ES44AC - MagnumMacKivler/RLCPT2 GitHub Wiki
A lone purchased Cemex ES44AC stands by from switching duty in New Braunfels, TX. Photo credit Tim Zatto.
The ES44AC is an AC powered, 4400HP Evolution Series locomotive created by General Electric in the early 2000s. This locomotive type a direct replacement for the AC4400CW, was offered for meeting the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 2 diesel engine emissions standards.
The ES44AC also has two subvariants, the ES44DCi and the ES44AH. The ES44ACi has extra radiator cooling (similar to an AC6000CW) for desert conditions in the Australian outback. These locomotives were exclusively made for Rio Tinto mining company in Western Australia. The ES44AH (which has a second wiki page here for different data) is a heavier version of the normal locomotive that is equipped with high-adhesion software to better grip the rails.
An ES44ACi shows off it's unique cooling radiators for the tough desert conditions in Green Pool, WA. Photo credit "pilbararailways.com.au"
One unique locomotive that was a spinoff from the ES44AC is the A-1-A trucked, four motored, AC powered ES44C4 (and eventually the Tier 4 ET44C4). These two locomotive types were later used to replace the ES44DC, as there was less motors to maintain with AC motors' better ability to handle heavy trains at lower speeds.
The ES44AC is considered one of the best-selling locomotive lines of all time, and were produced from October of 2003 until they were replaced by the Tier 4 emissions standards ET44AC by December of 2014 (as January 1st, 2015 was the date Tier 4 emissions would go into effect). In total, 3048 units were made, with major purchasers including Union Pacific (943), BNSF (715), Canadian National (313), Canadian Pacific (291), and Kansas City Southern (160). Notably, ES44AC production also expanded away from class 1 railroads as well, showing up at class 2 railroad Iowa Interstate, mining producers Cartier/ArcelorMittal and Rio Tinto (with the latter's ES44ACi variant), locomotive leaser CitiRail, and one unusual example going to the Cemex rock quarry in New Braunfels, TX as an aggregate car string switcher.
PT-Specific Information
| General Info | - |
|---|---|
| Prime Mover | GE-GEVO-12 |
| Horsepower | 4400 (1) |
| Truck Type | GE High Adhesion (2) |
| Axles | 6 |
| Traction Motors | 6 |
| Minimum Weight | 410,000 lbs |
| Maximum Weight | 420,000 lbs |
| Model Base Speed | 75 MPH |
| Top Speed | 75 MPH |
| Electrical System | - |
|---|---|
| Generator Max Current | 6676.3 Amps (3)(4) ⚠ |
| Max Traction Motor (TM) Current | 1380 (3)(5) Amps |
| Max Continuous TM Current | 1120 (3)(5) Amps |
| Traction Motor Type | AC |
| Factor of Adhesion | 46.8% ⚠ |
| Transition Mode | Automatic, no selector |
| Transition Groups | 1 |
| Transition Shunts | 1 |
| Generator Transition | Yes |
| Traction Control | Electronic Traction Control |
| Dynamic Braking (DB) Mode (if used) | Electrical Blowers |
| DB Max Current | 1120 Amps ⚠ |
| DB Max Continuous Current | 1120 Amps ⚠ |
| Blended Braking | No |
| Miscellaneous | - |
|---|---|
| Head-End Power (HEP) | No |
| HEP Power Consumption | N/A |
| HEP Standby/Run Mode | N/A |
| Load Ramp Speed | 3 Amps/Tick ⚠ |
| TM Overload Protection | Yes |
| Starter Mode | Automatic Start |
| Air Brake Schedule | 26-L |
| Compressor CFM | 236 (Wabco 3CDC @ 1050 RPM) (6) |
| Main Reservoir Volume | 35 Cu.Ft ⚠ |
Notes
⚠: Not Verified or Educated Guess
(1) GE lists the GEVO-12's HP for traction at 4365 as of 2016, earlier manuals list it at 4390.
(2) Could also be ordered with a Self-Steering truck, which would supposedly reduce wear on the wheels.
(3) Current listings are an approximation of the AC4400CW's GMG192 alternator. The Evolution series uses the 5GMG206A alternator instead.
(4) AC electrical gear is three-phase. Values shown here is for a single phase; the value used by RLC PT2 should be 3 times the value shown.
(5) The ES44AC uses 5GEB132B traction motors, which are a modified version of the AC4400CW's 5GEB13 traciton motors. I still couldn't find any information on them. Listed ratings are for the GE 5GEB22, which is similar.
(6) The GEVO-12 only runs at 1050 RPM under load and below 20 MPH, for normal operation CFM is rated at 205.965 @ 995 RPM.