The GE C44-8W is a 4,400 hp (3,280 kW) diesel-electriclocomotive built by GE Transportation Systems of Erie, Pennsylvania, part of the GE Dash 8 Series of freight locomotives. They are considered to be pre-production Dash 9s with D9-44CW internals and software housed in a Dash 8 carbody. They were numbered CSX 9000-9052. The first three were originally supposed to be the last order of Dash 8s for CSX thus having the smaller Dash 8 carbody.[citation needed] They have been derated to 4000 horsepower and are now designated C40-9W.[1]
In keeping in GE tradition of giving nicknames to its locomotive series beginning with the "Dash 7" of the 1970s, the C44-8W was dubbed the "Dash 8" upon its debut. The design has since proven popular with North America railroads.