The Baldwin VO1000 and VO660 Diesel Switchers

However, beginning in the mid-1930s the steam locomotive began to receive competition from a new form of motive power, diesel-electrics. Unable to see the advantages of steam over diesel Baldwin, like Alco and Lima, did not spend heavily on research and development of diesels, which was one reason for all three’s eventual exit from the locomotive market (similarly they never saw diesels as an advantageous main line locomotive over steam and merely regarded it to yard and light train duties).

Of the “big three” steam locomotive builders Lima was by far the weakest in terms of the transition to diesel locomotive development. So weak was the builder that it only built a handful of switchers and road switchers, which totaled less than 200 units. This was also partly because the company was only around during the early years of diesel production and all but entirely missed the “booming” years following World War II when it was merged into Baldwin in 1950 (and a year later its diesel line was completely discontinued). Interestingly, there are a few Limas still around, all of which are relegated to museums. So, if you get a chance, be sure and catch these rare beasts in action!

While a bankruptcy in the 1930s would greatly hurt the Baldwin’s diesel development it did begin building diesel switchers and light engines by the late 1930s. Interestingly, these early switchers would be the company’s most successful line of any model they produced, with several hundred built.

One of these popular models was the VO1000 and VO660 switchers, which debuted in 1939. The designations behind these units were engine type (the VO was a diesel engine built by De La Vergne who supplied many prime movers for Baldwin over the years) and horsepower.

These first VO1000 and VO660 switchers had typical design features like many similar models offered by Alco and the Electro-Motive Corporation (EMC). The units were usually offered with B-B truck arrangements and featured a cab on one end followed by a long hood, which housed the prime mover and other critical components. They were quite versatile in light duty service such as branchline and yard work, which is where most railroads employed them and when production ended just after WWII nearly 700 were built, which would all but equal Baldwin’s totals of later cab units and road switchers combined.

Not surprisingly because of the many VO1000s and VO660s built, combined, they make up one of the largest numbers of Baldwin models still preserved today, which can usually be found at museums or tourist lines, some even still operational.

For more information on the Baldwin VO1000 and VO660 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.

Also, Brian Solomon’s The American Diesel Locomotive also studies many of the same diesel models and builders as Mr. Schafer’s publication although at nearly twice the size the book goes into a bit more detail than Vintage Diesel Locomotives. All in all, though, both books are a great read and you shouldn’t be disappointed with them, not to mention that they are loaded with photos (many in color)! If you're interested in perhaps purchasing these books please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".