The centennials were built between 1969 & 1971 by the Electro Motive Division of General Motors Corporation. The name "Centennial" honors the anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869. Number 8944 was built in 1971 as one of forty seven (47) DD40-AX "Centennials" containing two diesel engines and is the largest diesel-electric locomotives ever built. It is 98' long, weights 270 tons, and produces 6,600 H.P. with a top speed of 80 M.P.H.