Photo credit to: Harry Gaydosz

In 2016, Norfolk Southern partnered with General Electric to rebuild the current fleet of D9-40C diesel locomotives nicknamed "Top hats".

Dubbed AC44C6Ms, these locomotives are rebuilt with a GEVO style cab; AC electronics; a 100 horsepower increase to 4500 HP and an increase in weight. The rebuild program started in 2016 and has shown no signs of stopping anytime soon.

Norfolk Southern has placed an order for 57 of these locomotives to be overhauled from the current fleet of Tophat Dash 9s. As of May 27, 2017, there are 68 D9-40C engines left in service. With rumors circulating that the remaining Tophats will all be overhauled and a total of 75 locomotives (18 ordered and built the previous year), expected by the time the program is over, something has to be done to save one of these unique looking diesels from the 90s. 

Norfolk Southern is the only railroad in North America to own, maintain and operate the Dash 9 with a standard, short nose cab. I call to have one of these unusual locomotives preserved for future generations to view. Though I'm not designating a specific cab number to be specific, I intend on having  one of these locomotives preserved in an operational condition with a fresh coat of black and white. If all of these Tophats are rebuilt to extinction, future generations of railroaders and other people of the general will be left with simple photos and video of the standard cab GE that are like no other.