LIRR Motive Power ReviewNova55This is something I feel is warranted finally. After speaking with Dick Glueck he asked the difference between the DE and DM30AC locomotives and got me wondering why nobody compiled this together yet. Many of the LIRR oriented sites have all the roster information and details, but so far nothing to my knowledge combines this info along with how to tell each model and phase and model apart. Following is a chart with info and notes on all of LIRR’s Diesel equipment. Anyone has anything to add/correct please shoot me a PM so as to keep this all correct and not run the thread amuck with notes.
Many thanks go to Chris Soundy and Kyle Mullins for helping with specific roster notes and details. Roster information from: Alcos Century Series by Withers Publishing,
www.TheDieselShop.us, The unofficial EMD homepage, LIRR clearance chart books, The Bridge Line Historical Society, Steve Lynch/Dave Kellers
www.trainsarefun.com Phil Goldsteins Build Records and anyone else who helped with this.
Baldwin’s were not big on LIRR, but they did have some…Spotting details would be appreciated (phases, notes, etc). VO-660- All OriginalLI 403, Built 10-1945, Serial # 71578
-Classed as BS-6
(B= Baldwin, S= Switcher, 6=660HP)
DS4-4-660- All OriginalLI 409-412, Built 5-1948, Serial # 73628-73631
-Classed as BS-6A
(B=Baldwin, S= Switcher, 6=660HP, A=?)
DS4-4-1000- All OriginalLI 450, Built 4-1948, Serial # 73612
-Classed as BS-10AC
(B= Baldwin, S= Switcher, 10= 1000, A=? C= Speed Control)
General Electric engines were not big either..44 Ton- OriginalLI 400, Built 12-1950, Serial # 30854
-Classed as GS-4
(G= General electric, S=Switcher, 4-400HP)
Nothing special to note here other then the headlight number board/visor.
25 Ton- All Original accept 397LI 397, Built 3-1956, Serial # 32628, Built for National Lead Co. of NJ, Then to LILCo, LIRR in 1987.
LI 398, Built 5-1958, Serial # 33030
LI 399, Built 8-1958, Serial # 33375
-Classed as GS-1.
(GS= GE Switcher, 1=150HP)
-LI 397 has a single chime Leslie #25 horn on the cab roof and ball mounted on top of the hood. 398 & 399 have air whistles mounted on the cab and bells on the chassis.
-399 was modified to have Automatic Air Brakes (brake stand from an M1). 397 also has automatic air but it is unknown if it was LIRR who added it. .
-All modified to have steps on the engineer side to access the engine doors.
The Fairbanks-Morse engines also had a home on LI. I do not know much about these so phase notes are appreciated...H15-44- FM Demonstrator # 1503LI 1503, Built 2-1949, Serial # 15L14
-Classed as FGP-15SC
(F= Fairbanks Morse, GP= General Purpose, 15=1500HP, S= Steam Generator, S= Speed Control)
-Rebuilt by LIRR to 1600HP and classed with the rest of the H16-44s.
H16-44- All Original (accept 1503)LI 1501, 1503, Built 10-1951, Serial # 16L373, 16L407
LI 1504-1509, Built 10-1951, Serial # 16L408-16L413
-1500-1503 classed as FGP-16SC
-1504-1509 classed as FGP-16MSC
(F= Fairbanks Morse, GP= General Purpose, 16=1600HP, M= MU, S= Steam Generator, S= Speed Control)
-All have 3 chime Nathan-Air chime M3R1 mounted on hood directly in front of engineer window.
-Originally had body mounted handrails, later modified with walkway mounted ones.
CPA-20-5- All OriginalLI 2001-2008, Built 6/8-1960, Serial # 21L331-21L338
-Classed as FP-20SC
(F=Fairbanks Morse, P= Passenger, 20=2000HP, S= Steam Generator, C= Speed Control).
All had 5 axles. 3 chime Nathan-Air chime M3R1 mounted on top of cab.
CPA-24-5- All OriginalLI 2401-2404, Built 10-1951, Serial # 24L497-24L500
-Classed as FP-24SC
(F=Fairbanks Morse, P= Passenger, 24=2400HP, S= Steam Generator, C= Speed Control)
All had 5 axles. 3 chime Nathan-Air chime M3R1 mounted on top of cab.
LIRR’s main diesel power for years comprised of engines from the American Locomotive Company (later Alco Products Inc.). This includes Road Switchers, General Switchers and Century’s. S1- All originalLI 404-406, Built 6-1946, Serial # 74434-74436
LI 407, Built 6-1946, Serial # 73906
LI 408, Built 7-1946, Serial # 73911
LI 413-420, Built 6/7-1949, Serial # 76738-76745
LI 421, Built 7-1949, Serial # 76327
They were classed by the RR as follows:
-AS-6:406,407,413,414,418-421
-AS6-M: 408,417
-AS6-MC: 415,416 (Speed Control Equipped)
(A= Alco, S= Switcher, 6= 660HP, M= MU able, C= Speed Control)
-Alco S1s feature narrow front radiators as well as Alco Blunt trucks.
