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Heavy Diesel-Electric Shunters[Inhalt]
ALCO HH series
HH600, HH660, HH900 and HH1000
United States | 1932
177 produced
Milwaukee Road HH660 No. 983, which now stands in the Illinois Railway Museum
Milwaukee Road HH660 No. 983, which now stands in the Illinois Railway Museum
collection Taylor Rush

The HH series were the first diesel shunting locomotives that ALCO mass-produced in large numbers. They were also among the first land vehicles with a diesel-electric transmission. “HH” stood for “High Hood” while the number stood for the engine power in hp. The first HH600 demonstrator was sold to New Haven after testing in 1931. In 1934, industrial designer Otto Kuhler revised the shape of the locomotive body, giving it more rounded corners.

HH600 No. 913 of the New Haven on a 1938 ALCO advertising brochure
HH600 No. 913 of the New Haven on a 1938 ALCO advertising brochure
ALCO

The first variant had a McIntosh & Seymour 531 with six cylinders. It wasn't until 1937 that the HH900 followed with a turbocharged variant of this engine. In 1938 the HH660 followed with the slightly more powerful naturally aspirated engine of the 538 series and from 1939 finally the HH1000 with the turbocharged variant of the engine of the 538 series. A total of 177 locomotives were built, of which the HH600 was the most successful with 79 units due to its long production period. The individual railway companies operated a maximum of twelve of each model.

VariantHH600HH660HH900HH1000
General
Built1932-19391938-19401937-19391939-1940
ManufacturerALCO
Axle configB-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length43 ft 5 in45 ft 2 3/4 in
Wheelbase29 ft 8 in28 ft 2 in30 ft 3 in
Rigid wheelbase8 ft
Service weight206,120 lbs230,000 lbs
Adhesive weight206,120 lbs230,000 lbs
Axle load51,530 lbs57,500 lbs
Boiler
VariantHH600HH660HH900HH1000
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed40 mph60 mph
Starting effort59,799 lbf69,016 lbf72,388 lbf
EngineMcIntosh & Seymour 531McIntosh & Seymour 538McIntosh & Seymour 531TMcIntosh & Seymour 538T
Engine type6-cyl. diesel
Fuel635 us gal (diesel)
Engine output600 hp (447 kW)660 hp (492 kW)900 hp (671 kW)1,000 hp (746 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
switcher
last changed: 03/2023
ALCO S-1 to S-6
United States | 1940
3,275 produced
Works photo of Louisville and Nashville No. 2225, an S-4
Works photo of Louisville and Nashville No. 2225, an S-4
ALCO

To replace inefficient steam switchers, ALCO introduced the S series as a successor to the HH series in 1940. The new engine in these locomotives was now marketed under the ALCO brand, while the earlier switchers had engines named after the name of ALCO's subsidiary McIntosh & Seymour. All models had two trucks with two axles each, electric power transmission and a cab at one end. In comparison with the HH series the hoods were now lower, providing a better view from the cab. A considerable number operated well into the 21st century.

The S-1 had a naturally aspirated engine delivering 660 hp. In 1950, it was replaced by the S-3 that had the same power, but new trucks. In total, 543 S-1 and 300 S-3 had been built by November 1953. As a more powerful variant, the S-2 was also introduced in 1940 with a turbocharged engine delivering 1,000 hp. As early as in 1949, this one was replaced by the S-4 with new trucks. By 1957, production had totaled 1,502 S-2 and 797 S-4.

In 1954, ALCO started their first try to introduce their new 251 engine into the switchers. So they offered the S-5 with this engine, but since it only delivered 800 hp, only seven were built. But the S-6 with a 900 hp variant of this engine that was offered starting in May 1955 was a success. By December 1960, 126 had been built. The Oliver Iron Mining Company received two cow-calf pairs designated SB-8/SSB-9. These consisted of one regular S-6 and a second one without a cab, which were permanently coupled together.

