ABOUT THE PROTOTYPE

Replacing the AC4400CW, the ES44AC (Evolution Series, 4400hp, AC Traction) debuted in 2003. Built by General Electric, these locomotives were ordered by every single US and Canadian Class 1 railroad. Most railroads use the standard ES44AC design, but other railroads, like the BNSF, use the ET44C4, which use computers for weight distribution and has fewer traction motors. Union Pacific and CSX use the heavily ballasted ES44AH, with UP calling it a C45AH.

Heritage Units

The ES44 is a popular choice for Class 1 railroad heritage units. In 2012, Norfolk Southern took 10 of their ES44s for their heritage unit program, with the representatives being

• Monongahela (8025)
• Conrail (8098)
• Southern (8099)
• Nickel Plate Road (8100)
• Central of Georgia (8101)
• Pennsylvania (8102)
• Norfolk & Western (8103)
• Lehigh Valley (8104)
• Interstate (8105)
• Original Norfolk Southern (8114)

Starting at the end of 2025, NS has added the “Landmark” series of heritage units, calling attention to “Landmark” locations on their system with significant rail history. Two ES44ACs “Chicago” (8183) and “Altoona” (8184) along with two SD70ACes, “Birmingham” (1230) and “Atlanta” (1231), have entered regular and executive service so far.

Beginning in 2023, CSX repainted and renumbered the 3000 series engines into heritage units, starting with 3059 becoming the B&O unit to be numbered 1827. The locomotives that would follow were

• ACL (1871)
• C&O (1869)
• Chessie (1973)
• C. & E. I. (1877)
• Clinchfield (1902)
• Conrail (1976)
• Family Lines (1972)
• Georgia Railroad (1832)
• Louisville & Nashville (1850)
• Monon (1897)
• N. C. & St. L. (1851)
• New York Central (1853)
• Pan Am Railways (1981)
• Pere Marquette (1899)
• P. & L. E. (1875)
• R. F. & P. (1836)
• Seaboard Air Line (1900)
• Seaboard Coast Line (1967)
• Seaboard System (1982)

BNSF designated ES44AC 6022 as their heritage unit, bearing the logos of all the past railroads they have absorbed.

Several Class 1 railroads selected a version of the ES44 as the basis for their America250th units.