It is part of the GE Dash 8 Series of freight locomotives.
A total of 151 examples of this locomotive were built for North American railroads.
The GE Dash 8-40BW (B40-8W) is a variant fitted with a full-width cab.
Another variant is the GE Dash 8-40BP, more commonly known as the Genesis series.
In July 2014, Union Pacific #1848, formerly St. Louis Southwestern #8049, was donated by the Union Pacific Railroad to the Illinois Railway Museum.