GE Dash-8 Locomotive: Train Talk Ep. 33

[@Ferrocarril_Chicago]

A lot of times I don't have time to watch your videos. But then when I have just a few minutes, I say "I'll watch only a few minutes and continue later," only to end up watching the whole thing at once because they're so good and easy to get sucked into. I like how there's always something new to learn from your videos.

[@DOTD-Ko7382]

The GE Dash 8s are probably one of my favorite locomotives of all time. Especially the Standard Cab B40-8s.

[@loganmalough2379]

Yeah. I’m confused as to why they’re being discontinued. Is it due to mechanical issues or financial problems?

[@DOTD-Ko7382]

@loganmalough2379 They made better stuff, Dash-9s and all

[@wrrail]

The dash 8 one of the most awesome and most icnoic locomotives in history!

[@csxmaniac212]

Agree!

[@TrainFan119]

@@csxmaniac212 for sure!

[@TrainFan119]

@@adventuresofamtrakcascades301 we’re talking GE right now

[@rangajavvaji3418]

@@csxmaniac212 a

[@jeremykuehn1027]

Some Dash 8s Were Retired!

[@Cnw8701]

Crazy how AC6000CWs, SD70MACs, SD60s, and Dash 8s are all on shortlines and some are now preserved in museums.

[@Zackman217]

The Dash-8 series are my favorite series of GE locomotives. I grew up with those guys when I was watching old rail fanning videos. It’s now rare to find Dash-8s on the railroads now a days. It will a shame in the future to here the last Dash-8 retire from the railroads. I do hope that railroads will donate the remaining Dash-8 series to rail museums or convert them into running excursion trains like the Grand Canyon railroad.

[@kyosuke19971]

Fantastic video. 🤩 I hope the Dash-9 will get a train talk episode in the future 🥳

[@MiddleboroLakevilleRailfan]

Dash 8’s are pretty cool I love how they are still all around the country despite their age

[@SpotterCrazyperson]

Old locomotives are strong!

[@MiddleboroLakevilleRailfan]

@@SpotterCrazyperson couldn’t agree more!

[@NortheastCorridorFilms]

How dare you become top comment...

[@MiddleboroLakevilleRailfan]

@@NortheastCorridorFilms peasant

[@MiddleboroLakevilleRailfan]

@Altaf Khan what.

[@trainfan32]

Untill now, i didnt notice a differnce between the amtrak Dash-8 and any othe Dash-8

[@TracksideIsaiah]

The Dash 8s, Especially the Wide Cabs are one of my favorite locomotives

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

I really like the dash 8s, especially the horns that sound like they're straight out of the 50s 60s or 70s.

[@brentboswell1294]

The horns were the choice of the individual railroads ordering them. The Santa Fe used the Leslie S-3L, which the BNSF seems to have kept on inherited units. Southern Pacific used the Nathan AirChime P3. The Leslie S-3L is much clearer (when properly maintained) than whatever the Union Pacific is ordering on their current road power...🙄

[@pokeyrailfanning]

@@brentboswell1294 SP never used dash-8s, they had Dash-9s

[@Lakeside_Rail_Productions]

@@pokeyrailfanning SP actually had 39 B39-8Es, but if you're talking about wide-cab dash 8's, you're right.

[@devernepersonal3636]

@Brent Boswell some of the BNSF ones kept the leslie, but as it often was, many old leslies got replaced with K3LAs

[@AlexTrain5249]

@@Lakeside_Rail_Productions Believe it or not, those actually came with Nathan K5Hs.

[@mindlessshark946]

The Dash 8s were always my favorite diesel locomotives

[@rasazy5073]

Same

[@Shipwright1918]

Big deal about the Dash 8 was that it was the first microprocessor diesel to see widespread use. When they came on the scene all the motive power departments were hemming and hawing about whether the electronics could stand up to the grit and dirt of railroad service. Nowadays of course the electronics in the Dash 8 are like a Commodore 64 compared to a Pentium I-Series with what modern locomotoves use. Me, I still prefer the older units like Alcos, purely mechanical.

[@SoCalOCRailfan]

Love the train talk episodes! Learned a lot from it. Great video mike! Keep up the good work!

[@unionpacificomaha]

Absolutely amazing video! Those units are amazing, and you did a really nice job going over them. Still got the last B40-8 in my area

[@Mcnibbus]

Finally my favorite loco gets the spotlight on your channel thank you for this

[@SpotterCrazyperson]

The locomotive deserves it

[@melindarusselle6483]

Nh

[@TrashBulldogProductions]

I just love these engines, especially those owned by Amtrak and the Atchinson Topeka and Santa Fe. (Both of these had the B-Axle setup with wide cabs) Grew up with them chugging by on the LOSSAN corridor pulling both Surfliners and eventually leading the Coast Starlight. Oh and let's not forget their wonderful K5LA's and mechanical bells which miraculously haven't been replaced.

