Rivet Counter HO Scale GE AC44C6M, Norfolk Southern/Horsehead

The Rivet Counter™ series GE AC44C6M is the definitive HO Scale model of Norfolk Southern’s rebuilt six-axle alternating current traction locomotive. Our model combines smooth operating performance with unparalleled railroad, road number, and era specific™ details along with industry-leading LED lighting features.

Norfolk Southern initiated the AC44C6M rebuilding program for the GE DASH 9 series in 2015. This DC to AC transition improved tractive effort and overall train handling by enhancing or replacing trucks, carbody repairs, and additional ballast. The external changes involved adding AC inverter control cabinets and replacing the original cabs. By 2025, NS expects to have 950 rebuilt units in service.

Run: 1

Announced: Aug 9, 2024

Estimated Time of Arrival: June 2025

DCC & Sound Equipped Retail: $393.99 DC/DCC Ready Retail: $268.99

See below for your price

In stock

SKU

RCHOAC44C6MNS

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Grouped product items
Item Number	Road Number	Control & Sound Options	Our Price	Availability	ETA Date	Quantity
SXT39889	4011	DCC & Sound Equipped	$314.99	Preorder Sold Out	June 2025	Notify Me If Available × *Please enter your email address to receive notification if stock becomes available. Inventory will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. This field is required Please enter a valid E-mail Submit
SXT39890	4011	DC/DCC Ready	$214.99	Preorder Sold Out	June 2025	Notify Me If Available × *Please enter your email address to receive notification if stock becomes available. Inventory will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. This field is required Please enter a valid E-mail Submit
SXT39891	4015	DCC & Sound Equipped	$314.99	Preorder Sold Out	June 2025	Notify Me If Available × *Please enter your email address to receive notification if stock becomes available. Inventory will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. This field is required Please enter a valid E-mail Submit
SXT39892	4015	DC/DCC Ready	$214.99	Preorder Sold Out	June 2025	Notify Me If Available × *Please enter your email address to receive notification if stock becomes available. Inventory will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. This field is required Please enter a valid E-mail Submit
SXT39893	4025	DCC & Sound Equipped	$314.99	Preorder Sold Out	June 2025	Notify Me If Available × *Please enter your email address to receive notification if stock becomes available. Inventory will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. This field is required Please enter a valid E-mail Submit
SXT39894	4025	DC/DCC Ready	$214.99	Preorder Sold Out	June 2025	Notify Me If Available × *Please enter your email address to receive notification if stock becomes available. Inventory will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. This field is required Please enter a valid E-mail Submit

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ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

PRODUCT DETAILS

Road Number Specific ScaleTrains

All-new model
Era: 2016 to Present
Series 4006 to 4042, rebuilt 8/16
- Road number 4011; ex-NS 8857 C40-9
- Road number 4015; ex-NS 8845
- Road number 4025; ex-NS 8863 C40-9
Rebuilt by GE in Erie, PA
Wrecked 12/2020 in Moselle, MS; repaired and back in service 7/2022
Horsehead paint scheme
Fully-assembled
Multiple road numbers
Operating LED-illuminated ground lights on both sides of locomotive*
Operating LED-illuminated front and rear deck-mounted alternating ditch lights**
Operating LED-illuminated front, rear, and side walkway lights*
Printed cab-mounted number boards with separately controlled LED-illumination*
Directional LED-illuminated headlights
LSL (Locomotive Speed Limiter) indicator lights on cab sides (non-operating)
Tall snowplow with MU hose openings and two (2) grab irons
Semi-scale GE type coupler buffer equipped with durable metal semi-scale Type E knuckle couplers
Inside loop uncoupling levers with down brackets
4-step rear stepwells with see-through steps
Walkway with front and rear anticlimbers
GE “nub” pattern walkway tread
Wide profile end handrails
Front high (cab) mounted headlight
Nose door without window; security padlock with hasp
Two-piece nose top grab irons
Battery cabinet access door with latch
GE safety cab with four (4) side windows
Right side cab under floor access doors: dual large louver panels per door
Left side cab under floor access doors: bolted panel forward of the HVAC unit
Cab interior with detailed back wall and front dash, high-back seats, conductor’s workstation, and engineer’s AAR-style control stand
In-cab grade crossing camera
Tinted cab side windows
Tall mirror mounted fore and aft of sliding cab side windows on left side, Tall mirror mounted fore of sliding cab side windows on right side; additional small mirror on right side
JEM Communications PTC antenna farm with Sinclair antennas
Inverter Cabinet with Bolted and hinged access door, top two X panels same size, three lower X panels with 4 - 6 - 4 Bolt Pattern
Continuous reinforcement rib under dynamic brake intake grilles
High-capacity dynamic brake exhaust (3-port)
Rearward right-side air intake grille
Left side auxiliary cab: 3 short doors with latches on the #2 door and narrow auxiliary cab filter box door with X panel in front
Right side auxiliary cab: four (4) doors with latches on #1 and #4 doors
Dual triangular lifting bails on top of clean air cab joint
Early curved engine cab profile
High mounted lift rings on engine cab power assembly doors
Three left side door latches and two right door latches on exhaust cab doors
Lost-wax brass cast Nathan AirChime K5LAR24 horn mounted on engine cab
Early flanged exhaust stack housing
“Bathtub” exhaust silencer
22 individually-applied etched metal see-through radiator intake and exhaust grilles on sides and top of radiator compartment
Right side late radiator door grilles in alternating heights
Right side radiator wing access door with two “T” handles and bolt detail around the door
No electronic handbrake
Flat stamped
Left rear hood door grille arrangement: tall, short, short grilles
Early “box” lifting lugs on ends of radiator wings
Left side long rail all stanchions early type
RigRight side long rail all stanchions early type
Accurately profiled frame with separately-applied plumbing and traction motor cabling
GE Hi-Ad trucks with reinforcement plate over center axle on right front and left rear side frames and separately applied brake cylinders, single bracket air plumbing, and rotating bearing caps
Rust-color painted wheelsets
No speed recorder
Dual Graham-White (Salem) 824-100 centrifugal air filters
Wabtec 994-500 series air dryer
5,000-gallon fuel tank with vertical close spaced weld seams
Fuel tank detail arrangement (front to back) right side - Fuel Filler EFCO, Digital Fuel Gauge
Fuel tank mounted steel bell
Separate air tanks with upper mounting brackets
Curved handbrake chain bracket
Spare coupler knuckle holders on rear pilot face
Factory-applied detail parts: wire grab irons, spare knuckles, trainline hoses with silver gladhands, 3-hose MU clusters with silver gladhands, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, mirrors, sunshades, and more
Motor with 5-pole, skew-wound armature
Dual flywheels
All-wheel drive
All-wheel electrical pick-up
Printing and lettering legible under magnification
Operates on Code 70, 83, and 100 rail
Packaging safely stores model
Minimum Radius: 18”
Recommended Radius: 22”

