Huntsville & Madison County
Railroad Authority

The first Dash-8 units were introduced by General Electric in 1984 and were produced alongside the last Dash-7 units. Eighteen initial demonstrators were produced: Three B32-8's for BN, three B39-8's for ATSF, ten C32-8's for CR and two C39-8's for NS. Dozens of additional C39-8's were built during the next two years for CR and NS, but no more B32-8's, B39-8's or C32-8's were built before GE introduced a much-improved "enhanced" version of the Dash-8 series in 1987, which accounted for the vast majority of Dash-8 production.

Early (pre-1987) Dash-8 units carried over some spotting features of the Dash-7 series, such as the general style of the hood doors and a break in the hood width near the radiators, along with a second break in the hood width on the fireman's side closer to the front of the hood. The cab roof was still rounded and was the same height as on Dash-7 units (105" above the walkway), but the eaves were higher than on Dash-7 units and the walkway height on the 4-axle units was increased from a nominal 68.625" to 70". The hood behind the cab created a "hump" that was taller than the cab itself, and the radiator intakes were vertical and located under angular radiator "wings". The raised hood section behind the cab contained a boxy housing for the dynamic brakes, which had been incorporated into some B30-7A and C36-7 units a few years earlier.

GE made a large number of electrical and mechanical improvements after the first Dash-8 units were produced, which appeared in all production versions of the B32-8 and B39-8 introduced in 1987. Although these units sometimes have an "E" added at the end of the model name (as in B39-8E) the builder's plate apparently lacked such a designation. Externally, the improvements made to later Dash-8 units resulted in an almost entirely redesigned carbody, which included a cab roof changed to an angled design and raised to match the hood, while the headlight/numberboard assembly was narrowed and had the headlights mounted horizontally. The dynamic brake/central air intake area was simplified, with fewer doors and seams; the hood was made the same width along its entire length, eliminating the break in the hood width near the radiators.

Michael Eby - Trainiax