[@buccaneerrailfanning1776]

The Dash 8 is an icon of locomotive history. I’m glad CSX have brought out a few dash 8 and 9 units from storage. Excellent video!

[@UltraMagaFan]

You should put these videos on spotify id listen to them. You don't need to watch them I had a headache and had my eyes closed.

[@amtrakisveryepic]

Dash 8's and Dash 9's are my faves. I Just love the shape of their radiators especially :3

[@francoisguerette]

As a Quebecer, I’ve seen so many dash-8 and dash-9 loco’s! I just love them!

[@amtrakisveryepic]

The last Standard Cab dash-8 in class one service was just retired. What a shame ;-;

[@gordonvincent731]

I was a AMT Los Angeles crew based engineer when we got stuck with those miserable "trash 8's". The HEP took away 1,100 hp and left 2,100 hp for traction. There was no position to put that throttle in to keep the load steady. The load meter in power of dynamic was all over the dial. Having to fight that computer was pain in the ass. Those engines were first ordered by the ATSF (Santa Feces). The ATSF refused them, so GE offered them to AMT for $1.75 million a pop.

[@nathancorcoran5347]

My favorite is the Amtrak GE P32-8BWH.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

Awesome! Now you have done an episode on EMD F40PH your favorite EMD locomotive, and the GE Dash 8 your favorite ge locomotive. My favorite EMD locomotive is Also F40PH and my favorite GE locomotive is the GE genisis locomotive

[@WasatchRailfan125]

Man, I'll miss the Dash 8s there my favorite with the bottom ditch lights, along with the C44-9W and AC4400CW. UP has some AC4400CW with bottom ditch lights I think.

[@Yourmoosehead]

MY FAVORITE LOCOMOTIVE SEIRES, the C40-8 is my all time favorite locomotive!!!

[@bueromuell4075]

Love all your videos- thank you

[@Qcr4014]

Super cool. I really want to see the Amtrak dash 8

[@natejackson8213]

I like the Dash 8-32BWH locomotives from Amtrak and I started to love them ever since I was a kid.

[@RAtheGoodRailfanner_888]

Csx only got rid of their 7500s 7300s 7400s in that decade 13:12 Luckily they kept a majority of them!

[@Juxen4021]

Great video, very informational. A few points I want to tack on: The Dash 8 was the first US production diesel that didn't have to go thru "transition", where it switches the DC traction motors from series to parallel. This was the first time the electronics were robust enough to avoid the 20 mph shudder that all locomotives would do, allowing smooth acceleration up to full speed. The improvements over the Dash 7 line, as well as GE's financing abilities, was the first time that GE took the crown of Top Loco Builder from EMD. As another point: I imagine most of these will be scrapped. Their niche is lugging mainline freight trains, and that's a relatively small chance on the second-hand market. EMD is prevalent with shortlines because of their ease of maintenance, increased part availabilities, and they're good switching locomotives. GE's Dash 7, 8, and 9 lines were all poor switching locomotives, as their FDL engine took forever to load up from idle. In theory, the Dash 8 line has better fuel economy than 1st and 2nd-gen EMD's, but there's still not much availability for mainline running on a shortline or regional.

[@railfanninganddifferentadv1575]

How long have you been doing research on railroads and locomotives? I’m also a train enthusiast and I’m trying to make a whole series of my own where i tell people about the train stuff

[@CoasterFan2105]

I've done research on them ever since I was interested in them. It never ends!

[@brentboswell1294]

GE's prime mover from the U-boats to the -9 series were Cooper and Bessemer diesel blocks, not "GE" (although I have no doubt that GE probably eventually purchased Cooper and Bessemer). GE's specialty was traction motors, generators, alternators, and control systems. They entered the North American locomotive business because they were sick of ALCO's diminishing market share in the face of competition with EMD, which was also costing GE business (ALCO diesels used GE electric systems). GE had built road locomotives (diesel-electric) for overseas orders before, but avoided entering the North American market largely as a courtesy to ALCO (who was a large customer).

[@stevenspassrailfan5284]

“The Dash 8” -Mike Armstrong

[@gulfcoasttrainspotter]

Been waiting for this episode for a while! Loved it, and even learned a few things too! Excellent video!

[@shanestrains7179]

This was a helpful video. The dash 8 series is probably the newest loco the era i model will allow.