DCC & sound equipped locomotives also feature:

ESU-LokSound 5 DCC and Sound decoder with “Full Throttle” Functions
Two (2) cube-type speakers
Accurate FDL-16 prime mover and auxiliary sounds, horn, bell, and more
ESU-designed PowerPack with two (2) super capacitors***
Operates on both DC and DCC layouts

DCC & sound ready locomotives also feature:

Operate on DC layouts
DCC ready with 21-pin connector

* Lighting features operate when using an ESU decoder with appropriate programming while operating using DCC

** In DC operation, both front ditch lights illuminate; rear ditch lights (if equipped) do not illuminate

*** Compatible with appropriately programmed ESU decoders while operating using DCC

PRODUCT VIDEOS

PROTOTYPE HISTORY

In the early 2000s, Norfolk Southern, equipped with one of the largest fleets of GE DASH 9 series locomotives, found itself at a crossroads. With escalating traffic levels demanding more horsepower for efficient train movement, a critical decision loomed. The aging DASH 9s forming the backbone of their fleet were due for overhauls, prompting the need for a strategy to keep the traffic flowing seamlessly.

To modernize its fleet, Norfolk Southern boldly initiated a rebuilding program for its GE DASH 9s. This comprehensive process involved upgrading the electrical systems and traction motors of the aging DC (Direct Current) drives DASH 9s to AC (Alternating Current) traction, effectively transforming them into AC4400s. While AC technology had already proven its effectiveness on other railroads, Norfolk Southern had remained conservative in the 90s, opting for fleets of DC-drive EMD SD70s, GE C40-9s, and C40-9Ws.

As the 90s transitioned into the 2000s, Norfolk Southern couldn't overlook the compelling advantages of AC, which offered significant improvements in unit tractive effort and overall train handling compared to DC units. The rebuild process also included essential enhancements such as new trucks, repairs to the carbody, and additional ballast for increased tractive effort.

Externally, the most noticeable change was the addition of an AC inverter control cabinet to the left side walkway behind the operator’s cab. In the case of units rebuilt from standard-cab C40-9 core units, the original operator’s cab, low nose, and under-cab cabinets were replaced with a new GE Safety Cab, similar to those used on current GEVO production. While some fans lamented the loss of the distinctive C40-9 "Top Hats," crews embraced the new cabs for their superior comfort and crashworthiness.

These revitalized units, designated as AC44C6M by Norfolk Southern, made their debut in August 2015 with NS 4000 and 4001, rebuilt by contractor American Motive Power, Inc., utilizing components from GE. Sporting a unique gray scheme with a blue cab and "mane," these units stood out against the typical black Thoroughbreds in the NS fleet. Rebuilt from NS C40-9s 8799 and 8879, some of the oldest GEs in the fleet gained a new lease on life.

The success of these initial rebuilds prompted Norfolk Southern to fully embrace the AC44C6M, with 16 additional units rebuilt from C40-9 cores in 2016. Work was conducted both in-house at Roanoke and Juniata shops and by GE at their facilities in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Ft. Worth, Texas. The momentum continued, with additional units slated for rebuilding each year. At present, the plan is for Wabtec to rebuild the entire NS GE DASH 9 fleet, ushering in the latest technology and solidifying its position as the "Thoroughbred" of transportation.

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Rivet Counter HO Scale GE AC44C6M, Norfolk Southern/Horsehead

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