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Alco "FA" Locomotives: Data Sheet, Roster, Specs

Last revised: December 21, 2024

By: Adam Burns

The Alco FA was intended to be the builder's answer to Electro-Motive's ever popular FT and subsequent models. The design was the road freight model of Alco's passenger service PA. 

The FA also replaced Alco's original DL series, which used the builder's initial prime mover, the model 539T, which proved trouble-prone and unreliable (the company, however, continued to use the DL markings for factor designations).

Overview

Unfortunately, Alco's new 244 engine also had problems which seriously hurt impacted it from ever making a serious run at EMD's F series. Despite the prime mover's flaws the FA model, and its variants, would sell a little more than 1,000 units making them one of Alco's most successful lines.  

The locomotive could be found far and wide in service across America from the Baltimore & Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York Central in the east to the Great Northern, St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco), Wabash, and Union Pacific in the west/Midwest.  Today, several examples of the classic design can be found preserved at museums around the country.

Photos

1875617265357825871358715389728315.jpgRock Island FA-1 #154 (with its aging "RF" ["Rocket Freight"] decal) and an FTB make a set-out at Cadiz Street in Dallas, Texas during the early 1950's. Lemar Kemp photo.

The FA, sporting a beefier carbody than EMD's ubiquitous designs, was introduced  in 1946 and initially offered 1,500 horsepower with a B-B wheel arrangement.

Alco also built a B unit, just as EMD offered in its catalog, which was also capable of producing 1,500 horsepower. Unfortunately, the initial FA-1 model and its new 244 model diesel engine proved troublesome and unable to take the pounding required in daily road service.

The 244 was used in several early Alco designs and while problematic in main line applications, such as powering the PA and FA design, it actually proved quite reliable in some of the smaller models such as early road switchers like the RS2 and RS3. 

With the onset of World War II in late 1941 the American Locomotive Company's diesel development was delayed. This would prove costly to Alco as the Electro-Motive Corporation had already unveiled its FT and EA models between 1937 and 1939, years before the war had started.

6792198412764512462165267989389.jpgMissouri-Kansas-Texas FA-1 #83-C at Parsons, Kansas, circa 1968. Mac Owen photo. American-Rails.com collection.

The FT was particularly noteworthy as it paraded around the country with much fanfare; a sensational marketing success it convinced railroad after railroad that main line, heavy-haul diesel locomotives could truly match steam despite offering less horsepower per unit. 

While Electro-Motive, like all other builders, was restricted by the U.S. government from continuing their diesel program during the war they already had a model in production before the conflict began and one in which was reliable and sought after by railroads. 

