GE Dash 8-40BW

Technical Specifics

The GE Dash 8-40BW, also commonly referred to as the B40-8W, was a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive produced by General Electric Transportation between 1990 and 1994. A total of 84 units were constructed, and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway was the sole purchaser of the type, making it one of the more exclusive locomotive classes of the Dash 8 era. The ATSF ordered the locomotives primarily for high-speed intermodal service, taking advantage of the model's power output and modern cab design to handle demanding freight assignments across its transcontinental routes. Interestingly, consideration was given at one point to ordering cabless B-unit boosters to accompany the class, but since General Electric quoted essentially the same price for units with or without cabs, the Santa Fe elected to order the entire fleet as cabbed locomotives. When the ATSF merged with Burlington Northern in 1995 to form BNSF Railway, the entire fleet of B40-8Ws was transferred to the new combined railroad. Under BNSF ownership, the locomotives continued in service but were gradually displaced from premium intermodal assignments as newer and more powerful motive power entered the roster. By the mid-2000s, the class had been reassigned to local and regional freight duties. Around 2010, BNSF made a portion of the fleet available for sale or lease transfer, and some units subsequently found their way to smaller regional carriers, including the Providence and Worcester Railroad in New England. The remaining locomotives in BNSF's possession were later sent through a rebuild and refreshment program at GE facilities to extend their useful service lives in local freight roles. The legacy of the B40-8W includes at least one example preserved for posterity. ATSF number 537 was donated by BNSF to the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America museum in Silvis, Illinois, on June 14, 2023, making it the first of the type to be formally preserved. In October 2024, the locomotive was returned to its original ATSF Warbonnet paint scheme, providing a lasting visual reminder of the class's origins on one of America's most iconic railroads.

Model Train Manufacturers

Brands that produce GE Dash 8-40BW in HO scale

Prototype Reference

Real-world information about this equipment type

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