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Early Export Cab Units: 1953



In 1953, all three major locomotive builders of the time -- Alco, BLH and EMD -- introduced new export locomotive models for railroads in foreign lands. It was either an uncanny timing coincidence, or the builders were all reading the same tea leaves. It was not surprising however that design of the new locomotive models were influenced directly by the constraints of a region's natural barriers, uncertain infra-structure and limited resources.

Looking somewhat akin to builders' popular domestic models, the exports required re-arrangement of dynamic brake, cooling and exhaust systems to achieve a low-silhouette carbody, the under- carriage was narrowed to minimize width, and light-weight trucks employed to reduce axle loading. Alco and BLH both had one of their export cab-units displayed at the June 1953 AAR Conference in Atlantic City.

This photographic profile will look at some of the commonalities between the three builder models, as well as significant differences.

(Photo above:) DL500 Demonstrator #1953E was built by the Montreal Locomotive Works plant in Montreal just in time for the AAR convention in June. This photo shows the export loco ready for shipment to Spain where it will become RENFE #1615. (Image courtesy of Alco Historic Photos)


Alco - The formal introduction of Alco's new DL500 "World Locomotive" occurred in mid-june 1953. Built by subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works, the DL500 was un-mistakenly an Alco design given its low silhouette FA appearance (sans the headlight grille), tri-mount type trucks, and tell-tale ca-thunk, ca-thunk engine sound. Five-foot longer than the full-size FA, early production units were powered by the same 1600-hp 244D engine; the later DL500Cs employed an 1800-hp 251B engine and had a second control station at the opposite end. Total Alco/MLW production of the World Locomotive model from 1953 to 1962 exceded 230 units. A-E Goodwin (Alco licensee) built an additional xxx DL500Cs.

Alco delivered 12 six-axle FA-2s (FCA-3s according to one Alco document) to the Pakistan Railway during August of 1951. Powered by an Alco V12-244 prime mover, the elongated carbody units were the vanguard of the Schenectady builder's DL500 export program. (J.W. Swanberg photo)

Side-lined during the 1990s, Indian Railways #17000 was one of 100 DL500s acquired by the government-owned railroad. This shot taken at the National Museum in New Delhi clearly delineates the added length of the 1955 MLW-built locomotive. (Tobias Köhler photo)

Built for a Spanish contractor #316.017 was sold twice, the final time to TECSA Empressa, a heavy construction and civil engineering company. The DL500C features a second engineer's station at the rear of the locomotive, and weights 112 tons. (Nick Chase photo at Pancorbo, Spain in Spring 1997)

The low-profile of the DL500 carbody (13'-2" high) was very apparent when contrasted next to standard Alco road power. America Latina Logistica 8414 seen here was photographed at Constitucion Jct (Buenos) Aires, Argentina. (Roberto J. Yommi photo)


BLH - By 1953, the one-time steam locomotive builder was in no position to effectively compete against EMD nor Alco in the domestic locomotive market; however, the international export business was a different story. In fact, BLH built slightly more than 400 units for foreign railroads, including 51 new RF615E export locomotives that went to the Argentine State Railway. Loosely patterned after the company's distinctive-looking "Shark-nose" freight unit, the newcomers rode on a pair of six-axle trucks, delivered 1500-hp to the rails, and were 52 feet in length.

Baldwin's export cab unit featured a "wind-splitter" nose, and a turbo-charged eight-cylinder diesel engine with a 1500-hp output. (Roberto J. Yommi photo at Buenos Aires in 2004)

The restoration team paid careful attention to detail through-out the project, including the silver raditor piping on the rear-end wall. (Stephen Cobb photo at Buenos Aires in 2007)

The compactness of BLH's RF615E is clearly evident in this side elevation shot of General Roca #5037. Designed for freight service primarily, there was very little unused space inside the engine compartment. (Stephen Cobb photo at Buenos Aires)

These 4 images illustrate the outstanding craftsman ship and dedication that went in to restoring this rare RF615E. A multi-year year project, the rehabilitation work has been done by the Ferroclub Argentino. (Stephen Cobb photo in November 2007)


EMD - Over-shadowed by earlier marketing successes, the GM export locomotive of 1953 had only total sales of 49 units. It was catalogued as a model B12 with a carbody similar to the builder's highly popular F-unit but with a three-piece windshield. Riding on a pair of Flexicoil two-axle trucks, the export model was powered by a non-turbocharged V12-567 engine, rated at 1125 horsepower-- hence the B12 designation. Built at GM's London, Ontario plant, first of the narrow gauge export units were delivered to Vitoria Minas (#521-529) in Brazil during July.

