Correct way to name a GE Diesel?

[green_elite_cab]

I always see people say the names of modern GE diesels differently, And i'm curious as to which way is correct.

When i look at actual sources ( books, cab sides, and some websites) I see the locomotive listed as, for example, B40-8, or C44-9W.

However, Many people here, and some books, would call the same locomotive a Dash-8 40B, or a Dash-9 44CW.

I would think that what it says on the Cab is right, but I'm curious where the other name came from.

Chris

 

[60103]

Chris: IIRC, GE changed the way the name is written, so that either form is right depending on when it was built. I think the -8 was earlier.

 

[LongIslandTom]

When GE moved from U-boats to the next generation of diesel freight locos, for certain the nomenclature was (axle-configuration)-(horsepower)-(series), i.e. B23-7, C30-7, etc.

I guess when the 8-series came out, they saw how popular the EMD "Dash-2s" became, so it's monkey-see-monkey-do.. That's when they started calling the 8-series "Dash-8's" to differentiate them from the earlier series and to imply an improved product.

Personally I think it was kind of dumb. Calling an engine "dash-8-whatever-b-or-c" was literally bass-ackwards.

 

[Russ Bellinis]

When GE moved from U-boats to the next generation of diesel freight locos, for certain the nomenclature was (axle-configuration)-(horsepower)-(series), i.e. B23-7, C30-7, etc.

I guess when the 8-series came out, they saw how popular the EMD "Dash-2s" became, so it's monkey-see-monkey-do.. That's when they started calling the 8-series "Dash-8's" to differentiate them from the earlier series and to imply an improved product.

Personally I think it was kind of dumb. Calling an engine "dash-8-whatever-b-or-c" was literally bass-ackwards.

Actually it started even earlier. They first dash series were dash7s, so it would be -723b or whatever. The next new models were called -8s, then more recently they changed their designations to 8- and now 9-. I think part of the problem might be that GEs reliability record is spotty at best, so when they have a problem with a model, they distance themselves from it when they come out with a replacement.

 

[LongIslandTom]

Thing is, back in the 1980s I have never seen the 7-series referred to as "Dash-7-whatevers." I couldn't turn up any articles in MR, RMC, Trains, etc. back then calling a BQ23-7 "Dash-7 23BQ," for instance.

As far as writing the designations go, it's definitely easier and faster to write "B40-8" rather than "Dash-8 40B!" (the redundancy of having to write out "DASH" is why I feel it's a bass-ackwards scheme, LOL..)

 

[eightyeightfan1]

GE first released the "Dash" series in 1977, with the B23-7. The only difference between the regular B23 and the -7 was it was two feet longer and had floating bolster trucks and a step in the long hood made to make room for an angled oil cooler, which helped in oil draining from the cooler which prevented freeze-ups in colder climates.

The "Q" which LITom mentioned, was a designation given to an order of ten B23-7's from Seaboard System and meant "Quarters cab". It was the predessor of the "Comfort Cab"(or M) of todays locos, and was available for all models(BN had GP-50's with this cab).

As LITom said, writing a loco designation, is probably railroad specific. Try figuring out New Haven's designations. Yeah..It was a GP-9, but they designated a DERS(Diesel Electric Road Switcher) and their own number, which I have no idea what it is. (A rose by any other name........)