-All were powered by 660HP McIntosh & Seymour 6-539 diesel engines.
S2- First 7 ex D&H, rest originalLI 439, ex D&H 3025, Built 12-1948, Serial # 76514
LI 440, ex D&H 3020, Built 11-1948, Serial # 76199
LI 441, ex D&H 3027, Built 12-1948, Serial # 76516
LI 442, ex D&H 3030, Built 11-1949, Serial # 77820
LI 443, ex D&H 3013, Built 12-1947, Serial # 75551
LI 444, ex D&H 3001, Built 9-1944, Serial # 72749
LI 445, ex D&H 3003, Built 5-1945, Serial # 73359
LI 446-449, Built 12-1949, Serial #77831-77834
LI 451, Built 12-1948, Serial # 76519
LI 452-460, Built 12-1948, Serial # 76572-76580
They were classed by the railroad as:
-AS-10M: 439-442
-AS-10: 443-447
-AS-10C: 449-460
(A= Alco, S= Switcher, 10= 1000HP, M= MU able, C= Speed Control)
LIRR received there S2s from Alco in different lots. Note there is no 450, which was taken up by a Baldwin. The units from D&H were purchased in 1963-64. Note that 450 was the first followed by 451-460. When the D&H units arrived they numbered down from 451.
-The S2s feature a wide front radiator section as well as AAR type trucks.
-The exhaust stack is square, unlike the round one of the S1.
-All were powered by 1000HP McIntosh & Seymour 6-539 prime movers.
RS1- All originalLI 461-462, Built 12-1948, ?-1948 Serial # 76220, 76622
LI 463-465, Built 2/3-1949, Serial # 76626-76628
LI 466-469, Built 4-1950, Serial # 77475-77478
(No idea why it skips 76221, and I cant find an Alco 76221, anyone care to explain this?)
They were classed as:
-LI 461-464: AGP-10SC
-LI 465-469: AGP-10MSC
(A= Alco, GP= General Purpose, 10= 1000HP, S= Steam Generator, M= MU able, C= Speed Control)
RS1s to put it bluntly look like an S2 with a short hood on a longer frame.
-The fuel tank is located under the cab thus the filler and sight glass are on the side
-Battery boxes were under the side sill between the trucks.
-All have General Steel Casting -B trucks (aka “Alco Trucks”).
-They came with the original single chime horn mounted in front of the cab but were soon equipped with 3 chime Nathan-Air chime M3R1 horns mounted in front of the fireman’s side.
-466-469 were equipped with MU capability.
-Steam Generators.
All were powered by 1000HP McIntosh & Seymour 6-539 prime movers.
-They had a riveted body with a square fan shroud.
RS2- All ex D&HLI 1519, ex D&H 4019, Built 11-1949, Serial # 77570
LI 1520, ex D&H 4020, Built 11-1949, Serial # 77571
-Classed as AGP-15MSC
(A= Alco, GP= General Purpose, 15= 1500HP, S= Steam Generator, M= MU able, C= Speed Control)
The RS2s feature a welded carbody, with like the RS1 the fuel tank under the cab.
-The RS2s have a round radiator shroud.
-Horn was a 3 chime Nathan-Air chime M3R1 mounted in the center front of the cab. –
-Both had Automatic Speed Control and Steam Generators.
-LIRR added screen covers to the radiator sides.
-Both arrived in 1962.
-They had a 1500HP Alco 12-244.
-A third RS2 was purchased but returned to the D&H after a serious electrical fire.
Alco RS3- All originalLI 1551-1556, Built 8/9-1955, Serial # 81351-81360 (finally some consecutive ones!)
-Classed as AGP-16MSC
(A= Alco, GP= General Purpose, 16= 1600HP, S= Steam Generator, M= MU able, C= Speed Control)
RS3s also have a welded carbody with the fuel tank now under the chassis between the trucks.
-All have General Steel Casting B trucks (aka “Alco Trucks”).
-Powered by a 1600HP Alco 12-244 prime mover.
-Horn was a 3 chime Nathan-Air chime M3R1 mounted in the center front of the cab.
These were the locomotives that replaced the last of the steam era on the LIRR.
