Timken Locomotives

The Timken Roller Bearing Company Diesels Locomotives
The 1930s witnessed two important events that revolutionized the railroad industry. The most widely known was Electro-Motive's introduction of its "E" and "F" streamlined diesel cab units, which became the new "face of railroading." The other event which was far less conspicuous but no less significant was the roller bearing, a concept actually dating back to ancient times. Believing firmly that roller bearings could significantly reduce friction and create greater efficiency in transportation machinery, Henry Timken's bearing company asked Alco to build a 4-8-4 equipped with roller bearings rather than conventional friction type. Lettered for the ohio-based company, Timken #1111 (also known as the "Four Aces") clearly showed, after nearly 90,000 miles of hauling heavy freight and passenger trains on more than a dozen railroads that roller bearings offered more adaptability, achieved greater precision and conserved energy.The demonstration tour also showed lower maintenance and operating expenses. Alco specification card photo of Timken's 4-8-4. The #1111 was sold to the Northern Pacific as #2626 in 1931. Since those days back in 1930s, the global manufacturer has grown, and the Timken name has emblazoned the sides of many diesel locomotives that have formed the backbone of the company's interplant railroad. Several examples are presented here, as well as a partially detailed roster. Timken RL1000 #202 A substantial segment of Timken's locomotive fleet was purchased via the second-hand market. Case in point, TRBX #202 in the photo left. The EMD was built originally for the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific respectively. The 1200-hp locomotive was later rebuilt by Republic Locomotive with a Caterpillar engine, before finding a home at Timken's steel plant in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Rick Smearcheck on 11 March 1996 Ohio) blank blank Timken SW1200 #207 & 206 These one-time Rock Island SW1200 switchers (#936 mand 935) have served the Timken Steel plant in Canton, Ohio for nearly twenty years. Prior to their tenure at Timken, the two EMD products were re-engined with a Caterpillar replacement at Republic Locomotive as #131 and 130 respectively. At some point, they also received Flexicoil trucks. (Photo by Matt Arnold on 22 January 2020) blank blank Timken SW7 #1098 "The cobler's child has no shoes" --- and the Timken switcher has no roller bearings. Prior to being acquired by The Timken Company and assigned to the Canton, Ohio plant, SW7 #1098 wore the "tuxedo" attire of the Southern Railroad. The locomotive was retired by the SR in 1982 and eventually made its way to Timken in 1983. (Photo Robert E. Farkas collection) blank blank Timken 70-Ton #4501 - 4 February 1978 Delivered early in 1949, General Electric built 70-tonner #4501 depicted here in Canton was Timken's initial purchase of heavy-duty yard power. Driven by a 600-hp Cooper-Bessemer prime mover, the four-axle locomotive was one of the longest tenured units on the industrial company's railroad. A second GE 70-tonner (#6319) was added to the Timken roster nearly two years later. (Photo by Robert Farkas) blank blank Timken 85-Ton #4845 - 5 June 2010 Built in December 1977, there are a few features that distinguishes this Timken center-cab locomotive from its General Electric brethren. First off, the number of center-cab switchers outside of Timken with a full-length walkway can be counted on one hand. And then there