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The Baldwin AS616

The Baldwin AS616 was the builder's most powerful six-axle model, in terms of both horsepower and tractive effort. The AS616 was also the last in the builder's "All Service" series, although ironically it was the best selling road switcher Baldwin ever produced especially considering that it was only cataloged for four years and that, at the time, four-axle designs were in far greater demand (for instance, both industry leaders American Locomotive Company and Electro-Motive Division had a very difficult time selling six axle designs). It is somewhat fascinating to wonder what would have become of the then Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation had it been able to continue refining and developing its diesel line. Unfortunately, this was cut short by parent Westinghouse Electric. Today, there are, at least, three AS616s preserved; former BLH demonstrator #1601 at the San Diego Railway Museum and Southern Pacific units #5253 and #5274 at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum.

The Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton AS616 began production the fall of 1950 and was the third model it offered in its "All Service" series, which was part of its new Standard line of road switchers. The AS616 was a 1,600 horsepower, C-C truck (meaning it was a six-axle design with all axles powered) road switcher that utilized the builder's 608 SC model prime mover, the latest and final engine it would produce. As with all of Baldwin's diesels, all internal components were outsourced to Westinghouse Electric. One of the AS616's big marketing points was its incredibly high tractive effort, the most powerful of all Baldwin's road switcher models; 97,500 pounds starting and 78,750 continuous. This high rating is interesting considering that the locomotive was the lightest C-C road switcher design on the market at the time, weighing just 164 tons.

As was so often the case with Baldwin, it's one road switcher trademark was the locomotives' excellent use in heavy drag service, meaning that they could pull heavy loads at slow speeds. In the case of the AS616 with six powered axles, the model was quite adept at such a task. The model sold very well for Baldwin as 148 (including 7 B units purchased by the Milwaukee Road and Southern Pacific) were bought by US railroads and another 66 were purchased by Mexican, Venezuelan, and Brazilian railroads by the time production had ended in 1954.

Railroads who purchased the Baldwin AS616 included the Bessemer & Lake Erie, Chesapeake & Ohio, Chicago & North Western, Milwaukee Road, Southern Pacific, Duluth South Shore & Atlantic, loyalist Pennsylvania, ouston Belt & Terminal, Pittsburgh & West Virginia, Texas & New Orleans (SP), Trona Railway, Union Pacific, Union Railroad and industry Kaiser Steel. Foreign lines included National de Mexico and Orinoco Mining Company of Venezuela. Additionally, Brazilian lines Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil and Rede de Viação Paraná-Santa Catarina purchased the variant model AS616E, which featured an end-cab design instead of the standard offset cab.

As with all of Baldwin's road switchers the company, for unknown reasons, neglected to offer its AS616 with dynamic braking. Both Alco and EMD had been including this feature with nearly all of their early road switchers, which was an important selling point considering the advantages it offered. Had the company offered dynamic braking in the model (and all of its road switchers) it likely would have sold more, perhaps enough that parent Westinghouse would have remained in the diesel locomotive market. The classification system for Baldwin's new Standard line was much easier to understand than its first series of locomotives. As in the case of the AS616, the "AS" referred to All Service road switcher that offered six powered axles and 1,600 horsepower.

The model had officially replaced the earlier DRS-6-6-1500, which used a classification that more closely resembled the “Whyte notation” developed by Frederick Whyte that designated various steam locomotive types by their lead pilot wheels, drivers, and trailing bogey. For more information about these preserved units please click here. Also, for a total production roster of Baldwin AS616s please click here. Lastly, for more information about the AS616s and all Baldwin road switcher models please refer to the chart below.

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Baldwin Road Switchers

Model Type	Units Built	Date Built	Horsepower
AS16	127	1950-1955	1,600
AS416	25	1950-1955	1,600
AS616	214	1950-1954	1,600
RS12	50	1951-1956	1,200
DRS-4-4-1000	22	1948-1950	1,000
DRS-4-4-1500	35	1946-1950	1,500
DRS-6-4-1500	91	1946-1948	1,500
DRS-6-6-1500	83	1948-1950	1,500

For more information on the Baldwin AS616 road switchers consider Mike Schafer’s Vintage Diesel Locomotives which looks at virtually all of the classic builders and models from Alco PAs to early EMD Geeps. If you’re interested in classic Baldwins, or diesels in general, this book gives an excellent general history of both.

You may also want to consider the book Evolution of the American Diesel Locomotive by author J. Parker Lamb. As the title implies the book looks at the history and development of the diesel locomotives, covering 200 pages, from its earliest beginnings to the newest designs and models operated today. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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