[@rottenroads1982]

5:48, 10,48, the GR Dash 8-40CM. It’s a Cowl Unit. Their NEEDS to be more Cowl unit Freight Engines. They look better then the Utilitarian Freight engines with Hyper inflated Radiators and that GEVO style Wide Cab nose.

[@trainboi]

Even tho they are in storage for now they can possibly come back in the future or be put on other railroads or museums

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

I’m pretty sure we already have a Dash 8 preserved, so preserving a bunch probably isn’t a huge priority for many.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

He said some already went to museums. Many more will go to Shortlines.

[@SpotterCrazyperson]

Great older locomotive!!

[@bostonrailfanner471]

I love those dash 8s

[@jenniferprice4091]

Love the video mike! great job as always! 👍🏻

[@strenesperu9956]

Fact: In Brazil and Peru, there are some Dash 8 running

[@Buckskin1290]

Oh really?

[@Coasterfan1614]

Yes! i love the Dash 8 line!

[@NERRP2017]

Ironically csx sold most of their ex CR dash 8 standard cabs to pan am since pan am needing some more newer yet older 6 and 4 axle power

[@luisurbieta8924]

Love this video of the Dash8 Class and the Evolution class locomotives. Will you talk about Sounder Commuter Train and it's future?

[@stevethetrainbuff5718]

I love the dash 8 locos especially the standard cabs

[@csxmaniac212]

Can you do a video on actual Santa Fe units just like the BN’s?

[@canadiannationalrailfanner2453]

RIP Dash 8s on NS.

[@manilatrainsspotting6122]

I love dash 8 amtrak dash 8 is very cool amazing video men!!

[@Cnw8701]

Wow. You literally recited two articles I authored on Trains and Locomotives Wiki and Locomotive Wiki. I'm HenryDuckFan; a formally active contributor. Lol I take it you used some of the wikis as a resource for your research?

[@SleepTrain456]

A very informative video! For instance, I didn't know Amtrak is looking for new switchers, or that BNSF has turned some of it's B40-8Ws into remote-control locomotives! Thanks for the video!

[@Chuck59ish]

Still see a lot of former BCRail Dash 8Ms down here in Maritime Canada on the trains from Toronto to Halifax.

[@thealmightydoge5653]

So let me get this straight Was there anything before a Dash 7, like the Dash 6 or 5? The 8s will ALWAYS be my favorite freight locomotive, besides the ACE series. Have a good June, Mike!

[@apolofeve]

No, before the Dash-7 series came the Universal Line (U18B, U23B, U36B, U30C...)

[@evanf1293]

It's only a matter of time before these last few railroads retire the dash 8s, but only time will tell for many engines and their future when retirement comes.

[@louisvillerailfan]

Ayeeeee you’ve been on the Front range Subdivision

[@thebritishaviator3843]

amazing video! very interesting documentry. never knew all this!

[@NSFAN8000]

Nice Video Mike!! The perfect vid 4 my Birthday!! :)

[@RDC2003]

CSX 9280, C40-8, is alive and well, I’ve seen her and she’s a sight of rarity. Get her while she still runs the rails

[@graphtonix6607]

What are Amtrak's plans for their Dash 8's???

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Probably will sell a few. Hopefully a few go to musuems.

[@graphtonix6607]

@@TheMrPeteChannel I want Amtrak to keep Dash 8 units 2051 and 2052.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

@@graphtonix6607 what's so special about those 2?

[@graphtonix6607]

@@TheMrPeteChannel They used to be units 501 and 502.

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

@@graphtonix6607 ah ok. The "Pepsi Cans". Right?

[@Pensyfan19]

Nice video. I'm a fan of the ex-Santa Fe Warbonnets, as well as the B40-8W since it's a 4 axle unit which otherwise has the appearance of a main line diesel.

[@Projeect2008]

i love the older ge engines

[@unity3596]

Most railroads are retiring dash 8s because of there durability and there old age

[@larrymcneil8038]

I definitely enjoyed this video thanks for the content

[@NOVIDEOS67895]

I love the dash 8!

[@theyankeekid1082]

I have seen Amtrak dash 8 503 509 and 510.

[@evanj2400]

8:21 *Cotton Belt*

[@peterjhillier7659]

Great Video Mike Thanks, keep safe.

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

Awesome video 🚄🚄👍

[@StevenACuteBunny54]

Amazing. 👍🏻

[@donaldjobson6799]

As always Mike, great job. I really enjoy your train videos

[@devernepersonal3636]

I learned so much. I always loved these motors but had no idea they were historically significant for the current GE overtake. I assume California's push for cleaner air pushed GE's development of the GEVO and therefor caused the takeover. You taught me something.