Data Sheet

FA-1
Alco Class404-DL-223
Entered Production5/8/1946
Years Produced1946-1950
Model SpecificationDL-208/A/B/C
Engine244, V-12
TurbochargerGeneral Electric RD1
Horsepower1,500 (Increased to 1,600 HP in 1949.)
RPM1,000
Carbody StylingGeneral Electric's Engineering Department
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)51' 6"
Weight230,000 lbs. (Optional ballast to 240,000 lbs.)
Dynamic BrakesOptional
TrucksB-B
Truck TypeSwing Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer (AAR Type-B)
Truck Wheelbase9' 4"
Wheel Size40"
Traction MotorsGE 726 or GE 731 (4)
Traction GeneratorGT564B
Auxiliary Traction GeneratorGT564C
Steam GeneratorNot Optional
Gear Ratio74:18
Tractive Effort Rating34,000 lbs. at 13.5 MPH (Later increased to 42,500 lbs. at 11 MPH.)
Top Speed65 MPH
FB-1
Alco Class404-DL-223
Entered Production5/8/1946
Years Produced1946-1950
Model SpecificationDL-209/A/B/C
Engine244, V-12
TurbochargerGeneral Electric RD1
Horsepower1,500 (Increased to 1,600 HP in 1949.)
RPM1,000
Carbody StylingGeneral Electric's Engineering Department
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)50' 6"
Weight230,000 lbs. (Optional ballast to 240,000 lbs.)
Dynamic BrakesOptional
TrucksB-B
Truck TypeSwing Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer (AAR Type-B)
Truck Wheelbase9' 4"
Wheel Size40"
Traction MotorsGE 726 or GE 731 (4)
Traction GeneratorGT564B
Auxiliary Traction GeneratorGT564C
Steam GeneratorNot Optional
Gear Ratio74:18
Tractive Effort Rating34,000 lbs. at 13.5 MPH (Later increased to 42,500 lbs. at 11 MPH.)
Top Speed65 MPH
FA-2
Alco Class404-DL-223
Entered Production10/1950
Years Produced1950-1953
Model SpecificationDL-212/A
Engine244, V-12 (244G, model DL-212A)
TurbochargerGeneral Electric RD1
Horsepower1,600
RPM1,000
Carbody StylingGeneral Electric's Engineering Department
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)53' 6"
Weight240,000 lbs. (Optional ballast to 250,000 lbs.)
Dynamic BrakesOptional
TrucksB-B
Truck TypeSwing Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer (AAR Type-B)
Truck Wheelbase9' 4"
Wheel Size40"
Traction MotorsGE 752 (4)
Traction GeneratorGT581
Auxiliary Traction Generator-
Steam GeneratorOptional (2,750 gallons-per-hour): If equipped, designated FPA-2.
Gear Ratio68:15 (60 MPH), 74:18 (65 MPH), 65:18 (75 MPH)
Tractive Effort Rating52,500 lbs.
Top Speed75 MPH
FB-2
Alco Class404-DL-223
Entered Production10/1950
Years Produced1950-1953
Model SpecificationDL-212/A
Engine244, V-12 (244G, model DL-212A)
TurbochargerGeneral Electric RD1
Horsepower1,600
RPM1,000
Carbody StylingGeneral Electric's Engineering Department
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)52' 8"
Weight240,000 lbs. (Optional ballast to 250,000 lbs.)
Dynamic BrakesOptional
TrucksB-B
Truck TypeSwing Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer (AAR Type-B)
Truck Wheelbase9' 4"
Wheel Size40"
Traction MotorsGE 752 (4)
Traction GeneratorGT581
Auxiliary Traction Generator-
Steam GeneratorOptional (2,750 gallons-per-hour or 4,500 gallons-per-hour): If equipped, designated FPB-2.
Gear Ratio68:15 (60 MPH), 74:18 (65 MPH), 65:18 (75 MPH)
Tractive Effort Rating52,500 lbs.
Top Speed75 MPH

Note that the first two FA-1's, and FB-1, were largely completed in December, 1945; A's #1500 and #1502 along with B #1501 tested on the Lehigh Valley before they were purchased by the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio and became #700, #B-1, #701.   

The units officially were not complete until receiving their new 244 engines on January 9, 1946.  The FA-1's unofficial production period began following completion of testing and GM&O #703's out-shopping on May 8, 1946.

20394029348272yh3468930692088.jpgNew York Central FA-1 #1036 leads a long freight westbound/northbound through Dearborn, Michigan during the 1960's. Note the Ford World Headquarters building can be seen in the distance. Author's collection.

With the war restriction Alco was not able to release its FA model until January of 1946.  The Gulf Mobile & Ohio was the first railroad to receive its order; #700-754 (FA) and #B1-B33 (FB).

Reception

Around the same time, three demonstrators; two FA-1s and one FB-1 toured on the Delaware & Hudson between January and mid-February that year. Unfortunately, a union strike at Alco's Schenectady, New York plant further delayed production on the GM&O's order and the railroad did not begin receiving its units until May of that year.

New Haven FA-1 #0421 and other FA's and FB's at Maybrook, New York during the 1960s. American-Rails.com collection.

Despite the FA-1 having reliability issues it provided incredible pulling power, an Alco trademark for many of its models and was certainly one reason why some railroads continued buying its products.

The FA's carbody was also very well designed, on par with Electro-Motive's now-classic cab designs.

It was developed by General Electric's own Ray Patten as the company during this time was working right alongside Alco in producing diesel locomotives.

Louisville & Nashville FA-2 #300 is seen here at Cone Yard (shared with the Baltimore & Ohio) in East St. Louis, Illinois during the 1960's. Author's collection.

