Baldwin DR-6
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A Baldwin Diesel print advertisement from the January 14, 1946 issue of Time. |
Baldwin Locomotive Works produced several different
Baldwin DR-6 models of 6-axle
passenger train-hauling
diesel locomotives between
1945 and
1948. The series comprised eight individual versions, all of which sold only in small numbers; across all versions, only 39 locomotives were produced. Each version was produced only for a single railroad. Many shared the same Baldwin model number,
DR-6-4-20, even though they were rather different; this was because the Baldwin model only encoded the total axles (6), the driven axles (4) and the power output (2,000 hp). The single exception was the single unit produced for the
Chicago and North Western Railway, which had a single 1,000 hp engine and was model number
DR-6-2-10. In the
AAR wheel arrangement scheme of classification, these locomotives were of
A1A-A1A and
A1A-3 arrangements, respectively.
The first produced version comprised a pair of DR-6-4-20 demonstrators built in 1945. This, unlike later models, used Baldwin's VO engine model. These locomotives had a unique cab that featured the same upright, aggressive prow as the Baldwin "
Centipede" demonstrator but with a shorter nose. They emerged as Baldwin #2000 and #2001. After demonstrating on a number of railroads, they were sold to
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico (NdeM) and assigned road #6000 and #6001.
Three different railroads ordered the DR-6-4-20 model with the 608NA 8-cylinder
naturally aspirated engine, but in visually different forms.
CNJ locomotives
The
Central of New Jersey ordered six DR-6-4-20 locomotives, #2000–#2005, which were unusual for North American diesel locomotives in that they had driving cabs at both ends. They were thus nicknamed "
Janus" locomotives, after the two-faced
Roman god of the same name. The cab style was nicknamed "Babyface" and was used by several other Baldwin models. The original paint scheme was a deep, rich blue on the lower part of the locomotive and a golden yellow on the upper, and was very striking.
GM&O locomotives
The
Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad ordered two locomotives, road #280 and #281. These were delivered in a single-ended "babyface" carbody.
NdeM locomotive
The Nacionales de Mexico ordered one additional DR-6-4-20 unit after purchasing the two demonstrators. This was assigned road #6002 and had nearly identical styling to the demonstrators, but used two 608NA engines instead of their VO power plants.
These were produced exclusively for the
Pennsylvania Railroad and were delivered in 1948 in the "sharknose" body style designed by
Raymond Loewy. Eighteen
A units and nine
B units were produced, producing nine three-unit locomotive sets of 6,000 horsepower. The PRR classified them as
BP-20 (Baldwin Passenger, 2,000 horsepower). They were originally used on top-flight
express trains such as the
Broadway Limited, but problems soon relegated them to lesser service. They ended their days on commuter trains along the New York and Long Branch in
New Jersey.
A single DR-6-2-10 locomotive of
A1A-3 wheel arrangement was produced for the Chicago and Northwestern Railway. This contained only a single 606SC engine of 1,000 horsepower; the rear engine compartment was replaced by a baggage compartment as it hauled mostly local trains. Other locomotive units like this included the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad's EMD AB6 in their original form.
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