page_title: GE AC6000CW
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: GE AC6000CW / History
caption_attribution_description: Union Pacific Railroad 7391, GE AC6044CW [1]
context_page_description: The AC6000CW is a 6,000-horsepower road switcher diesel electric locomotive built by GE Transportation. It is among the world's most powerful single-engined diesel locomotives.
context_section_description: The AC6000CW was designed at the height of a horsepower race between the two major locomotive manufacturers, Electro-Motive Division of La Grange, Illinois, and GE Transportation of Erie, Pennsylvania, 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. The first locomotive constructed 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. After testing was completed by GE, they were released to their respective owners in late 1996.
  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.
  GE built 106 AC6000CWs for Union Pacific with the older, proven 7FDL engine, rated for 4,400 hp (3,300 kW). These units were originally supposed to be converted to the 6,250 hp (4,660 kW) 7HDL engine after the problems were worked out with the engine, but this never occurred. GE considers these units as AC6000CW "Convertibles," while UP classifies them as C6044ACs or AC4460CWs.
  The AC6000CW ended production in 2001, although Union Pacific's 75xx series remains in daily use as of 2010, mostly on rock and gravel trains in Texas. Union Pacific designates these units as C60AC, CSX as CW60AC and CW60AH.
  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 railroad BHP Billiton's GE AC6000s combined 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. The record still stands.
caption: Union Pacific Railroad 7391, an example of the 106 "Convertibles" built for Union Pacific Railroad with the 7FDL engine
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