ALCO DH643

ALCO C-643DH

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
Configuration:
  AAR C-C
  UIC C′C′
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
Length 75 ft 10 in (23.11 m)
Loco weight 378,000 lb (171,000 kg)
Prime mover ALCO 251C, (x 2)
Engine type V12 Four-stroke diesel, (x 2)
Aspiration Turbocharger
Displacement 8,016 cu in (131.36 L)
Cylinders 12 (x 2)
Cylinder size 9 by 10 12 inches (229 mm × 267 mm)
Transmission Voith hydraulic
Loco brake Straight air
Train brakes Air
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)
Career
Operators Southern Pacific Railroad
Numbers 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

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