GE AC6000CW

The AC6000CW is a 6,000-horsepower (4,500 kW) diesel electric locomotive built by GE Transportation. This locomotive, along with the EMD SD90MAC, is one of the most powerful single-engined diesel locomotives in the world (the most powerful being the 5,000-horsepower (3,700 kW) EMD SD80MAC), surpassed in horsepower by the dual-engine 6,600-horsepower (4,900 kW) EMD DDA40X.

History

The AC6000CW was designed at the height of a horsepower race between the two major locomotive manufacturers, Electro-Motive Division of London, Ontario and GE Transportation of Erie, Pennsylvania in the early to mid 1990s. The goal was 6,000 horsepower (4,500 kW).

GE partnered with Deutz-MWM of Germany in 1994 to design and construct the 6,250 bhp (4,660 kW) 7HDL engine for the locomotives. The first locomotive constructed was the "Green Machine" GE 6000, the nickname due to the green paint scheme. The first production models were also built in 1995: CSX Transportation 600-602, and Union Pacific Railroad 7000-7009. After testing was completed by GE, they were released to their respective owners in late 1996.