops in Altoona) or by Wabtec/General Electric, the latter having done their work either in Fort Worth, Texas or Erie, Pennsylvania. The engines rebuilt in Altoona display special decals on the cabsides that read “DC to AC Conversion - AC44C6M”, but the engines rebuilt in Texas and Pennsylvania do not have these decals. The only exceptions were Nos. 4000 and 4001, which were the prototypes for the DC to AC conversion programme.