I know that modern locos produce power more efficiently. Plua they can get it onto the track…
What I don’t understand is that some of the early diesel switchers, the Baldwins, Alcos and Fairbanks-Morse etc seem to be pretty enormous. Their hoods are full height to the cab. Then you get the Alcos starting with the S1s, S2s and all the way up to S12s and the EMDs with a whole range of SWs. They look a lot smaller.
Would someone explain not just the change in power units they put into them but the whole size thing please?
Thanks
[8D]
(PS Were Lima Hamiltons also diesels or am I thinking of a variety of Baldwin based on where they were made? [%-)] Thanks )
Fairbanks-Morse used opposed piston blocks for their diesels, which were mounted vertically in their locomotives. This made for a tall, narrow block. FM diesels were the primary power for WW2 subs, and were known for smooth running.
The whole process is one of evolution. Initially a.product hits the market like the model T Ford and then gets refined. Location of components within the hood allow for changes in the hood itself. Cramming more HP and other equipment dictates doors and access. The initial hoods were basically just covers because you needed one.
Purely cosmetic, Except for the FM which used a taller OP engine, the diesel engines in switchers and road units are the same except for length and possibly a turbo charger. There may be some concern about better visibility over the shorter switcher hood, but it still doesn’t help see anybody on the off side on the ground. Since switchers don’t have dynamic brakes and steam heat boilers, the hoods didn’t need to be as high to accomodate those systems, so they weren’t built that high. Its not really a matter of why the switchers are shorter as it is why the roadswitchers are taller.
Lima whas a steam engine maker, that started making diesels, then merged with engine maker Hamilton to form Lima-Hamilton who then merged with Baldwin to form Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton who shortly there after went out of the locomotive making business.
Lima made steam engines and diesels.
Baldwin made steam engines and diesels.
Lima-Hamilton made diesels.
Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton made diesels.
Depending on what year you are asking about any combination of those names could be correct.
[tup][tup][tup] Thankyou all [:D] My darkness has been lightened. [:)] I might have known that I would ask the question backwards [*-)], So one reason high short hoods could become low short hoods was that they didn’t need to hold steam heat boilers? But on the SD35Ps I think that they added something at the other end of the long hood? Was that heat or HEP?
I thought this was about switchers and not road switchers. Either way. Developments in design evolved more power out of fewer cylinders. In the forties it would take a twenty cylinder engine to put out the same power as a sixteen just a decade later. Another development was frame design. Power plants sit much lower in the frames as they did back then. Also the engineers that ran the early diesels came over from steam and were used to not seeing the other side. Even though switchers had no short hood they were still run long hood forward, hence needing a fireman in the other seat. Going low short hood or no hood forward eliminated the need for a fireman in the other seat and it was not long before that job was eliminated completely.