is that custom-designed cutback cab for improved clearance when operating within the steel mill. Lastly, to achieve greater rail adhesion, extra ballast was added to what would have normally been an 80-tonner. (Photo by Rick Morgan) Timken S2m #5911 (2nd) - 4 February 1978 On the last of 1981, photographer Herson captured this shot of Timken S2m #5911 (2nd), a replacement for the original #5911 built three decades earlier. The 1000-hp locomotive was undergoing repairs and upgrades at General Electric's service center in Cleveland, OH. Prior to joining the Timken ranks, the freshly painted Alco switcher had toiled for the Long Island Rail Road as #453.(Photo by Matt Herson) blank Timken S1 #5912 - date The #5912 was one of four Alco-built switchers employed by the roller bearing manufacturer; it is shown here at the bearing production facilities in Canton, OH. The 660-hp #5912 along with sister unit #5911 came straight from the Schenectady, NY builder in 1950. The other two Alcos were 1000-hp S2s #5911 (2nd) and S4 #1935 which had known prior ownership -- the Long Island railroad and Baltimore & Ohio respectively. (Photo by Robert Farkas) blank Ex-Timken 50-Ton #8646 This 50-ton Whitcomb has the distinction of being the very first diesel-electric locomotive ever purchased by the Timken Company; it came straight from the builder in Rochelle, Illinois in 1940. The two-axle center-cab was sold to Chicago Gravel as #503 during the mid-1970s. In this undated photo, the 320-hp industrial switcher stands idle in Rockdale, IL and still wears its faded Timken colors. (Photo by John Kuehl / Paul Hunnell collection)
Formatted by: R. Craig	Photo by: Robert E.Farkas
Reporting Mark: --	New: 27 May 2025
Road No.	Model	Builder & Date	Bldr No.	Notes
201	SW1200	EMD - 9/65	30637	Rebuilt by Republic Loco with CAT engine < nee Rock Island 921
202	SW1200	EMD - 9/65	30638	Rebuilt by Republic Loco with CAT engine < nee Rock Island 920
203	SW1200	EMD - 9, 10/65	30642	Rebuilt by Republic Loco with CAT engine < nee Rock Island 924
204	SW1200	EMD - 9, 10/65	30743	To JLCX 204; Rebuilt by Republic Loco with CAT engine < nee Rock Island 929
205	SW1200	EMD - 10/65	--	Rebuilt by Republic Loco with CAT engine < nee Rock Island 932
206	SW1200	EMD - 10/65	30749, 30750	Rebuilt by Republic Loco with CAT engine < nee Rock Island 935
207	SW1200	EMD - 10/65	30750	Rebuilt by Republic Loco with CAT engine < nee Rock Island 936
-- Note: Timken's 200 series switchers are classified as RL1000s
775	SW9	EMD - 11/53	18731	EX-Rock Island 775
779	SW9	EMD - 11/53	18964	To National Steel 54; eX-Rock Island 779
1098	SW7	EMD - 5/50	10973	To GE Plastics 1; ex-SR 1098 < SR 2286 < GSF 2286 < nee GSF 8200
1985	S4	Alco - 2/57	81985	To Ohio Central 9100; ex-B&O 9100
3939	35-Ton	Por - 2/29	7119	Sold to A.E. Staley
4501	70-Ton	GE - 1/49	30028	To private owner, stored at Minerva. OH
4845	85-Ton	GE - 12/77	41061	To Auglaize-Provico in Ohio
5703	25-Ton	GE - 8/42	15703	--
5704	25-Ton	GE - 8/42	--	--
5705	25-Ton	GE - 5/52	31562	Ex-Canada Crushed Stone 12
5706	25-Ton	GE - 7/48	29046	Ex-Thurso Pulp & Paper < nee Singer Manufacturer
5911	S1	Alco 5/50	77486	Purchased new
5911 (2nd)	S2m	Alco 1/49	76573	Reblt to S4 specs; ex-Long Island 453
5912	S1	Alco 5/50	77487	Purchased new
6319	70-TON	GE 12/50	30459	To private owner, stored at Minerva. OH
7948	80-TON	GE 4/53	31846	Damaged enroute to ConAgra Feed mill in Alabama and scrapped
8075	S4	--	--	Did this unit actually exist?
8646	50-TON	Whit 4/40	60029	Sold to Chicago Gravel
9061	65-TON	GE 2/42	15181	Purchased new