Patten, who also designed the beautiful sister PA model, shortened the FA's length to just 51 feet, 6 inches (the PA was 65 feet, 8 inches) as well as giving it a shorter, somewhat blunter front nose. Still, the overall slanted front windshields and streamlined look was a hallmark of both models, capped off by the notable grills over the centered headlight. 

The FA used a B-B truck arrangement, which could produce a continuous 46,000 pounds of tractive effort and reach a top speed of around 65 mph.

9127317246124657868977.jpgAlco's FA-2 demonstrator set, led by #1602-A, tests on Cajon Pass in late 1950. This set became Great Northern #278A/278B and #279A/279B.

When production ended on the FA-1, Alco was able to sell 672 A and B units to nearly twenty domestic railroads (including those built at its Montreal Locomotive Works for Canadian roads).

In October of 1950 the builder released its upgraded FA-2, which featured a slight increase in horsepower and longer carbody at 54 feet.  This pushed the radiator shutters slightly forward allowing the unit to receive a steam generator for passenger service (similar to what EMD would do with its FP7 design). 

02069u27428j1u910827u2h2087208.jpgGreat Northern FPA-2 #277-B, one of two the road owned, at Seattle's Interbay Yard during the 1960s. American-Rails.com collection.

The FA-2 also received an upgraded generator from GE (the model GT581, which replaced the GT564). Both the FA-1 and FA-2 featured turbocharging and dynamic brake capability (if ordered, it was not standard on the model).  In the end, the FA-2 sold slightly better than its early cousin with 597 units produced.

