ScaleTrains 39887 HO Scale GE AC44C6M Norfolk Southern “Black Mane” NS 4004 - DCC Sound

The Rivet Counter™ series GE AC44C6M is the definitive HO Scale model of Norfolk Southern’s rebuilt six-axle alternating current traction locomotive. This model combines smooth operating performance with unparalleled railroad, road number, and era specific™ details along with industry-leading LED lighting features.

Norfolk Southern initiated the AC44C6M rebuilding program for the GE DASH 9 series in 2015. This DC to AC transition improved tractive effort and overall train handling by enhancing or replacing trucks, carbody repairs, and additional ballast. The external changes involved adding AC inverter control cabinets and replacing the original cabs. By 2025, NS expects to have 950 rebuilt units in service.

FEATURES:

• All-new model
• Era: 2016 to Present
• Series 4000 to 4005, rebuilt 8/16
• Road number 4004; ex-NS 8866 C40-9
• Special black cab and gray carbody scheme with blue stripe mane
• Fully-assembled
• Multiple road numbers
• Operating LED-illuminated ground lights on both sides of locomotive*
• Operating LED-illuminated front and rear deck-mounted alternating ditch lights**
• Operating LED-illuminated front, rear, and side walkway lights*
• Printed cab-mounted number boards with separately controlled LED-illumination*
• Directional LED-illuminated headlights
• LSL (Locomotive Speed Limiter) indicator lights on cab sides (non-operating)
• Tall snowplow with MU hose openings and two (2) grab irons
• Semi-scale GE type coupler buffer equipped with durable metal semi-scale Type E knuckle couplers
• Inside loop uncoupling levers with down brackets
• 4-step rear stepwells with see-through steps
• Walkway with front and rear anticlimbers
• GE “nub” pattern walkway tread
• Wide profile end handrails
• Front high (cab) mounted headlight
• Nose door without window; security padlock with hasp
• Two-piece nose top grab irons
• Battery cabinet access door with latch
• GE safety cab with four (4) side windows
• Right side cab under floor access doors: dual large louver panels per door
• Left side cab under floor access doors: bolted panel forward of the HVAC unit
• Cab interior with detailed back wall and front dash, high-back seats, conductor’s workstation, and engineer’s AAR-style control stand
• In-cab grade crossing camera
• Tinted cab side windows
• Tall mirror mounted fore and aft of sliding cab side windows on left side, Tall mirror mounted fore of sliding cab side windows on right side; additional small mirror on right side
• JEM Communications PTC antenna farm with Sinclair antennas
• Inverter Cabinet with Bolted and hinged access door, top two X panels same size, three lower X panels with 4 - 6 - 4 Bolt Pattern
• Continuous reinforcement rib under dynamic brake intake grilles
• High-capacity dynamic brake exhaust (3-port)
• Rearward right-side air intake grille
• Left side auxiliary cab: 3 short doors with latches on the #2 door and narrow auxiliary cab filter box door with X panel in front
• Right side auxiliary cab: four (4) doors with latches on #1 and #4 doors
• No lifting equipment for clean air cab joint
• Early curved engine cab profile
• No lift rings on engine cab power assembly door
• Three left side door latches and two right door latches on exhaust cab doors
•  Lost-wax brass cast Nathan AirChime K5LAR24 horn mounted on engine cab
• Early flanged exhaust stack housing
• “Bathtub” exhaust silencer
• 22 individually-applied etched metal see-through radiator intake and exhaust grilles on sides and top of radiator compartment
• Right side late radiator door grilles in alternating heights
• Right side radiator wing access door with two “T” handles and bolt detail around the door
• Electronic Handbrake with panel in front of the brake wheel
• Convex stamped brakewheel
• Left rear hood door grille arrangement: tall, short, short grilles
• High-mounted rear sand fill
• Early “box” lifting lugs on ends of radiator wings
• Left side long rail all stanchions early type
• Right side long rail all stanchions early type
• Accurately profiled frame with separately-applied plumbing and traction motor cabling
• GE Hi-Ad trucks with reinforcement plate over center axle on right front and left rear side frames and separately applied brake cylinders, single bracket air plumbing, and rotating bearing caps
• Rust-color painted wheelsets
• No speed recorder
• Dual Graham-White (Salem) 824-100 centrifugal air filters
• Wabtec 994-500 series air dryer
• 5,000-gallon fuel tank with vertical wide spaced weld seams
• Fuel tank detail arrangement (front to back) right side - Fuel Filer, Digital Fuel Gauge, EFCO
• Fuel tank mounted steel bell
• Separate air tanks with upper mounting brackets
• Curved handbrake chain bracket
• Spare coupler knuckle holders on rear pilot face
• Factory-applied detail parts: wire grab irons, spare knuckles, trainline hoses with silver gladhands, 3-hose MU clusters with silver gladhands, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, mirrors, sunshades, and more
• Motor with 5-pole, skew-wound armature
• Dual flywheels
• All-wheel drive
• All-wheel electrical pick-up
• Printing and lettering legible under magnification
• Operates on Code 70, 83, and 100 rail
• Packaging safely stores model
• Minimum Radius: 18”
• Recommended Radius: 22”

