From which manufacturer did the PRR purchase the highest number of different classes of diesels (not total numbers but different types of diesels)?
Alphabetically:
Alco
Baldwin
EMD
Fairbanks Morse
GE
ALCO
I’ll agree with Randy.
S1s, S2s, S3s, S4s, T6s. RS1s, 2s, and 3s. RSD12s & 15s. Any RSCs? RS11s, RS27s and their ilk. FAs (1s and 2s?), PAs (and both Bs). C424s, C628s, C636s. What else?
I’d guess that Baldwin was a distant 2nd. Not too many FM models on PRR an although they bought quite a few GEs, there weren’t many models produced from 1960 to 1967.
EMD is probably close (you can almost match model for model), but I’m pretty sure Alco wins, by a ¶ nose.
Based on photos I’ve seen, I would say Alco. So many of the PRR photos have unfamiliar ( to me, at least ) model designations, like “DL 305”, for example. Did PRR have their own system of model designations, kind of like Amtrack has?
DL305 is actually the Alco specification number for the PB series. PRR, along with a lot of other roads, had their own distinct class system for diesels. Most are loosely based on builder, service and horsepower.
It was Alco and that was a surprise to me when I figured this out since they basically blew off eveyrthing Alco tested on the PRR in the way of steam.
I think because they were so big and in such a world of hurt for money to invest, that they just purchased from whoever was giving them the best deal at the moment. They just about bought at least one of everything every builder offered.
Lima twin engined center cab transfer units? Really!
Baldwin Lima Hamilton 2400 hp transfer engines, and 4 varieties to boot. PRR was in such a hurry to get rid of steam they exceeded the output of any one or 2 builders so…
Randy