Production Rosters

Alco

FA-1

Total Built = 417

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Date Built
Canadian Pacific 4000 - 4007 76852-76859 (Alco) 5/1949 - 6/1949
Erie Railroad 725A, 725D - 727A, 727D 75428-75433 12/1947
Erie Railroad 728A, 728D - 732A, 732D 75575-75584 1/1948 - 2/1948
Erie Railroad 733A, 733D 75705-75706 2/1948
Central of Brazil (Brazil) 3201 - 3212 76020-76031 6/1948 - 9/1948
Erie Railroad 734A, 734D - 735A, 735D 76667-76670 1/1949
Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Obras Públicas -SCOP (Mexico) 23031 76666 1/1949
Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Obras Públicas - SCOP (Mexico) 23032 - 23034 76841-76843 5/1949
Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Obras Públicas - SCOP (Mexico) 23039 77014 2/1950
Great Northern 276A, 276B 77015-77016 4/1950
Great Northern 310A, 310C 77017, 78118 4/1950
Great Northern 440A, 440D 75995, 75996 8/1948
Great Northern 442A, 442D 76838, 76839 4/1949
Green Bay & Western 501, 502 73679-73680 12/1947
Green Bay & Western 503 (1st) 73681 12/1947
Green Bay & Western 503 (2nd) 76836 4/1949
Green Bay & Western 507 76837 4/1949
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 700, 701 73292-73293 1/1946
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 702 73297 1/1946
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 703 - 720 73303-73320 5/1946 - 8/1946
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 721 - 723 73294-73296 8/1946
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 724 - 728 73298-73302 9/1946 - 10/1946
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 729 - 754 73649-73674 10/1946 - 1/1947
Lehigh & New England 701, 702 75739, 75740 4/1948
Lehigh & New England 703 - 706 75983-75986 6/1948
Lehigh & New England 707 - 709 76258-76260 10/1948
Lehigh & New England 710 76840 4/1949
Lehigh Valley 530 - 548 (Evens) 76261-76270 11/1948
Minneapolis, St. Paul & Soo Ste. Marie (Soo Line) 205A, 205B, 206A, 206B 75741-75744 4/1948
Minneapolis, St. Paul & Soo Ste. Marie (Soo Line) 207A, 207B - 209A, 209B 75962-75967 4/1948 - 5/1948
Minneapolis, St. Paul & Soo Ste. Marie (Soo Line) 210A, 210B, 211A, 211B 77003-77006 7/1949
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) 326A, 326C - 327A, 327C 76271-76274 11/1948
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) 328A, 328C - 330A, 330C 76678-76683 2/1949
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) 331A (1st), 331C 76684, 76685 3/1949
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) 332A, 332C, 333A, 333C 76686-76689 3/1949
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) 334A, 334C 76690, 76677 3/1949
Missouri Pacific 301 - 320 75719-75738 3/1948 - 4/1948
Missouri Pacific 321 - 330 78119-78128 5/1950 - 6/1950
New York Central 1000 - 1003 73675-73678 2/1947
New York Central 1004 - 1013 75709-75718 2/1948 - 3/1948
New York Central 1014, 1015 76275, 76276 11/1948
New York Central 1016 - 1030 76520-76534 11/1948 - 12/1948
New York Central 1031, 1032 76547, 76548 12/1948
New York Central 1033 - 1040 76844-76851 5/1949
New York Central 1041 - 1043 77007-77009 8/1949 - 9/1949
New Haven 0400 - 0407 75275-75282 5/1947
New Haven 0408 - 0411 75288-75291 7/1947 - 8/1947
New Haven 0412 - 0415 75296-75299 8/1947
New Haven 0416 - 0419 75302-75305 9/1947
New Haven 0420 - 0423 75310-75313 9/1947
New Haven 0424 - 0427 75417-75420 10/1947
New Haven 0428 - 0429 75425-75426 10/1947
Pennsylvania 9600 - 9603 75987-75990 7/1948 - 8/1948
Pennsylvania 9604 - 9607 77010-77013 3/1950
Reading 300A - 305A 75977-75982 6/1948
Rock Island 145 - 149 76015-76019 9/1948
Rock Island 150 - 160 76247-76257 9/1948 - 10/1948
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 5200 - 5203 75991-75994 6/1948
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 5204 - 5216 76549-76561 12/1948 - 1/1949
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 5217 - 5223 76657-7663 1/1949
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 5224 - 5226 76704-76706 3/1949
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 5227 - 5231 76831-76835 4/1949
Seaboard Air Line 4200 - 4202 75974-75976 5/1948
Spokane, Portland & Seattle 850A-1, 850A-2 thru 854A-1, 854A-2 (Evens) 75968-75973 5/1948
Spokane, Portland & Seattle 856A-1, 856A-2 thru 860A-1, 860A-2 (Evens) 76671-76676 2/1949
Spokane, Portland & Seattle 866A-1, 866A-2 78286-78287 12/1950
Tennessee Central 801 - 805 76691-76695 3/49
Union Pacific 1500A - 1502A 75283-75285 6/1947
Union Pacific 1503A - 1506A 75292-75295 6/1947 - 9/1947
Union Pacific 1507A, 1508A 75300-75301 9/1947
Union Pacific 1509A - 1512A 75306-75309 9/1947 - 10/47
Union Pacific 1513A 75314 10/1947
Union Pacific 1514A - 1516A 75414-75416 11/1947
Union Pacific 1517A - 1520A 75421-75424 11/1947 - 12/1947
Union Pacific 1521A 75427 12/1947
Union Pacific 1522A, 1523A 75286, 75287 11/1947
Union Pacific 1542A, 1543A 75707, 75708 2/1948
Union Pacific 1626 - 1643 75997-76014 8/1948, 9/1948
Wabash Railroad 1200, 1200A 76664, 76665 1/1949
Wabash Railroad 1201, 1201A - 1204, 1204A 76696-76703 3/1949
Wisconsin Central (Soo Line) 2220A, 2220B - 2222A, 2222B 76860-76865 6/1949
Wisconsin Central (Soo Line) 2223A, 2223B 77001, 77002 7/1949

Montreal Locomotive Works

Total Built = 28

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Date Built
Canadian National 9400 - 9407 77295-77302 4/1950 - 6/1950
Canadian Pacific 4008 - 4027 77303-77322 6/1950 - 10/1950

