Rivet Counter HO Scale GE DASH 9-40C, Norfolk Southern/Thoroughbred

The GE DASH 9 Series debuted in 1993 with numerous electronic upgrades, building on the DASH 8 platform. Available with 4,000 or 4,400hp, they were well-received by the railroads and their employees, quickly becoming one of the most common locomotive types in North America. The DASH 9s remained in production until the early 2000s when it was superseded by GE’s “Evolution Series” ES40/44-series models. Most are still in service today.

With railroad, road number, and era specific™ details, our Rivet Counter™ series DASH 9 is the definitive model of this popular GE locomotive. In our continuing effort to push the boundaries of realism in model railroading, the Rivet Counter DASH 9 features operating LED front, rear, and side walkway lights. Available as DC/DCC with a 21-pin connector or with ESU LokSound™ 5 DCC & sound pre-installed at the factory.

Run: 7

Announced: Oct 2, 2026

Estimated Time of Arrival: June 2027

Preorder Guarantee Date: Nov 2, 2026

DCC & Sound Equipped Retail: $429.99 DC/DCC Ready Retail: $334.99

See below for your price

In stock

SKU

7-RCHODASH9-6

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Grouped product items
Item Number	Road Number	Control & Sound Options	Our Price	Availability	ETA Date
SXT43672	8768	DCC & Sound Equipped	$334.99	Preorder Preorder by 11/02/2026	June 2027
SXT43673	8768	DC/DCC Ready	$219.99	Preorder Preorder by 11/02/2026	June 2027
SXT43674	8789	DCC & Sound Equipped	$334.99	Preorder Preorder by 11/02/2026	June 2027
SXT43675	8789	DC/DCC Ready	$219.99	Preorder Preorder by 11/02/2026	June 2027
SXT43676	8783	DCC & Sound Equipped	$334.99	Preorder Preorder by 11/02/2026	June 2027
SXT43677	8783	DC/DCC Ready	$219.99	Preorder Preorder by 11/02/2026	June 2027

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ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

PRODUCT DETAILS

Road Number Specific ScaleTrains

New road numbers
Era: 1995 to Early 2000s
Series NS 8764 to 8888, built 1-3/1995
NS 8768, 8789
- Early dynamic brake exhaust
NS 8783
- Late dynamic brake exhaust
Fully-assembled
LED-illuminated ground light, engineer’s side
LED-illuminated front, rear, and side walkway lights*
LED-illuminated front and rear deck-mounted alternating ditch lights**
LED-illuminated high-mount cab number boards*
Tall snowplow with grab irons and open MU hose doors
Semi-scale coupler buffer equipped with durable metal semi-scale Type E knuckle couplers, painted a dingy gray/brown color to represent the color of couplers in service
4-step stepwells with see-through steps
Walkway with front and rear anticlimbers
GE “nub” pattern walkway tread
Wide-profile end handrails
Cab-mounted headlight
Standard electrical cabinet access doors
Battery cabinet access door with latch
GE “Spartan” standard cab
Cab interior with detailed front and back wall, high-back seats, and engineer’s AAR-style control stand
Dual wind deflectors with mirrors mounted fore and aft of sliding cab windows on both sides
Dual Motorola ASP-16 “Firecracker” antennas on clean air cab
Early-style cab roof HVAC
Alternating reinforcement ribs under dynamic brake intake grilles
Early curved engine cab profile
Lost-wax brass cast Nathan AirChime K5LAR24 horn mounted on engine cab
Early flanged exhaust stack housing
“Bathtub” exhaust silencer
26 individually applied etched metal see-through radiator intake and exhaust grilles on the sides and top of the radiator compartment
Right side late radiator door grilles in alternating heights
Standard brake wheel
Left rear hood door grille arrangement: tall, short, short grilles
High-mounted rear sand fill
Early “box” lifting lugs on ends of radiator wings
Late Hi-Ad trucks with non-cantilevered struts on all four side frames
Wheel faces painted a dingy gray/brown color to represent the color of wheelsets in service
Rotating axle bearing caps
Speed recorder on the second axle on both sides
Dual Graham-White (Prime) 975-075 Air Filters
Graham-White 975-100 “Twin Tower” Air Filter Dryer
5,000-gallon fuel tank with vertical weld seams
Early curved fuel tank mounting brackets
Single fuel fills per side
Round and vertical analog fuel gauges, and digital fuel gauges
Fuel tank-mounted steel bell
Separate air tanks with upper mounting brackets
Early, square 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 and electrical pick-up
Directional LED-illuminated headlights
Printing and lettering legible under magnification
Operates on Code 70, 83, and 100 rail
Packaging safely stores the model
Minimum Radius: 18”
Recommended Radius: 22”

