GE 44-ton switcher

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GE 44-ton switcher
Engine 7069 at the Georgia State Railroad Museum, Savannah, Georgia
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder GE Transportation Systems Model 44-ton switcher Build date September 1940–October 1956 Total produced 386
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo′Bo' Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Loco weight 44 short tons (39 long tons; 40 t) Prime mover Pair of Caterpillar D17000 standard, also Hercules DFXD (9 locomotives); Buda Engine Co. 6DH1742 (10 locomotives); Caterpillar D342 (4 locomotives). RPM range D17000: 1,000 (max) 6DH1742: 1,050 (max) DFXD: 1,600 (max) D342: 1,200 (max) Engine type D17000: V8 diesel All others: 6-cyl diesel Aspiration Naturally aspirated Traction motors Four Cylinders D17000: 8 All others: 6 Cylinder size D17000: 5.75 in × 8 in (146 mm × 203 mm) 6DH1742: 6.5 in × 8.375 in (165 mm × 213 mm) DFXD: 5.5 in × 6 in (139.700 mm × 152.400 mm) D342: 5.75 in × 8 in (146.050 mm × 203.200 mm)
Performance figures Maximum speed 35 mph (56 km/h)[1] Power output 360 to 400 hp (270 to 300 kW) Tractive effort 27,000 lbf (120.1 kN) @ 30%
Career Locale North America, Australia, Saudi Arabia, South America, India, France, Sweden .

The GE 44-ton switcher is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Electric between 1940 and 1956. It was designed for industrial and light switching duties, often replacing steam locomotives that had previously been assigned these chores.

This locomotive's specific 44-short ton weight was directly related to one of the efficiencies the new diesel locomotives offered compared to their steam counterparts: reduced labor intensity. In the 1940s, the steam to diesel transition was in its infancy in North America, and railroad unions were trying to protect the locomotive fireman jobs that were redundant with diesel units. One measure taken to this end was the 1937 so-called "90,000 Pound Rule," a stipulation that locomotives weighing 90,000 pounds (41,000 kg) – 45 short tons – or more required a fireman in addition to an engineer on common carrier railroads.^[2] Industrial and military railroads had no such stipulation. The 44-ton locomotive was designed to abrogate this requirement.^[2] Other manufacturers like Davenport and Whitcomb also built 44-ton switchers for this reason.^[2]

GE built 276 of this locomotive for U. S. railroads and industrial concerns, four were exported to Australia in 1944, 10 were exported to Canada, 10 were exported to Cuba, one was exported to the Dominican Republic, five were exported to France, three were exported to India, six were exported to Mexico, five were exported to Saudi Arabia, one was exported to Sweden, two were exported to Trinidad, 10 were exported to Uruguay, and 57 were built for the United States Armed Forces. Many remain, in service and in museums.