That’s just a switcher. For pulling trains you’ll probably want a brightly colored ES44AC or similar GE unit.
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Yeah, that’s what I want.
I’ll be out there next month and plan to take some pics.
well gents, not as colorful as @18bravo and his Canadian liveries, or nearly as interesting as @ptruhe and the snowblower, I bring this:
It’s funny, I’ve seen many of these units roll by over many years, but with the black scheme you really get a sense of how huge these are (as the wind shields look very small) - wow. I took these a couple of hours ago, riding along. Less than 15 minutes before, I realized I just missed a UP train, and as I’ve mentioned, around here if you have enough patience you will see a few Amtrak, UP, and BNSF trains each day. So, just for a change, it was nice to see this Black NS AC44C6M GE Dash 9-40C leading the way.
This train is heading north, from the Port of Oakland, in the basic direction of the BNSF yard in Richmond (parallel to eastbound Highway 80) - but, I don’t know anything about rail operations here - for all I know, this could be getting out of the Port, just far enough to switch onto another track and go back, or in a different direction? 
As you can see in the lower picture, there are several parallel tracks here, and it’s fairly common to see shorter trains doing some sort of switching.
Despite there being lots of full-on railfans around here, I haven’t stumbled across the web site that says: “This is how UP and BNSF operate in and around the Port of Oakland and who has the right of which tracks and when”. While I am not a railfan per se, I am curious… 
Cheers
Nick
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I love the Canadian liveries (is that what they are called). But Norfolk Southern comes in right behind them in my love list. Thanks for sharing.
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@phil2015, no worries - livery is just a fancy way of saying corporate/team/club etc colors, logos etc - you’ll hear the term a lot in regard to racecars - and regarding the NS black - wow! I agree, I remember seeing these colors in HO scale, but man, it’s a lot more dramatic in person.
As the weather is indeed getting better - meaning less rain and maybe worse, if you are an out of shape bicyle rider like me, wind! has reduced the number of excuses I can use for not riding! 
So, back to the Port of Richmond I rode to this AM - it’s about a 28 mile round trip - which for me, on my trusty 30 yo bike, is a big ride! And today, saw this:
A Richmond Pacific Railroad switcher idling along. Making this all that much better, how about that trackwork?! Nice! and to the left of the loco, you can see the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge!
Unhappily, I didn’t notice either of these until I was cropping the photo! And then, about 15 minutes later came across none other than one of my favorite switchers, a GP15! wow! I had a couple of these on my ill-fated model rr!
again, not artistic genius getting the headlight between the trees!
Nice! and man, the RPRR has some nice clean power!
Cheers
Nick
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I went out riding again this morning, and within a few minutes of my house, came across this:
A pair of UP GP 60s pulling tank cars. I’ve mentioned the “no horn” rule here, and you can see why on the right of this picture. While this area was once, meaning a long time ago, mostly heavy industry, it’s not anymore, and instead lots of infill housing, though the mainline still runs by, all hours, every day. I’ve lived around here for over 20 years, and was pretty accustomed to hearing and not noticing the horns, I must say, it’s great to get a full night’s sleep!
On the way back, about 5 miles to the south, on the bike path, under the Highway 80/580/24 interchange, saw this:
The lead unit is apparently a GE C44AC, while following is a GE C44CW - and, no, I don’t know what the difference is - The load was mixed, with tank cars, hoppers, boxes and auto racks.
This was on the northern most edge of the Port of Oakland. It seems the dock work here happens all the time, but there are practically no trucks and trailers driving around on the weekend, so makes for a good/much safer ride. I don’t ride through here on weekdays, just not that smart to be doing, even with a good path.
While riding up to Middle Harbor Park, I saw this - I realize, not the same power as the title of this thread, but a lot of power nonetheless:
Quite a nice day - no wind, and generally blue skies, so a good day for being out 
Cheers
Nick
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I found this on reddit:
"The main difference is on the inside, the C44-9W has DC traction power, (DC current from the generator to the traction motors) while the AC4400CW uses AC traction (passes through an inverter then passed to the traction motors as AC current), the main exterior difference being that, because of its AC traction motors, the AC4400CW has an inverter cabinet behind the cab on the left side instead of an air conditioning unit like on the C44-9w. there are also differences in the dynamic braking vents on the right side but other than that they are nearly identical. Basically, think of the AC4400 as a C44-9W with AC traction motors, cause that’s literally what it is. "
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Hi @Uncle-Heavy, Robin, thanks for the info. As I was curious, I looked up the difference - why use one (AC or DC) over the other? Turns out the AC units can put more power to the track for a longer period of time than DC power, making them well suited for heavy, long haul purposes. Why you might see one of each in use together? I don’t know. While I found lengthier descriptions, I’m OK taking their word for it!
So, as today was also nice, out I went and finally came across a westbound AMTRAK in a location that allowed me to get some good pictures:
These run pretty often, so it was inevitable that I’d come across one in the right place at the right time.
Cheers
Nick
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This is sometimes the best approach
Sometimes motive power needs to be returned to its home territory. You’ll see different road names in a consist many times for that reason, among others.
The Museum of the American Railroad is here in Frisco, TX next to the library. There is a Big Boy and more recent.
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The 4903 looks interesting! Do you have a closer photo of it, Paul?
Please wash me … 
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More GG1 pics here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/lf14515/albums/72157629769697744/
" Doing what it was born to do, Pennsy GG1 4903 has a long string of express mail and passenger cars as it rolls along the Northeast Corridor. PRR 4903 was built at the railroad’s famed Altoona (Pennsylvania) Shops in 1940 and would gain fame when it powered the 1968 funeral train of Robert F. Kennedy. It is today preserved at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco, Texas. Photo: Dolzall collection."
from : https://www.wearerailfans.com/c/article/the-majestic-gg1
More GG1-related stuff : http://www.spikesys.com/GG1/
H.P.
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I’m almost never in too much of a hurry to appreciate a train going by. In this case, two pullers and two pushers, with a load of Montana coal. While grain is not usually shipped in open containers, the empty cars will be loaded with corn and sent elsewhere. Since it’s not intended for consumption they don’t even need to clean the gondolas.
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@18bravo, well Rob, I was making good time this morning - until:
I thought by the time I got tot the crossing this would be passed, but, I was wrong - they were doing some switching, so back and forth they went:
As I got closer, the clouds did pass, and I was able to get a clear shot of this GP15
Cheers
Nick
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A classic.
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