1950's era diesel locomotives

[Anonymous]

I am currently planning a layout that will be set in the 50's and I have no idea what locomotives operated in that period. I would apreciate names and information of 1950's diesel engines, and perhaps some leads on where to purchase them.

 I don't have a road preference, as I am planning on creating my own railroad company to model.

Thanks everyone for all the information you've given me.

[ShadowNix]

The list is OH so long... I guess it would help if you named what roads you are interested in.  Then you can find the roster online (usually).  For example, for union pacific has the following sites:

http://utahrails.net/all-time/classic-index.php

Good luck...

 

Brian

[R. T. POTEET]

I am currently planning a layout that will be set in the 50's and I have no idea what locomotives operated in that period. I would apreciate names and information of 1950's diesel engines, and perhaps some leads on where to purchase them.

You need some sort of a spotter's guide preferably Diesel Locomotives: the first fifty years published by Kalmbach sometime in the nineties.  Unfortunely this appears to be out-of-print at this time but you might try ebay or Amazon. My copy of this, as well as other spotter's guides published by Kalmbach, are currently tucked away in a box; I hope to get to it sometime in the next couple of weeks but that is not helping you now.

The locomotive companies manufacturing locomotives at the beginning of this period were:

EMD - ElectroMotive Division of General Motors

ALCO - American Locomotive Company

Baldwin Locomotive Company

Fairbanks-Morse Locomotive Company

General Electric was on the verge of entering the domestic locomotive market by 1959 and MAY have had their demonstrator U25B on he road by the beginning of 1960.

You might try GOOGLE or [i]Yahoo for these companies and see what you come up with.

[Pathfinder]

Where to start?

The railway you are modeling would help.

Canadian Pacific used the following (from memory so excuse any errors or omissions )

EMD:
GP7
GP9
SW8
SW9
SW900
SW1200
FP7
FP9
F7B
E8A

Montreal Locomotive Works/ALCO:
RS2
RS3
RS23
S2
S3
S4
S10
S11
RS10
RS18 (RS11 in the US)
RSD17 (RSD15 in the US)
FA1
FA2
FB1
FB2

FM/CLC:
C Liners A and B units
H1644
H2466 Trainmaster
DTC 44 tonner

Baldwin:
DS441000
DRS441000

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Try this link. It lists every diesel locomotive type built from 1918 to 1989

http://www.urbaneagle.com/data/RRdieselchrono.html

 

[lvanhen]

The list is OH so long... I guess it would help if you named what roads you are interested in.  Then you can find the roster online (usually).  For example, for union pacific has the following sites:

http://utahrails.net/all-time/classic-index.php

Good luck...

 

Brian

Shadownix, Thanks!!!  I'm not exactly a newbie (modeling UP since the '60's), but that list is invalueable.  Pasted it in my favorites immediately!!  Thanks again!

[BRAKIE]

Check this site as well.

http://www.urbaneagle.com/data/RRdieselchrono.html

 

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Brakie: Looks like we think alike on this. That link is one of my favorite resources.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Suggest you go to the following web page:

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/

Then scroll down to list of railroads.  Select one you are interested in seeing and click on it.  Then click on photo titels to selct a picture for viewing.

[AntonioFP45]

Jeff, Brakie.

Excellent link! First time I've ever seen itl

 Thanks!

[Don Gibson]

Not as complicated as it would seem.

1. Not all RR's preferred the same engines. Check into preferrences - yours, and theirs.

2. 1950 were mostly post war (1948 +) EMD E-6. F3, F7. and GP7. ALCO PA-PB, and RS- 1,3,were favored by some roads. Earlier Diesels were switchers such as  BALDWIN VOs and EMD SW-'s. The war years poduced a pile of orders from engine starved roads.

Life of a Diesel was about 15 - 20 years when they were scrapped, traded in, or rebuilt.     STEAM engines were mostly gone by 1955. Bigger Road Switchers took their place. The 1941 designed FT showed the way in AB, and eventually ABBA lash-ups.

If I Wanted to start with a small roster: SW-7, RS-3, GP-7, and E-6 passenger engines. if you are modeling ATSF, An FT set would be manditory. They were replaced by F-7s.

Santa Fe started with E-6 and F-3 in passenger war bonnets, and GP7 freight Zebra & Blue/Yellow up to the 70's. (Pinstripe lasted untill the 70's) . Were there others? Sure, but not in big numbers.

Eastern roads proportionally had more ALCO's than Western roads. (Parts availabity?) EMD was located in a south-western Chicago suburb.