DCC & sound equipped locomotives also feature:

ESU LokSound 5 DCC & Sound decoder with “Full Throttle” functions
Two (2) cube-type speakers
Turbocharged GE 7FDL16 prime mover sounds
Curve squeal and frog clank sounds*
ESU designed “PowerPack” with two super capacitors***
Operates on both DC and DCC layouts

DC/DCC & sound-ready locomotives also feature:

Operates 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

General Electric wrestled the title of top domestic locomotive builder from EMD during the late 1980s with their DASH 8 series. GE once again positioned itself to shake up the locomotive world again less than a decade later. Entering the 1990s, GE completely revamped its locomotive lineup by utilizing customer feedback, learning from experience gained from previous locomotive series, and improvements in technology.

A single C44-9W demonstrator, number 8601, debuted in 1993 (and later became C&NW 8601). While similar at first glance to predecessor models like the C40-8 and C40-8W, the Dash-9 series featured a few notable physical differences. Built on a slightly longer platform that allowed for a massive 5,000-gallon fuel tank, Dash-9s also featured thicker radiator “wings” at the rear of the carbody. This is usually the quickest way to differentiate them from previous models.

The GE DASH 9 series includes several models, including the C40-9, C44-9W, and C44-9WL. These models differ in power output, traction motor types, and other features, but share a common design and architecture. The DASH 9 series is characterized by its distinctive nose shape, angular lines, and robust construction.

One of the key features of the DASH 9 series is its high-power diesel engine, which produces up to 4,400 horsepower. This makes it one of the most powerful single-engine locomotives in the world. The engine is paired with a state-of-the-art traction control system, which optimizes power delivery and reduces wheel slip. This results in improved acceleration, braking, and overall performance.

The DASH 9 series also features advanced digital control systems, including a microprocessor-based control unit and a sophisticated monitoring system. This allows for real-time monitoring of the locomotive's performance, fault detection, and automatic control of various systems.

In terms of design, the DASH 9 series has a distinctive appearance, with a sloping nose, angular lines, and a robust construction. The locomotive's body is made of steel, with a durable paint finish and a range of optional liveries. The cab is designed for comfort and ergonomics, with a modern control stand, adjustable seats, and ample visibility.

The GE DASH 9 series has been widely adopted by freight railroads in North America and globally. Its high power, efficiency, and reliability make it an ideal choice for heavy-haul freight operations, particularly in mountainous terrain. Many railroads have also praised the DASH 9 series for its ease of maintenance, reduced downtime, and lower operating costs.

The DASH 9 series remained in production until the early 2000s when it was superseded by GE’s “Evolution Series” ES40/44-series models. Age has begun to catch up with the earliest C44-9W and related models so some railroads are storing and/or rebuilding these veteran units. NS’s oldest units, the spartan-cab C40-9s, have been rebuilt with the latest GE safety cab for increased crew comfort and safety plus AC traction for better performance.

In conclusion, the GE DASH 9 series has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable and efficient locomotives in the world. Built over a long timeframe, and proving to be a solid, upgradeable platform, the C44-9W family of locomotives including rebuilds is sure to remain a fixture on today’s railroads for the foreseeable future.

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