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Norfolk Southern AC44C6M No. 4001

(Here's a running mate for Fox's NS 4000 re-skin).

NS 4001 is one of many engines to have gone through Norfolk Southern’s rebuilding scheme, and was originally built in March 1995 as a General Electric C40-9, specifically locomotive No. 8879. Incidentally Norfolk Southern was the only railroad to ever use the C40-9, with 125 of them being built between January and April 1995. All have since been rebuilt as AC44C6M’s.

C40-9 No. 8879 was rebuilt as an AC44C6M in 2015, being re-numbered as 4001. The rebuilding was carried out by American Motive Power in New York. Among the list of modifications was the installation of an ES44AC-style cab and alternating current traction motors. The original GE 7FDL-16 prime mover was retained.

This re-build was finished by December 2015, and another C40-9 had been rebuilt as AC44C6M No. 4000. Soon after they were finished, 4000 and 4001 posed for an official photograph together in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They were painted in their distinctive ‘blue maine’ livery to distinguish them as prototypes for the DC to AC conversion programme, and later got the nickname ‘Sonic Bonnet’ from railfans. After the official portraits were taken, the two engines entered revenue earning service across the Norfolk Southern system.

Unfortunately it wouldn’t all be smooth sailing for NS 4001. On April 14th, 2017, 4001 was involved in a derailment near McVeytown, Pennsylvania. The locomotive was double-heading with SD70ACe No. 1036 on NS train 593 (bound for Pittsburg) when both engines and 25 wagons derailed in Bratton Township. Fortunately no-one lost their life in the accident; the cab on 4001 was designed to remain largely intact should a derailment take place. Both crew members survived with minor injuries, and 4001 and 1036 were turned right-side-up the next day. The two engines sat in the field next to the track for a couple of weeks, and were put back on the rails by April 24.

Despite being severely damaged, 4001 was sent back to Altoona, Pennsylvania for repairs, which began in March 2018. She made her return to service on April 24th, 2020 and is still running today.

As for SD70ACe No. 1036, she was repaired and put back into service just like 4001.