VariantS-1, S-3S-2, S-4S-5S-6
General
Built1940-19531940-195719541955-1960
ManufacturerALCO, Montreal Locomotive Works
Axle configB-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length44 ft 5 in45 ft 5 in
Wheelbase30 ft
Rigid wheelbase8 ft
Service weight210,000 lbs229,700 lbs230,000 lbs
Adhesive weight210,000 lbs229,700 lbs230,000 lbs
Axle load52,500 lbs57,425 lbs57,500 lbs
Boiler
VariantS-1, S-3S-2, S-4S-5S-6
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed60 mph
Starting effort57,500 lbf69,000 lbf57,500 lbf61,500 lbf
EngineALCO 539 6LALCO 539 TALCO 251A
Engine type6-cyl. diesel
Fuel635 us gal (diesel)
Engine output660 hp (492 kW)1,000 hp (746 kW)800 hp (597 kW)900 hp (671 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
switcher
last changed: 08/2024
View on YouTube
Baldwin DT-6-6-2000
United States | 1948
45 produced
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway No. 920 in January 1965 at Griffith, Indiana
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway No. 920 in January 1965 at Griffith, Indiana
Roger Puta

The prototype of the DT-6-6-2000 was commissioned by the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway, which ultimately used 27 of the 45 locomotives of this type. These were transfer switchers for handing over freight trains between marshalling yards. A central cab lay between two engines. Two naturally aspirated eight-cylinders were used in the prototype, which were replaced in series production by six-cylinders with turbochargers. Many locomotives were later modernized with new engines from Baldwin or EMD, each with 1,200 hp

General
Built1948-1950
ManufacturerBaldwin
Axle configC-C 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length74 ft
Wheelbase54 ft 9 in
Rigid wheelbase13 ft 2 in
Service weight375,000 lbs
Adhesive weight375,000 lbs
Axle load62,500 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Starting effort64,200 lbf
EngineBaldwin 606SC
Engine type2x 6-cyl. diese1
Engine output2,000 hp (1,491 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
switcher
freight
last changed: 04/2023
Electro-Motive Company Winton-engined switchers
United States | 1935
175 produced
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway D538 at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway D538 at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Dual Freq

In 1935 EMC manufactured a total of three prototypes of a heavy switcher, which were equipped with the Winton engine, of which the E-series had two. Two of these switchers had a 600 hp in-line 8-cylinder engine, while the third had a 900 hp V12. All had the same frame length, but with the more powerful version, the body was longer. A special feature of the hoods over the machinery was that the ceiling tapered to the driver's cab to improve visibility.

The production locomotives received an S for “six hundred” in the version with 600 hp, while the version with 900 hp received an N for “nine hundred”. There were also two different types of frames, which can be distinguished by the second letter in the type designation. The first version was cast by General Steel Castings and therefore has a C for “cast”, while the other was welded by EMC themselves and therefore has a W for “welded”.

The SC, SW, NC and NW types initially resulted from the combinations of engine and frame. Other versions of the more powerful variant were built, which differed mainly in terms of the electrics and were designated NC1, NC2, NW1 and NW1A. Two more copies were made from the NW4, which were lengthened and had an additional steam generator. These were used by the Missouri Pacific for switching passenger cars. A total of 175 series locomotives were produced up to 1939.

A single one was only given the type designation T and basically consisted of two power trains from the N series, which stood on four two-axle bogies with a driver's cab in the middle. With an output of 1,800 hp, it was intended to transfer freight trains between nearby marshalling yards and was not built in series because the long frame settled over time.

VariantSC, SWNC, NC1, NC2, NW, NW1, NW1A, Model 90NW4T
General
Built1936-19391935-193819381936
ManufacturerElectro-Motive Division
Axle configB-B B-B-B-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length44 ft 5 in67 ft 2 in
Wheelbase28 ft47 ft
Rigid wheelbase8 ft7 ft 6 in
Service weight180,000 lbs198,000 lbs208,000 lbs324,000 lbs
Adhesive weight180,000 lbs198,000 lbs208,000 lbs324,000 lbs
Axle load45,000 lbs49,500 lbs52,000 lbs40,500 lbs
Boiler
VariantSC, SWNC, NC1, NC2, NW, NW1, NW1A, Model 90NW4T
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed50 mph
Starting effort50,000 lbf60,000 lbf70,000 lbf71,500 lbf
EngineWinton 201-A
Engine type8-cyl. dieselV12 diesel2x V12 diesel
Fuel600 us gal (diesel)1,200 us gal (diesel)
Engine output600 hp (447 kW)900 hp (671 kW)1,800 hp (1,342 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
switcher
last changed: 05/2022
Electro-Motive Division SW7, SW8 and SW9
United States | 1949
1,715 produced
Texas Pacific Lines SW9 in November 1965 at Dallas, Texas
Texas Pacific Lines SW9 in November 1965 at Dallas, Texas
DeGolyer Library / Southern Methodist University

