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CSX ET44AH No. 3440 'Spirit of Ravenna' (YN3b)

General Electric started building their ET44AC model in 2012, and since then at least 1,000 locomotives have been built to this design. The ET44AC is an updated version of the ES44AC, and is compatible with the Tier 4 emission standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. ET44AC’s have noticeably larger flared radiators than their older counterparts, and they’re also 16 inches longer than the ES44AC (74ft 6inch instead of 73ft).

Unfortunately due to model limitations (i.e. the lack of larger radiators), it was impossible to make this a 100% accurate representation of CSX 3440.

Almost every Class 1 railroad in North America has ordered ET44AC’s, with CSX’s order being designated as ET44AH; the “H” stands for heavily-ballasted. This particular engine - 3440 - was built at GE’s Erie, Pennsylvania plant in 2016, which makes her only four years old at the time of uploading.

The engine has since become well known as the ‘Spirit of Ravenna’ unit, and now comes the explanation on why that’s the case (using the info from a YouTube video by CSXGirl822):

Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. was founded in August 2015 as a non-profit organisation with a mission to educate, entertain and inspire through operating historical rail equipment. Their main effort is 2716, a 1943 2-8-4 “Kanawha” type built by ALCO for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway.

A quick history of 2716 herself includes her C&O career from when she was built in ‘43 to 1956, her use in the Southern Steam Programme and even a brief ownership by Fort Wayne Historical Society, which we all know for another famous locomotive (- a reference to Nickel Plate 765-).

Eventually, after all of her travels though, she found herself back at the Kentucky Railway Museum. Part of Kentucky Steam’s success is built upon their partnerships with other organisations and companies; their main two being Kentucky Rail Museum - where 2716 is kept - and CSX.

In May 2018, Kentucky Steam announced a deal with CSX to acquire the (no-longer in use) shops and rail yard in Ravenna, Kentucky. CSX themselves brought General Electric ET44AH - also known as a Tier 4 GEVO - No. 3440 as a backdrop (of sorts) for this announcement and press conference.

Time passed and in the next month - in June 2018 - CSX revealed that they had placed commemorative decals on the locomotive 3440 in honour of her involvement with Kentucky Steam. Featuring logos of Kentucky Steam and the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, the unit joined several other CSX units in the Spirit Series as the Spirit of Ravenna.

In the words of Kentucky Steam, “The Spirit of Ravenna recognises the pioneering spirit of using rail redevelopment and partnerships to revitalise the economy of a federally designated “cold depressed region”. KSHC and CSX look forward to future collaborative efforts and we are excited to see the Spirit travel the country on CSX’s vast rail system”.

(Back to my own description).

After receiving the ‘Spirit of Ravenna’ decals, CSX 3440 has gone on to have a fairly mundane life as a modern diesel locomotive. Due to her special decals she has proven popular amongst American railfans.