FB-1

Total Built = 229

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Date Built
Canadian Pacific 4400 - 4403 76878-76881 (Alco) 5/1949 - 6/1949
Erie Railroad 725B, 725C - 728B, 728C 75597-75604 12/1947 - 1/1948
Erie Railroad 729B, 729C - 733B, 733C 75745-75754 1/1948 - 2/1948
Erie Railroad 734B, 734C, 735B, 735C 76713-76716 1/1949
Great Northern 310B 78129 4/1950
Great Northern 440B, 440C 76044-76045 8/1948
Great Northern 442B, 442C 76871, 76872 4/1949
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio B1 - B5 73321-73325 1/1946 - 9/1946
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio B6 - B8 73682-73684 10/1946
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio B9 - B24 73687-73702 2/1947 - 4/1947
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio B25 75434 9/1947
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio B26 - B29 76889-76892 9/1949
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio B30 - B33 78345-78348 7/1950 - 8/1950
Lehigh & New England 751 - 752 76285-76286 10/1948
Lehigh & New England 753 76873 4/1949
Lehigh Valley 531 - 549 (Odds) 76287-76296 11/1948
Missouri Pacific 301B - 310B 75762-75771 3/1948 - 4/1948
Missouri Pacific 321B - 325B 78130-78134 4/1950
New York Central 2300 - 2301 73685-73686 2/1947 - 3/1947
New York Central 2302 - 2306 75757-75761 2/1948 - 3/1948
New York Central 2307 - 2311 76297-76301 12/1948
New York Central 2312 - 2315 76874-76877 5/1949
New York Central 2316 - 2322 76882-76888 8/1949 - 9/1949
New Haven 0450 - 0453 75435-75438 6/1947
New Haven 0454-0455 75442-75443 6/1947
New Haven 0456 - 0459 75448-75451 8/1947
New Haven 0460-0461 75587-75588 8/1947
New Haven 0462 - 0464 75593-75595 10/1947
Pennsylvania 9600B - 9603B 76038-76041 7/1948 - 8/1948
Pennsylvania 9604B - 9607B 76893-76896 3/1950
Reading Railroad 300B - 305B 76032-76037 6/1948
Rock Island 145B - 148B 76277-76280 9/1948
Rock Island 149B - 152B 76281-76284 10/1948
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 5300 - 5301 76042-76043 6/1948
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 5302 - 5306 76302-76306 12/1948
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 5307 - 5311 76707-76711 1/1949
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco) 5312 - 5315 76867-76870 3/1949 - 4/1949
Seaboard Air Line 4300 - 4302 75772-75774 5/1948
Spokane, Portland & Seattle 856B-1, 856B-2 thru 860B-1, 860B-2 (Evens) 76717-76722 2/1949
Spokane, Portland & Seattle 866B-1, 866B-2 78288, 78289 12/1950
Tennessee Central 801B 76723 3/1949
Union Pacific 1524B - 1526B 75439-75441 6/1947
Union Pacific 1527B - 1530B 75444-75447 6/1947 - 9/1947
Union Pacific 1531B, 1532B 75452, 75453 9/1947 - 10/1947
Union Pacific 1533B, 1534B 75585, 75586 10/1947 - 11/1947
Union Pacific 1535B - 1538B 75589-75592 11/1947 - 12/1947
Union Pacific 1539B 75596 12/1947
Union Pacific 1540B, 1541B 75755, 75756 2/1948
Union Pacific 1618B, 1618C - 1642B, 1642C (Evens) 76046-76071 8/1948 - 9/1948
Wabash 1200B 76712 2/1949
Wabash 1201B - 1203B 76724-76726 3/1949
Wabash 1204B 76886 3/1949

Montreal Locomotive Works

Total Built = 20

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Date Built
Canadian Pacific 4404 - 4423 77325-77344 6/1950 - 9/1950