Early in 1953, GM B12 #521 was spotted in Prescott, Ontario while making a shakedown run prior to being shipped to its new owner Vitoria Minas, a coal hauler, in Brazil. (Bill Grandin photo / courtesy of James Parker)

Tereza Christina Railroad #6001 was purchased second-hand to haul coal from a mine to a power plant on an isolated narrow-gauge line in southeast Brazil. (Diogo Seger Luciano photo on 28 September 2011)

One of 40 purchased by Bangladesh Rail, B12 #2022 was 6o-years old at the time of this photo at Chittagong Port Yard. The nose-mounted three-chime horn gave the locomotive an unique look. (Richard Gennis photo on 17 December 2013)

America Latina Logistica (ALL) #4098 waits outside the maintenance shop at Curitiba, Brazil on 4 February 2008. During its tenure on the ALL railroad, the narrow-gauge locomotive had worn three different attire. (Milton Ribeiro photo)

New: 1 August 2022 XXXXXXXXXX (Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx photo courtesy of Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx)

Comparison Data

Photo by: xxxxxxxx

Spec. Nmbr Alco/MLW DL500A/B Alco/Goodwin DL500C BLW RF165E EMD B12
Quantity 42 -- 51 49
Year(s) 1953, 55-56 1956-1962 1953 & 1954 8/1953-4/1956
Engines 244D 4-cycle, V12 @ 1600 HP 251B 4-cycle, V12 @ 1800 HP 608A 4-cycle, V8 @ 1500 HP 567B 2-cycle, V12 @ 1125
Bore & Stroke 9" X 10.5" 9" X 10.5" 12.7" X 15.5" 8.5" X 10"
RPM (Max. / Min.) 1024 / 400 1024 / 400 625/-- 800
Main Generator (GE) GE GT581 GE GT581 Westinghouse 471BZ EMD D15E
Weight (tons) 113 117 116 76 (?)
Tractive Force (continuous) 40,100 lbs @ 11 mph 40,100 lbs @ 11 mph 36,250 lbs @ 12.1 mph 31,000 lbs @ 9.9 mph
Traction Motors GE 752 (six) GE 752 (six) Westinghouse 4561A (six) EMD D19
Trucks (Wheelbase) C-C (13'-9") with 40" wheels C-C (13'-9") with 40" wheels C-C (12'-6"") with 36" wheels B-B with 40" wheels"
Gauge (Metre) Multiple Multiple 5'-6" / 1534 1000
Gear Ratio (& Speed) 74:18 (75 mph) 74:18 (75 mph) 76:19 (75 mph) (60 mph)
Multiple Unit Capability Yes, (3-units max) Yes Yes No
Dynamic Braking Yes Yes Yes Yes
Air Brake Westinghouse: 24L Westinghouse: 24L Westinghouse 24L --
Total Length (over buffers) 58'-8" 58'-8" 52'-0" 44'-6" (no buffers)
Height 13"-9" 13'-9" -- 12'-2"
Fuel Oil (gallons) 1600 1600 650 1135
Optional Equipment Steam generator Steam generator None None

Export Cab Unit Roster

Photo by Michael Rhodes

Alco/MLW DL500 series
Argentina State Railways 5551-5575 82093-82117 (MLW) 3-6/57 Notes
Greece State Railway A301-A310 83513-83522 1962 Notes
Indian Railways 17000-17003 817410-81744 1957 --
17004-17019 82388-82403 1957 --
17020 & 17021 82666, 82667 1958 --
17022-17041 82968-82987 1958 --
17042-17099 83079-83136 1958 --
Northwestern Railway of Pakistan 2024 & 2025 81434 & 81435 1955 --
2026-2029 82404-82407 1957 --
2044 & 2045 83137 & 83138 1959 --
2046-2055 83344-83353 1959 --
2056-2068 83452-83464 1959 --
2069-2074 83507-83512 1959 --
Peruvian Corporation 500-506 81735-81740 1956 --
Spanish National Railway 1601--1614 81370-81383 1955 --
1615 79169;80961 (MLW) 1953 Ex-Alco Demonstrator 1953E
1801-1806 82622-82627 1958 --
1807-1824 82648-82665 1958 --
Carbetta Construction Co. 1616 & 1617 81880 & 81881 1956 --
A.E. Goodwin DL500C
New South Wales Railways 4401-4410 82807-82816 1957/58 --
4411-4440 82883-82912 1960/61 --
4441-4460 83731-83750 1960/61 --
4461-44190 G3421-1 to 40 1965/68 --
South Australian Railways 930-935 82798-82806 1955/56 --
936-944 81885-81890 1957/58 --
945-949 82913-82917 1959 --
950-956 83829-83835 1961 --
957-966 84120-84129 1962 --
BLH RF615E
Argentina State Rwy 5001-5010 78576-75865 7/53 --
5011-5030 78586-75885 5/54 --
5031-5051 78586-75606 7/54 --
EMD B12
Vitoria Minas 521-525 A430-A434 7/53 --
526-529 A483-486 7/53 --
Bangladesh Rwy 2000-2009 A443-A452 8/53 --
2010-2024 A453-A467 7-9/54 --
2025-2039 A468-A482 -3-4/56 --
Reference Sources:
  • Alco FA: Running in the Shadow: by R. Craig Rutherford
  • The Diesel Builders (vol. 3) by John F. Kirkland
  • Baldwin Diesel Locomotives by Gary & Stephen Dolzall Kirkland
  • Locomotive Encylopedia (1956): Simon & Board staff
  • Alco Construction List (1970)
  • Flickr.com (general search)
  • NGdiscussion.net (general search)
  • RailPictures.net (general search)
  • RRPicturesarchives.net (general search)
  • TrainOrders.com (general search)

Thanks to Richard Campbell, Bruce Chapman, and Roberto J. Yommi

Originally uploaded: 1 August 2022

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