ALCO DH643
ALCO C-643DH |
---|
![](../I/m/Southern_Pacific_-9152.jpg)
Southern Pacific #9152, formerly #9020. |
Type and origin |
---|
Power type |
Diesel-hydraulic |
---|
Builder |
American Locomotive Company (ALCO) |
---|
Order number |
S-3374 |
---|
Serial number |
S-3374-01 – S-3374-03 |
---|
Model |
DH-643 |
---|
Build date |
September 1964 |
---|
Total produced |
3 |
---|
Specifications |
---|
AAR wheel arr. |
C-C |
---|
UIC classification |
C′C′ |
---|
Gauge |
4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
---|
Length |
75 ft 10 in (23.11 m) |
---|
Locomotive weight |
378,000 lb (171,000 kg) |
---|
Prime mover |
ALCO 251C, (2) |
---|
Engine type |
Four-stroke diesel |
---|
Aspiration |
Turbocharger |
---|
Displacement |
8,016 cu in (131.36 l) |
---|
Cylinders |
V12, (2) |
---|
Cylinder size |
9 by 10 1⁄2 inches (230 mm × 270 mm) |
---|
Transmission |
Voith hydraulic |
---|
Performance figures |
---|
Maximum speed |
77 mph (124 km/h) |
---|
Power output |
4,300 hp (3,200 kW) |
---|
Tractive effort |
95,000 lbf (422.58 kN) |
---|
Locomotive brake |
Straight air |
---|
Train brakes |
Air |
---|
Career |
---|
Operator(s) |
Southern Pacific Railroad |
---|
Number(s) |
9018–9020 (later 9150–9152; final 9800-9802) |
---|
Locale |
North America |
---|
Scrapped |
1973 |
---|
The ALCO C-643DH, also known as the Century 643DH, was a twin-engine diesel-hydraulic locomotive, the first diesel-hydraulic road unit built in the United States. It had a C-C wheel arrangement and generated 4,300 horsepower (3,200 kW). Only three were built, all for Southern Pacific Railroad in 1964 (#9018–#9020). The Alco C-643DHs joined 21 Krauss-Maffei ML-4000 diesel-hydraulics already on the Southern Pacific's roster. These hydraulic-drive diesels spent most of their service lives in the flat San Joaquin Valley in California.
Dissatisfaction over the poor performance of diesel-hydraulic locomotives, as well as their use of foreign-made components (the hydraulic transmission was of German Voith design), eventually led Southern Pacific to scrap the C-643DHs in 1973.
Original owners
Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
Southern Pacific Railroad | 3 | 9018–9020 | renumbered 9150–9152 |
See also
References
- "ALCO 244 and 251 Diesel Engines". Pacific Southwest Railway Museum. Archived from the original on 13 January 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2006.
- Kirkland, John F. (1989). The Diesel Builders, Volume Two: American Locomotive Company and Montreal Locomotive Works. Interurban Press, Glendale, CA. ISBN 0-916374-81-5.
- Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Kalmbach Publishing Co., Milwaukee, WI. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
- Strapac, Joseph A. (1993). Southern Pacific Historic Diesels, Volume 2: Diesel-Hydraulic Locomotives. Shade Tree Books, Bellflower, CA. ISBN 0-930742-15-X.
- Strapac, Joseph A. (2001). Southern Pacific Historic Diesels, Volume 8: Alco Roadswitcher Locomotives. Shade Tree Books, Bellflower, CA. ISBN 0-930742-23-0.
External links