DCC & sound equipped locomotives also feature:

• ESU-LokSound 5 DCC and Sound decoder with “Full Throttle” Functions
• Two (2) cube-type speakers
• Accurate FDL-16 prime mover and auxiliary sounds, horn, bell, and more
• ESU-designed PowerPack with two (2) super capacitors***
• Operates on both DC and DCC layouts

* Lighting features operate when using an ESU decoder with appropriate programming while operating using DCC
** In DC operation, both front ditch lights illuminate; rear ditch lights (if equipped) do not illuminate
*** Compatible with appropriately programmed ESU decoders while operating using DCC

In the early 2000s, Norfolk Southern, equipped with one of the largest fleets of GE DASH 9 series locomotives, found itself at a crossroads. With escalating traffic levels demanding more horsepower for efficient train movement, a critical decision loomed. The aging DASH 9s forming the backbone of their fleet were due for overhauls, prompting the need for a strategy to keep the traffic flowing seamlessly.

To modernize its fleet, Norfolk Southern boldly initiated a rebuilding program for its GE DASH 9s. This comprehensive process involved upgrading the electrical systems and traction motors of the aging DC (Direct Current) drives DASH 9s to AC (Alternating Current) traction, effectively transforming them into AC4400s. While AC technology had already proven effective on other railroads, Norfolk Southern remained conservative in the 90s, opting for fleets of DC-drive EMD SD70s, GE C40-9s, and C40-9Ws.

As the 90s transitioned into the 2000s, Norfolk Southern couldn't overlook the compelling advantages of AC, which offered significant improvements in unit tractive effort and overall train handling compared to DC units. The rebuild process also included essential enhancements such as new trucks, repairs to the carbody, and additional ballast for increased tractive effort.

Externally, the most noticeable change was the addition of an AC inverter control cabinet to the left side walkway behind the operator’s cab. In the case of units rebuilt from standard-cab C40-9 core units, the original operator’s cab, low nose, and under-cab cabinets were replaced with a new GE Safety Cab, similar to those used on current GEVO production. While some fans lamented the loss of the distinctive C40-9 "Top Hats," crews embraced the new cabs for their superior comfort and crashworthiness.

These revitalized units, designated as AC44C6M by Norfolk Southern, made their debut in August 2015 with NS 4000 and 4001, rebuilt by contractor American Motive Power, Inc., utilizing components from GE. Sporting a unique gray scheme with a blue cab and "mane," these units stood out against the typical black Thoroughbreds in the NS fleet. Rebuilt from NS C40-9s 8799 and 8879, some of the oldest GEs in the fleet gained a new lease on life.

The success of these initial rebuilds prompted Norfolk Southern to fully embrace the AC44C6M, with 16 additional units rebuilt from C40-9 cores in 2016. Work was conducted both in-house at Roanoke and Juniata shops and by GE at their facilities in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Ft. Worth, Texas. The momentum continued, with additional units slated for rebuilding each year. At present, the plan is for Wabtec to rebuild the entire NS GE DASH 9 fleet, ushering in the latest technology and solidifying its position as the "Thoroughbred" of transportation.