Alco C420- 1st Group (Phase I models)LI 200-207, Built 12-1963 to 2-1964, Serial # 84722-84729
LI 208-220, Built 2-1964 to 6-1964, Serial # 84779-84791
LI 221, Built 7-1964, Serial # 3384-01 (Wow! A single unit order!)
-Classed as AGP-20MSC (later re-classed as L-1),
(A= Alco, GP= General Purpose, 2000= 2000HP, S= Steam Generator, M= MU able, C= Speed Control). ( L stood for Locomotive, 2=2000HP )
These locomotives arrived to coincide with the opening of the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, at Flushing Meadow, Queens. The “swoop” paint scheme indicated a nod towards the modernity of space age. As these locomotives arrived, the ageing Fairbanks Morse fleet was retired and traded in to ALCO for components value.
Here is where the fun begins:
-200-203 were delivered with 900 gallon water tanks and 1100 gallon fuel tanks (flat side). They were rebuilt after delivery with 1900 gallon water tanks and 1000 gallon fuel tanks, rest of the order (204-207, and all C420s following) were delivered with this type of tank (round side).
-200-221 were delivered from Alco with out smoke deflectors on the sides, but were modified by LIRR to include them.
-200-209 had footboard pilots, 210-221 had plows.
All had: gearing for 80MPH (64:19 gearing), Vapor 21-OK4653 steam generators and have General Steel Casting B trucks (aka “Alco Trucks”).
-Intakes modified with an external air filter later on.
-Horn was s 3 chime Nathan-Air chime M3R1 mounted on engineer side on a steel flat stock bracket.
-All had standard Alco class lights on hood ends.
Alco C420- 2nd Group (Phase II models)LI 222-229, Built 8-1968, Serial # 6006-01 to 6006-08
Classed as L-2 ( L stood for Locomotive, 2=2000HP)
-All delivered with 1900 gallon water tanks and 1000 gallon fuel tanks.
-All had Hi-Adhesion trucks.
-Automatic Speed Control mounted in a box on the fireman side short hood walkway.
- Intakes modified with an external air filter later on.
-Horn was s 3 chime Nathan-Air chime M3R1 mounted on engineer side on a steel flat stock bracket.
-Delivered with standard Alco class lights on the hood ends, but were modified by the LIRR to have a pair of red marker lights on the long hood end.
-They were geared for 84MPH (79:24)
Alco FA Power Cars- None OriginalLI 600, Built 10-1951, Serial # 79301, ex PC 1302 *
LI 601, Built 6-1956, Serial # 81964, ex L&N 317 *
LI 602, Built 5-1956, Serial # 80903, ex L&N 309 *
LI 603, Built 6-1956, Serial # 81087, ex L&N 315 *
LI 604, Built 6-1956, Serial # 81086, ex L&N 314 *
LI 605, Built 5-1956, Serial # 80904, ex L&N 310
LI 606, Built 6-1956, Serial #81968, ex L&N 321
LI 607, Built 1-1951, Serial # 78606, ex WM 303
LI 608, Built 1-1951, Serial # 78607, ex WM 304
LI 609, Built 1-1951, Serial # 78494, ex WM 301
LI 610, Built 1-1951, Serial # 78495, ex WM 302 *
LI 611, Built 2-1949, Serial # 76672, ex BN 4102
LI 612, Built 2-1949, Serial # 766711, ex BN 4100
LI 613, Built 12-1950, Serial # 78286, ex BN 4120
LI 614, Built 2-1949, Serial # 76673, ex BN 4104
LI 615, Built 4-1949, Serial # 76938, ex BN 4116
LI 616, Built 2-1979, Serial # 76675, ex BN 4108
LI 617, Built 10-1947, Serial # 75425, ex PC 1333
LI 618, Built 5-1947, Serial # 75276, ex PC 1330 *
These engines were rebuilt by General Electric in North Bergen NJ. They were rebuilt to provide constant 650V hotel power and cab controls only, thus they had no traction motors.
-They came with the typical LIRR Nathan Air chime M3R1 but some were changed over time.
-In 1989 some units had Cummins generator sets installed in place of the Alco 244 prime movers. At this time the side grills were plated over. Units with a * kept there 244 until retirement.
-608 had its cab cut off and were converted into a HEP sled numbered 3100.
-Over time small modifications were made such as addition of marker lights on the nose, different MU boxes and filling in of the Alco headlight.
They were classed as follows:
-PC-6: 600-618 (PC= Power Car, 6=?)
The EMD’s started to arrive on the property in 1976 to replace the L1s as well as switchers to replace the aging fleet of Alco power. SW1001- All OriginalLI 100-107, Built 3-1977, Serial # 766042-01 to 766042-08
-All classed as E1 accept:101, 102, 104 & 105 which were classed as E10Ms and had the ability to MU with electric trains as protect power.
