US Class 1 railroad Union Pacific (UP) and Wabtec have begun a three-year programme for 600 Union Pacific locos which will see 525 type AC44/AC6000 15-20 year old locos modernised with reconditioned engines equipped with Wabtec’s ‘FDL Advantage’ branded high pressure fuel injection system.
A fleet of 75 older GE Dash 9-44CW DC traction motorequipped locos will be rebuilt with the modernised engines and converted to AC traction motors to become model AC44C6M. The rebuilding, which also includes new cabs for the locos will be undertaken at Wabtec sites in Dallas and the former GE factory in Erie, PA.