GE Dash 8-32B

The GE Dash 8-32B was a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive produced by General Electric Transportation as part of the broader Dash 8 series, which represented a significant advancement in freight locomotive technology during the 1980s. The type was offered as a somewhat lower-powered alternative within the Dash 8 family, generating 3,150 horsepower from a twelve-cylinder prime mover rather than the sixteen-cylinder arrangement found in the more powerful Dash 8-40B. General Electric built approximately 50 of these locomotives between 1987 and 1988, making the Dash 8-32B one of the less numerous models in the Dash 8 lineup. Early production units destined for the Burlington Northern Railroad carried the designation B32-8, reflecting General Electric's nomenclature conventions of that period. Following an internal shift in how GE styled its model names after 1987, units subsequently ordered by Norfolk Southern were marketed under the Dash 8-32B designation. This relatively modest production run served a limited number of North American Class I railroads, and the type never achieved the widespread adoption seen by some of its stablemates in the Dash 8 family. In later years, a number of Dash 8-32B units found continued service with regional and tourist railroads after their retirement from Class I operations. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad acquired several examples, operating them in distinctive heritage liveries. At least one Norfolk Southern unit has been preserved at the Lake Shore Railway Historical Society in North East, Pennsylvania, donated by Norfolk Southern in 2013.

The Dash 8-32B rides on a B-B wheel arrangement, meaning two two-axle powered trucks support the locomotive, with all four axles motorized using direct current traction motors. Power comes from GE's FDL12 prime mover, a twelve-cylinder version of the well-regarded FDL engine family that served as the foundation for much of GE's diesel-electric locomotive output during this era. The FDL series was known for its reliability and relative ease of maintenance, qualities that helped GE expand its market share against Electro-Motive Division during the 1980s. At 3,150 horsepower, the Dash 8-32B occupied a middle tier of freight locomotive output for its time, offering railroads a capable unit for branch line and secondary main line assignments where the full output of a 3,600 or 4,000 horsepower locomotive was not required. The Dash 8 series as a whole introduced improved adhesion control systems, enhanced wheel slip correction, and more sophisticated electronic management compared to the preceding Dash 7 generation. These features were present in the Dash 8-32B and contributed to better tractive effort utilization under a range of rail conditions. A related variant, the Dash 8-32BWH, was produced with a wide-nose cab and head-end power capability for passenger service with Amtrak, though that version represents a distinct sub-type from the standard freight-oriented Dash 8-32B.

—

Models by: Atlas