FM H-20-44
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 An FM H-20-44 road switcher, retired Union Pacific #1366. |
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| Power type | Diesel-electric |
|---|---|
| Model | H-20-44 |
| Build date | June 1947 — March 1954 |
| Total production | 299 |
| AAR wheel arr. | B-B |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
| Length | 51 ft 0 in (15.55 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 254,000 lb (115,000 kg) |
| Prime mover | FM 38D-10 |
| Engine type | 2-stroke diesel |
| Aspiration | Roots blower |
| Displacement | 5,180 in³ (84.9 L) |
| Cylinders | 10 (Opposed piston) |
| Cylinder size | 8.125 in × 10 in (206 mm × 254 mm) |
| Transmission | DC generator, DC traction motors |
| Top speed | 70 mph (113 km/h) |
| Power output | 2,000 hp (1,492 kW) |
| Tractive effort | 42,125 lbf (187 kN) |
| Locomotive brakes | Straight air |
| Train brakes | Air |
| Locale | North America |
The FM H-20-44 was an multiple unit-capable end cab road switcher manufactured by Fairbanks-Morse from June, 1947–March, 1954, and represented the company's first foray into the road switcher market. The 2,000 hp, ten-cylinder opposed piston engine locomotive was referred to by F-M's engineering department as the "Heavy Duty" unit. It was configured in a B-B wheel arrangement mounted atop a pair of two-axle AAR Type-B road trucks with all axles powered. H-20-44s shared the same platform and much of the same carbody as the lighter-duty FM H-15-44, which began its production run three months later.
In the same manner as other F-M switcher models, the H-20-44 started out displaying a variety of Raymond Loewy-inspired contours, only to have the majority of these superfluous trim features stripped from the last few units built as a cost-cutting measure. Only 97 units were built for American railroads, as few firms saw sufficient value in moving freight in greater quantities or at a higher speeds than was possible with the typical 1,500- and 1,600-horsepower four-axle road switchers of the era. Three intact examples of the H-20-44 are known to survive today; all are the property of railroad museums.
Contents |
[edit] Units produced
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad |
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500–505 |
| Fairbanks-Morse (demonstrator units) |
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2000 (Builder's #L1031), 2000 (Builder's #L1032); (Builder's #L1032 sold to the UP and assigned #DS1366) |
| New York Central Railroad |
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7100–7118 |
| Pennsylvania Railroad |
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8917–8942, 9300–9311 |
| Pittsburgh and West Virginia |
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50–71 |
| Union Pacific |
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DS1360–DS1365, DS1367–DS1370 |
[edit] References
- Fairbanks-Morse 38D8 Diesel Engine. PSRM Diesel Locomotives. Retrieved on January 1, 2006.
- Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee, WI: Kalmbach Publishing Co.. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
[edit] Further reading
- Sweetland, David R. (1999). Erie-builts and H20-44s: Fairbanks-Morse’s 2,000-Horsepower Pioneers. Withers Publishing, Halifax, PA. ISBN 1-881411-22-2.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Fairbanks-Morse H20-44 Roster
- Preserved Fairbanks Morse Four-Axle Road Switchers
- Union Pacific #1366 — photo and short history of the second unit built, one of the three surviving FM H-20-44s.
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