In 1949, EMD introduced the SW7 switcher as the successor of the NW2. It still had the twelve-cylinder 567A engine, but now with 1,200 instead of 1,000 hp. Like their successor, they had two exhaust stacks on the hood. 489 were built until January 1951. 15 more were built as permanently coupled cow-calf pairs where only one locomotive had a cab.

In 1950, the SW8 was introduced as a less powerful variant with an eight-cylinder that delivered 800 hp. It could be distinguished by the single exhaust stack. 309 were built by EMD in the USA and 65 for the Canadian market were built by GMD in Canada. 41 of the locomotives built in the USA were delivered to the Army for use in the Korean War and many stayed in South Korea after the war. The cow-calf variant of the SW8 was called TR6 and twelve were built.

Two months before the completion of the last SW7, the first SW9 was built. As its direct successor, it still had 1,200 hp, but the engine was now of the more modern 567B variant. When production ended in December 1953, 786 had been produced by EMD and 29 by GMD. The TR5 cow-calf variant numbered ten pairs with two additional boosters built. Soon, this generation of switchers was replaced by the SW900 and SW1200.

VariantSW7SW8SW9
General
Built1949-19511950-19541951-1953
ManufacturerElectro-Motive Division, General Motors Diesel
Axle configB-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length44 ft 5 in
Wheelbase30 ft
Rigid wheelbase8 ft
Service weight248,000 lbs230,000 lbs248,000 lbs
Adhesive weight248,000 lbs230,000 lbs248,000 lbs
Axle load62,000 lbs57,500 lbs62,000 lbs
Boiler
VariantSW7SW8SW9
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed65 mph
Starting effort62,000 lbf57,100 lbf62,000 lbf
EngineEMD 12-567AEMD 8-567BEMD 12-567B
Engine typeV12 dieselV8 dieselV12 diesel
Fuel600 us gal (diesel)
Engine output1,200 hp (895 kW)800 hp (597 kW)1,200 hp (895 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
switcher
last changed: 09/2024
View on YouTube
Electro-Motive Division SW900 and SW1200
United States | 1954
1,427 produced
New Haven SW1200 in September 1968 at Derby-Shelton, Connecticut
New Haven SW1200 in September 1968 at Derby-Shelton, Connecticut
Roger Puta
VariantSW900SW1200
General
Built1954-19651954-1966
ManufacturerElectro-Motive Division, General Motors Diesel
Axle configB-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length44 ft 5 in
Wheelbase30 ft
Rigid wheelbase8 ft
Service weight230,000 lbs245,000 lbs
Adhesive weight230,000 lbs245,000 lbs
Axle load57,500 lbs61,250 lbs
Boiler
VariantSW900SW1200
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed65 mph
Starting effort57,500 lbf74,000 lbf
EngineEMD 8-567BEMD 12-567C
Engine typeV8 dieselV12 diesel
Fuel600 us gal (diesel)
Engine output900 hp (671 kW)1,200 hp (895 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
switcher
Electro-Motive Division SW1000, SW1001, SW1500 and SW1504
United States | 1966
1,217 produced
SW1504 by HLCX (Helm Financial Corporation) in January 2008 in Dallas, Texas
SW1504 by HLCX (Helm Financial Corporation) in January 2008 in Dallas, Texas
Txrailfan
VariantSW1000, SW1001SW1500SW1504
General
Built1966-19861966-19741968-1986
ManufacturerElectro-Motive Division
Axle configB-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length44 ft 8 in
Wheelbase30 ft
Rigid wheelbase8 ft
Service weight230,000 lbs248,000 lbs
Adhesive weight230,000 lbs248,000 lbs
Axle load57,500 lbs62,000 lbs
Boiler
VariantSW1000, SW1001SW1500SW1504
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed65 mph
Starting effort57,500 lbf62,000 lbf
EngineEMD 8-645EEMD 12-645E
Engine typeV8 dieselV12 diesel
Fuel600 us gal (diesel)1,000 us gal (diesel)
Engine output1,000 hp (746 kW)1,500 hp (1,119 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
switcher
Fairbanks-Morse H-10-44, H-12-44 and H-12-44TS
United States | 1944
534 produced
Two H-10-44s with a freight train in Philadelphia in June 1950
Two H-10-44s with a freight train in Philadelphia in June 1950
collection Taylor Rush