-The SW1001s were delivered with single chime Leslie #25 horns mounted in front of the cab. This has since been changed on some units.
-Trucks were AAR B switcher trucks.
- EMD added marker lights to hood and cab ends.
-Most, if not all have holders for a compromise coupler.
-These were delivered with no MU capabilities (since modified on some).
-102 & 104 modified for use as “Harold Protects” with M1 control stands and pin couplers on the cab end only.
-4 hole SP style jack pads.
-Some have rear lower left window plated over.
MP15AC- All OriginalLI 150-172, Built 3-1977 (172 4-1977), Serial # 766043-01-766043-23
Classed as E15.
(E= EMD, 15=1500HP)
-The MP15ACs were delivered with Nathan P5 horns, since changed to K5LA’s.
-Trucks are Bloomberg M’s.
-EMD added marker lights on each end.
-These were delivered with MU control.
-Speed control located on walkway in front of the cab on engineer side.
-Rock pilot plows on front, weed cutters on rear.
-161-172 modified to provide hotel power.
-The intake screens were modified by the LIRR.
-Some have rear lower left window plated over.
-4 hole SP style jack pads.
GP38-2’s- 1st Order: (Phase 1b)LI 250-271, Built 1 & 2-1976, Serial # 756091-01 to 756091-22
Classed as E20.
(E=EMD, 20=2000HP)
-All have 81’ nose.
-Marker lights recessed in square opening.
-250-256? Delivered with square air filter box but were modified by LIRR to be angled. Rests were delivered by EMD with angled filter box.
-Chicken wire radiator grills.
-3200 gallon fuel tanks.
-Trucks are Bloomberg M’s.
-Rock pilot plows on front, weed cutters on rear.
-Switching step-step wells.
-4 hole SP style Jack pads.
-Delivered with Leslie RS-3L horns, swapped over the years to different types.
-266 and 259 were modified with Pin couplers to operate with the C1’s. They also had modified electric gear.
GP38-2’s- Second Order (Phase 2a)LI 272-277, Built 3-1977, Serial # 766041-1 to 766041-6
Classed as E20.
(E=EMD, 20=2000HP)
-All have 88’ nose.
-Marker lights mounted on “bug eye” brackets.
-Delivered with angled air filter box.
-Corrugated radiator grills.
-3200 gallon fuel tanks.
-Trucks are Bloomberg M’s.
-Rock pilot plows on front, weed cutters on rear.
-Standard step wells.
-Delivered with Leslie RS-3L horns, swapped over the years to different types.
F7A& F9A Power Cars- None OriginalLI 619, Built 10-1954, Serial # 18756, ex MILW 126A:2 (F9)
LI 620, Built 12-1950, Serial # 10349, ex MILW 85A:2 (F9)
LI 621, Built 8-1952, Serial # 16651, ex B&O 4599 (F7)
LI 622, Built 11-1950, Serial # 12626, ex B&O 4524 (F7)
Classed as PC-7
(PC=Power Car, 7=?)
All them had Detroit 12-71 Gensets but were replaced with Cummins to provide the 650V DC power. Like the FA’s, none had traction motors. Morris Park did all the conversion work.
A 5th F7 was purchased, B&O 4535. It was to become LIRR 623 but it never materialized and was parted out and scrapped.
-All had Nathan Air chime M3R1s originally; some were later changed to Nathan K5LA’s.
-619 had a horizontal front headlight, the rest were vertical. All side grills were plated over.
- The noses received red marker lights as well as the nose doors welded shut.
FL9AC’s- None OriginalLI 300, Built 7-1957, Serial # 21949, ex NH 2003, PC/CR 5003, MN 2001
LI 301, Built 1-1957, Serial # 21946, ex NH 2000, PC/CR 5000, MN 2025
LI 302, Built ?-1960, Serial # 21993, ex NH 2047, PC/CR 5047
Classification unknown.
The FL9s were rebuilt in 1991 by Republic Locomotive Works into FL9ACs to run on LIRR over riding 3rd rail and Diesel power. They were specially equipped the run with the C1 passenger cars.
DE30AC- All OriginalLI400-422, Built 1998, Serial # 936423-1 to 936423-23
-Classification unknown.
-Powered by a 3000HP 12-710.
-Originally had horns on roof but were moved to above cab.
DM30AC- All OriginalLI 500-522, Built 1999, Serial # 956623-1 to 956623-23
-Classification unknown.
-Powered by a 3000HP EMD 12-710.
-Originally had horns on roof but were moved to above cab.
-3rd rail pick-up shoes mounted on trucks.
As noted on top, anybody wishing to add to it, correct, provide more, etc please send me a PM and it will be worked in.
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