Reference sources: X2200 South Newsletter (various issues) The Short Line Newsletter (various issues) Flickr.com Train Orders.com RR Pictures Archives.com LocoPhotos.com LocoNotes.com Thanks to the following contributos (direct and indirect): Ken Ardinger, Robert E. Farkas, Randy Keller, Bruce Mercer, Mark Nilges, Gareth McDonald, and Jay Reed Original upload: 11 April 2022

Since those days back in 1930s, the global manufacturer has grown, and the Timken name has emblazoned the sides of many diesel locomotives that have formed the backbone of the company's interplant railroad. Several examples are presented here, as well as a partially detailed roster.

Timken RL1000 #202

A substantial segment of Timken's locomotive fleet was purchased via the second-hand market. Case in point, TRBX #202 in the photo left. The EMD was built originally for the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific respectively. The 1200-hp locomotive was later rebuilt by Republic Locomotive with a Caterpillar engine, before finding a home at Timken's steel plant in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Rick Smearcheck on 11 March 1996 Ohio)

blank

Timken SW1200 #207 & 206

These one-time Rock Island SW1200 switchers (#936 mand 935) have served the Timken Steel plant in Canton, Ohio for nearly twenty years. Prior to their tenure at Timken, the two EMD products were re-engined with a Caterpillar replacement at Republic Locomotive as #131 and 130 respectively. At some point, they also received Flexicoil trucks. (Photo by Matt Arnold on 22 January 2020)

blank

Timken SW7 #1098

"The cobler's child has no shoes" --- and the Timken switcher has no roller bearings. Prior to being acquired by The Timken Company and assigned to the Canton, Ohio plant, SW7 #1098 wore the "tuxedo" attire of the Southern Railroad. The locomotive was retired by the SR in 1982 and eventually made its way to Timken in 1983. (Photo Robert E. Farkas collection)

blank

Timken 70-Ton #4501 - 4 February 1978

Delivered early in 1949, General Electric built 70-tonner #4501 depicted here in Canton was Timken's initial purchase of heavy-duty yard power. Driven by a 600-hp Cooper-Bessemer prime mover, the four-axle locomotive was one of the longest tenured units on the industrial company's railroad. A second GE 70-tonner (#6319) was added to the Timken roster nearly two years later. (Photo by Robert Farkas)

blank

Timken 85-Ton #4845 - 5 June 2010

Built in December 1977, there are a few features that distinguishes this Timken center-cab locomotive from its General Electric brethren. First off, the number of center-cab switchers outside of Timken with a full-length walkway can be counted on one hand. And then there is that custom-designed cutback cab for improved clearance when operating within the steel mill. Lastly, to achieve greater rail adhesion, extra ballast was added to what would have normally been an 80-tonner. (Photo by Rick Morgan)

Timken S2m #5911 (2nd) - 4 February 1978

On the last of 1981, photographer Herson captured this shot of Timken S2m #5911 (2nd), a replacement for the original #5911 built three decades earlier. The 1000-hp locomotive was undergoing repairs and upgrades at General Electric's service center in Cleveland, OH. Prior to joining the Timken ranks, the freshly painted Alco switcher had toiled for the Long Island Rail Road as #453.(Photo by Matt Herson)

blank

Timken S1 #5912 - date

The #5912 was one of four Alco-built switchers employed by the roller bearing manufacturer; it is shown here at the bearing production facilities in Canton, OH. The 660-hp #5912 along with sister unit #5911 came straight from the Schenectady, NY builder in 1950. The other two Alcos were 1000-hp S2s #5911 (2nd) and S4 #1935 which had known prior ownership -- the Long Island railroad and Baltimore & Ohio respectively. (Photo by Robert Farkas)

blank

Ex-Timken 50-Ton #8646

This 50-ton Whitcomb has the distinction of being the very first diesel-electric locomotive ever purchased by the Timken Company; it came straight from the builder in Rochelle, Illinois in 1940. The two-axle center-cab was sold to Chicago Gravel as #503 during the mid-1970s. In this undated photo, the 320-hp industrial switcher stands idle in Rockdale, IL and still wears its faded Timken colors. (Photo by John Kuehl / Paul Hunnell collection)

Back to Main Menu

Back to SIndustrial