From 1944, Fairbanks-Morse offered the H-10-44 as a yard switcher with a two-stroke, six-cylinder, opposed-piston engine. The exterior was designed by Raymond Loewy, which could be recognized by a slanted nose, sloping shapes and a protruding cab roof. After many had been later set to 1,200 hp, the H-12-44 with the same power was offered from 1950. From 1952 the exterior was simplified to save on production costs. The H-12-44TS was a road switcher with a short hood in front of the cab. This variant was only built three times for the ATSF.

VariantH-10-44H-12-44, H-12-44TS
General
Built1944-19501950-1961
ManufacturerFairbanks-Morse, Canadian Locomotive Company
Axle configB-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length48 ft 10 in
Wheelbase33 ft 6 in
Rigid wheelbase8 ft
Service weight240,000 lbs
Adhesive weight240,000 lbs
Axle load60,000 lbs
Boiler
VariantH-10-44H-12-44, H-12-44TS
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed60 mph
Starting effort40,500 lbf
EngineFairbanks-Morse 38D-8 1/8
Engine type6-cyl. opposed diesel
Engine output1,000 hp (746 kW)1,200 hp (895 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
switcher
freight
last changed: 08/2023
Indian Railways class WDS-5
India | 1967
21 produced
Eastern Railway WDS-6R No. 36217 in April 2011 at Howrah
Eastern Railway WDS-6R No. 36217 in April 2011 at Howrah
Smeet Chowdhury / Empty Poorva Express
General
Built1967
ManufacturerDLW, Central Railway Loco Workshop, Parel
Axle configC-C 
Gauge5 ft 6 in (Indian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length54 ft 2 1/2 in
Rigid wheelbase6 ft 11 in
Service weight277,782 lbs
Adhesive weight277,782 lbs
Axle load46,297 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed68 mph
Starting effort69,446 lbf
EngineALCO 251-D
Engine type6-cyl. diesel
Fuel1,321 us gal (diesel)
Engine output1,065 hp (794 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
switcher
Indian Railways class WDS-6
India | 1975
411 produced
No. 36238 with a heavy passenger train at Visakhapatnam
No. 36238 with a heavy passenger train at Visakhapatnam
Adityamadhav83

In the 1970s, a heavy shunting locomotive was needed to assemble heavy passenger trains, since the existing WDS-4 were no longer up to the job. The new locomotive was given the designation WDS-6, which stood for “Wide Gauge, Diesel, Shunting, 6th Generation”. It had the same powerpack as the meter-gauge YDM-4, i.e. the six-cylinder ALCO 251-D with an output of 1,400 hp. Production started in 1975 at the Banaras Locomotive Works in Varanasi. Later, also in Parel, locomotives were assembled from components that had been manufactured in the BLW. Of the 411 WDS-6s built, many were later sold to industry or public sector undertakings.

General
Builtfrom 1975
ManufacturerBanaras, Parel
Axle configC-C 
Gauge5 ft 6 in (Indian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length52 ft 9 3/8 in
Wheelbase42 ft 1 1/4 in
Service weight249,122 lbs
Adhesive weight249,122 lbs
Axle load41,667 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed44 mph
Starting effort74,861 lbf
EngineALCO 251-D
Engine type6-cyl. diesel
Fuel793 us gal (diesel)
Engine output1,400 hp (1,044 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
switcher
last changed: 08/2023
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