GE ET44ACH

The ET44ACH is a heavy ballasted variant of General Electric's Evolution Series Tier 4 locomotive, produced by Wabtec, the company that acquired GE Transportation in 2019. The designation reflects its lineage within the broader ET44 family: Evolution Series, Tier 4 compliant, 4,400 horsepower, AC traction, and heavy ballasted configuration. BNSF Railway emerged as the primary customer for this variant, placing orders that resulted in initial production beginning in 2023. The locomotive was built concurrently alongside BNSF's ES44ACH units during the late summer months of that year, with the two types sharing production floor time at Wabtec's manufacturing facility. BNSF's adoption of the ET44ACH reflects the railroad's ongoing strategy of acquiring high-adhesion locomotives suited to its demanding transcontinental freight operations. The heavy ballasted configuration, which brings the locomotive's weight to approximately 436,320 pounds, is intended to maximize tractive effort and improve adhesion on grades commonly encountered across BNSF's vast network spanning the western and midwestern United States. The ET44ACH represents one of the more recent additions to the Evolution Series lineup, which Trains Magazine has recognized as among the most consequential locomotive families in American railroad history.

The ET44ACH is powered by the GEVO-12, a twelve-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine developed by GE and compliant with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 4 emissions standards. The locomotive rides on a C-C wheel arrangement, meaning two three-axle trucks with all six axles powered by AC traction motors, which provide superior adhesion characteristics compared to DC systems, particularly during low-speed, high-tractive-effort conditions. The AC traction motors allow for more precise wheel slip control through advanced adhesion management software, enabling the locomotive to more fully utilize its weight advantage in heavy haul service. The heavy ballasting that defines the ACH designation distinguishes it from standard ET44AC production units, with the added weight engineered to translate directly into higher drawbar pull at the rail. At a rated output of 4,400 horsepower, the ET44ACH sits at the upper end of conventional six-axle freight locomotive power output, consistent with the broader ET44 family. Wabtec continues to produce these units to meet ongoing BNSF orders, with total production surpassing fifty examples as of the mid-2020s.

Models by: ScaleTrains