FM H-12-44
| FM H-12-44 Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad #718, an FM H-12-44 yard switcher. The prominent rear roof visor, among its other external features, clearly identifies the unit as having been manufactured prior to September of 1952. | |
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
|---|---|
| Builder | Fairbanks-Morse |
| Model | H-12-44 |
| Build date | May 1950 — March 1961 |
| Total production | 334 |
| AAR wheel arr. | B-B |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
| Length | 48 ft 10 in (14.88 m) |
| Total weight | 240,000 lb (109,000 kg) |
| Prime mover | FM 38D-6 |
| Engine type | 2-stroke diesel |
| Aspiration | Roots blower |
| Displacement | 3,108 in³ (50.9 L) |
| Cylinders | 6 (Opposed piston) |
| Cylinder size | 8.125 in × 10 in (206 mm × 254 mm) |
| Transmission | DC generator, DC traction motors |
| Top speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
| Power output | 1,200 hp (895 kW) |
| Tractive effort | 40,440 lbf (180 kN) |
| Locomotive brakes | Straight air |
| Train brakes | Air |
| Locale | North America |
The FM H-12-44 was a yard switcher produced by Fairbanks-Morse from May, 1950–March, 1961. The units featured a 1,200 hp, six-cylinder opposed piston engine prime mover, and were configured in a B-B wheel arrangement mounted atop a pair of two-axle AAR Type-A switcher trucks, with all axles powered and geared for a top speed of 60 miles-per-hour.
303 were built for American railroads, 30 were manufactured from August, 1951–June, 1956 by the Canadian Locomotive Company for use in Canada, and 1 unit was exported to Mexico. Initially, H-12-44s were visually indistinguishable from their predecessor model, the FM H-10-44. However, beginning in September, 1952 the Raymond Loewy design elements were removed as a cost-saving measure: cab lines were squared-off, the slanted-nose styling was discontinued, and the roof visor was eliminated. The following year, the fairing over the battery box was removed and louvers added to reduce the possibility of battery explosions. None of the units was produced between May and October of 1956, after which time the carbodies were shortened by some three feet and outfitted with a deeper side skirt.
Sixteen intact examples of the H-12-44 are known to survive today, all of which are owned by railroad museums or historical societies.
Contents
Units produced by Fairbanks-Morse (1950–1961)
Units produced by the Canadian Locomotive Company (1951–1956)
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian National Railway | 1630–1659 |
Preservation
Several examples of the H-12-44 model have been preserved around the US and Canada.
Former U. S. Army 1857 is preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola, CA. It was used at the Sierra Army Depot at Herlong, CA, located along the former Western Pacific Railroad.
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.
See also
External links
- Fairbanks-Morse H12-44, H12-44TS & H12-46 Roster
- Preserved Fairbanks Morse Yard Power
- Southern Pacific Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 Roster
- Weyerhaeuser Timber Co. Fairbanks Morse H-12-44 Diesel Electric Locomotive WTC 1
| Diesel locomotives built by Fairbanks-Morse | |
| Cab units | Erie-built, OP800, P-12-42 |
| C-liners | CFA-16-4, CFA-20-4, CFA-24-5, CPA-16-4, CPA-16-5, CPA-20-5, CPA-24-5 |
| Switchers | H-10-44, H-12-44, H-12-44TS, H-15-44, H-16-44, H-20-44 |
| Train Masters | H-16-66, H-24-66 |
| Diesel locomotives built by the Canadian Locomotive Company | |
| Baldwin designs | DRS-4-4-10 |
| Fairbanks-Morse designs | H-12-44, H-12-46, H-16-44, H-24-66, CFA-16-4, CFB-16-4, CPA-16-4, CPB-16-4, CPA-16-5, CPB-16-5 |
