In 2002, GE released the first of a new series of locomotives that would replace the popular Dash-9 series. The ES44DC and ES44AC, often called GEVOs for General Electric Evolution series, were designed to meet the stricter diesel locomotive emissions standards imposed by the EPA Tier II regulations. To meet the new standards, GE developed the 12-cylinder GEVO 12 engine. Both the bore and stroke were increased to produce the same 4400 horsepower as the older 7FDL16 16-cylinder engine. The new engine drives an alternator producing AC current that is rectified to DC current. On the ES44DC, this powers the traction motors. On the ES44AC, the DC current is “chopped” back into AC to power the traction motors. The two models share a common 73’ 2” frame and external appearance.

The ES44DC and ES44AC external details have changed with almost every year’s new orders. These models are of the early version from 2005 and 2006 and include the nose door on the left side, two closelyspaced dynamic brake vents, X-panels on the electrical cabinet with a capacitor box on the walkway just behind it, side grab irons on the long hood and flush-mounted top radiator grilles and radiator compartment doors.

UP was founded in 1862 as the eastern half of the Transcontinental Railroad. UP was the first railroad to receive five test ES44ACs in early 2003. Two orders totaling 201 ES44ACs followed in 2005. The third UP order was for 100 ES44ACs, numbers 5248 through 5347, and delivered between February and August 2006. The models are from the third UP order. Orders in 2007, 2008 and 2009 bring the UP total to 756 ES44ACs, with 127 additional units being delivered in 2012. UP bought the ES44ACs for general freight service, and they can be seen systemwide on stack trains, grain trains, manifest trains, Powder River Coal trains and more. They frequently run on CSX, NS, KCS and CP lines.

Features:

• Tall front plow
  
• Bolt-on front sander door
  
• Low front headlight
  
• High number boards
  
• 3-window cab side windows
  
• Modernized AAR control stand
  
• Dual cab side blue flag brackets
  
• Sunshades
  
• Prime air filter
  
• Air dryer
  
• Electronic parking brake
  
• Hi-adhesion trucks
  
• Low rear sand filler
  
• Rear high vertical headlights
• Available in DCC Ready and factory installed DCC w/Sound
• Sound units are Dual-mode, compatible with both DCC and DC operations