[@coolleo149]

I still don’t know when Amtrak will continue to use the Dash 8s before they are finished with passengers and retiring, but what about Union Pacific? Oh well, guess I won’t know lol. Hey nice video man!

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

They make good switchers for Amtrak

[@NC_Railfan1810]

Hi mike, just wanted to tell you that I started a KZbin channel, and you and Railfan Rowan are my role-models and the reason why I started anyway

[@Lakeside_Rail_Productions]

I'd like to see them get purchased by shortlines rather than being scrapped. I thought I heard that a couple of Mexican/South American railroads were interested in them as they were with the old BN/ATSF C30-7s they bought from BNSF not far after the merger.

[@mp24x]

Dash 8 is the mini sd70ace

[@RailwayVideos.]

Very good presentation,thank you!

[@aadenlama2490]

Nice video man your the best youtuber

[@BKNPhotography]

Hey coasterfan I have a question I know it’s a long drive but may you visit Santa Rosa there are trains there, they are called Smart train or Sonoma Marin SMART there’s also Northwestern pacific which owns a lot of old stuff such as SP high hood and a SP steam locos and etc. the smart train is operated from larkspur to Sonoma county airport soon to have many more stations at places such at Petaluma north, Windsor (currently in construction), Healdsburg which has a interesting train crossing that goes Through a round-A-bout, and finally Cloverdale those are all that will are and will be in construction. Smart might be connecting with Amtrak lines also. The Smart train has a clean diesel locomotive and the locomotive is called the Nippon Sharyo DMU with a horn seeming to be a K5LA

[@jeffreytherailfanning2011]

Cool

[@lorumipsum1129]

Still see a lot of the freight variants near me at our local freight yard. Amtrak is trying too expand here so hopefully I’ll see the passenger variant too

[@TristXD]

Thanks for these informative videos! :D

[@edisonz2006]

Can we have a Train Talk Episode on the GE Evolution Series?

[@danielepelaia7875]

Already mike did one check out train talk episode?sorry I forgot

[@SD70MAC]

Future Will be Dash 10 ?

[@RAtheGoodRailfanner_888]

That would have came out in 2004-2007.

[@hainescityrailfan9983]

And now Ladies and Gentlemen the long awaited Train Talk is now on KZbin

[@graphtonix6607]

Were will Dash 8 units 2051 and 2052 go next???

[@PatrickDoran2319]

It’s very likely by 2030 these diesels will very likely retire

[@Buckskin1290]

They all should have retired by 2030..

[@average_joe8905]

Ah one of my favorite GEs!

[@steve87thpsap]

Well history lesson. Thanks for sharing this knowledge.

[@CSX_Doolittle]

Yeah I bet CN will get rid of there C40-8Ms but keep there C40-8s and C40-8Ws for 2-3 years

[@RAtheGoodRailfanner_888]

Why in the 2010s dash 8s sold retired scrapped and stored! They weren’t not 30 yet! That made no sense!!!

[@Sachmle]

Couldn't be upgraded to meet the new EPA standards. Dash 9s could be made to meet tier 1, so they got kept. That's why the GEVOs got designed.

[@Im_here170]

Very cool 😎

[@Brandonvilches0721]

Pretty cool. ive seen a dash 8 twice! Well at the same area in the amtrak Los Angeles yard

[@americanrf5925]

C40-8 Csx and ns isnt here again they re scrapped for part dash 9 :'(

[@felixthetrainfan4819]

I kinda like the C40-8M!

[@scootosan]

I enjoy your educational (train talk) videos.

[@robertlucido3686]

You should do a video on the EMD SD80mac, it's one of my favorite diesel locomotives, I'm looking into getting an HO scale SD80mac for my birthday in August this year

[@ivangenov6782]

Hello, is there a possibility you could talk about the various Cab Forwards of the Southern Pacific railroad? I do know why they were built this why, but im more interested in the different designs that were build such as the AC-5 or AC-12, etc...

[@AnitaV90]

Sorry I’m late and nice video

[@AnitaV90]

Keep up the good work

[@TrainGuru]

Excellent explaining the dash 8’s! Also, got a question: Near enough self taught but still very much learning on how to railfan. But I live near Felton, California where light is a little lower and sometimes film in other areas of the Bay Area in California. I am looking the Canon or Blackmagic series of camera and don’t know which type I should consider? Canon T7 or Blackmagic pocket camera? I am also looking at flexibility, longevity, and being less bulky.

[@Jemalacane0]

Why no talk of tractive effort and adhesion?