The GE Dash 8-40CM is a 6-axle diesel locomotive

Diesel locomotive

A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...

 built by GE Transportation Systems

GE Transportation Systems

GE Transportation, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. It is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine...

 from 1990 to 1994. It is distinguished from the Dash 8-40CW

GE Dash 8-40CW

A GE Dash 8-40CW is a 6-axle diesel locomotive built by GE Transportation Systems from 1990 to 1994. It is distinguished from the Dash 8-40C by the addition of a "wide" or "safety" cab. This locomotive model is sometimes referred to as a C40-8W...

 by the addition of a full-width cowl body

Cowl unit

A cowl unit is a body style of diesel locomotive. The terminology is a North American one, though similar locomotives exist elsewhere. A cowl unit is one with full-width enclosing bodywork, similar to the cab unit style of earlier locomotives, but unlike the cab unit style, the bodywork is merely...

 and the use of a Canada-specific nose and windshield configuration. This locomotive model is sometimes referred to as a C40-8M.

Mechanically identical to the Dash 8-40CW, the Dash 8-40CM was constructed only for Canadian railways, with a production total of 84 units.

Technical

The Dash 8-40CM is powered by a 4000 hp V16

V16 engine

A V16 engine is a V engine with 16 cylinders. Engines of this number of cylinders are uncommon in automotive use.A V16 engine is perfectly balanced regardless of the V angle without requiring counter-rotating balancing shafts which are necessary to balance Straight-4 and odd number of cylinder...

 7FDL diesel engine driving a GE GMG187 main alternator

Alternator

An alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in the form of alternating current.Most alternators use a rotating magnetic field but linear alternators are occasionally used...

. The power generated by the main alternator drives six GE 752AG or 752AH direct current

Direct current

Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...

 traction motors, each with a gear ratio of 83:20 and connected to 40 inches (1,016 mm) wheels which allow the Dash 8-40CM a maximum speed of 70 mph (110 km/h).

Depending on customer options, the Dash 8-40CM carries approximately 5000 US gallons (18927 L) of diesel fuel, 410 US gallons (1,552 L) of lubricating oil, and 380 gallons (1,438 L) of coolant. Like most North American diesel locomotives, the Dash 8-40CM uses normal water for cooling. The Dash 8-40CM has a maximum tractive effort of 108600 lbf (483,076.9 N) at 11 mi/h with the 83:20 gearing. Overall dimensions for the Dash 8-40CM are 70 in 8 in (21.54 m) in Length, 15 in 4 in (4.67 m) in height and 10 in 2 in (3.1 m) in width.

Original owners

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
BC Rail	26	4601-4626
Canadian National Railway Canadian National Railway The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....	55	2400-2454
Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway is a Canadian regional railway that stretches through the wilderness of northeastern Quebec and western Labrador. It connects Labrador City, Labrador, with the port of Sept-Îles, Quebec, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River...	3	401-403