FA-2

Total Built = 331

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Date Built
Alco (Demonstrators) 1602A, 1602D (became Great Northern #278A-279A) 78270, 78271 11/1950
Alco (Demonstrators) 1603A, 1603D (became Chicago & North Western #4103A-4104A) 78272, 78273 11/1950
Ann Arbor Railroad 50, 50A - 52, 52A 78379-78384 12/50
Ann Arbor Railroad 53, 53A 78385, 78476 12/1950
Ann Arbor Railroad 54, 54A - 56, 56A 78477-78482 12/1950
Baltimore & Ohio 801, 801A - 805, 805A (Odds) 78188-78193 10/1950 - 11/1950
Baltimore & Ohio 807, 807A 78266, 78267 11/1950
Baltimore & Ohio 809, 809A - 817, 817A (Odds) 78483-78492 12/1950 - 1/1951
Baltimore & Ohio 819, 819A - 823, 823A (Odds) 79710-79715 1/1952 - 2/1952
Baltimore & Ohio 825, 825A 79744, 79745 3/1952
Baltimore & Ohio 827, 827A 79746, 79955 3/1952
Baltimore & Ohio 829, 829A - 831, 831A (Odds) 79956-79959 3/1952
Baltimore & Ohio 833, 833A - 837, 837A (Odds) 79984-79989 4/1953 - 5/1953
Consolidated Railway of Cuba (Cuba) 1600-1605 78608-78613 3/1951
Consolidated Railway of Cuba (Cuba) 1650-1655 78614-78619 3/1951
Erie Railroad 736A, 736D - 737A, 737D 78184-78187 10/1950
Erie Railroad 738A, 738D, 739A, 739D 78620-78623 3/1951 - 4/1951
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico) 6507A-6516A 78986-78995 7/1951 - 8/1951
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico) 6517A-6520A 79283-79286 9/1951
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico) 6519A (2nd) 80824 12/1953
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico) 6521A, 6522A 79742, 79743 3/1952
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico) 6534A 80897 4/1954
Great Northern 277A, 277B 78268, 78269 11/1950
Louisville & Nashville 300-305 79716-79721 2/1952
Louisville & Nashville 306, 307 79990, 79991 5/1953
Louisville & Nashville 308-310 80902-80904 5/1956
Louisville & Nashville 311-315 81083-81087 12/1954
Louisville & Nashville 316-321 81963-81968 6/1956
Louisville & Nashville 350-352 79739-79741 3/1952
Louisville & Nashville 353, 354 79737, 79738 3/1952
Louisville & Nashville 355-369 79722-79736 2/1952
Lehigh Valley 580-588 (Evens) 78276-78280 11/1950
Lehigh Valley 590 78351 12/1950
Lehigh Valley 592, 594 78624, 78625 4/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) 331A (2nd) 78493 12/1950
Missouri Pacific 331-344 78626-78639 4/1951
Missouri Pacific 345-360 79447-79462 12/1951 - 1/1952
Missouri Pacific 374-380 80001-80007 6/1953 - 8/1953
Missouri Pacific 381-386 80825-80830 1/1954 - 3/1954
New York Central 1044-1047 78652-78655 6/1951 - 7/1951
New York Central 1048-1070 78961-78983 6/1951 - 7/1951
New York Central 1071-1080 79001-79010 8/1951 - 9/1951
New York Central 1081-1087 79276-79282 9/1951
New York Central 1088-1107 79287-79306 10/1951
New York Central 1108-1117 79960-79969 5/1952 - 7/1952
New York Central 1118-1123 79972-79977 8/1952 - 9/1952
Pennsylvania 9608A-9619A 78640-78651 5/1951
Pennsylvania 9620A-9631A 79435-79446 11/1951 - 12/1951
Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Obras Públicas -SCOP (Mexico) 7121-8, 7121-9 79970, 79971 7/1952 - 8/1952
Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Obras Públicas -SCOP (Mexico) 7121-10 thru 7121-13 79978-79981 10/1952 - 12/1952
Spokane, Portland & Seattle 868A-1, 868A-2 78352, 78378 12/1950
Western Maryland 301, 302 78494, 78495 1/1951
Western Maryland 303, 304 78606, 78607 1/1951

Montreal Locomotive Works

Total Built = 45

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Date Built
Canadian National 9408, 9410 77323, 77324 2/1951
Canadian National 9412-9426 (Evens) 77626-77633 2/1951 - 5/1951
Canadian National 9428-9436 (Evens) 77270-77274 2/1952 - 3/1952
Canadian National 9438-9456 (Evens) 79144-79153 2/1953 - 5/1953
Canadian Pacific 4042-4051 77712-77721 7/1951 - 9/1951
Canadian Pacific 4084-4086 77275-77277 6/1953 - 7/1953
Canadian Pacific 4087-4093 79154-79160 9/1953 - 10/1953

FB-2

Total Built = 182

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Date Built
Alco (Demonstrators) 1602B, 1602C (became Great Northern #278B-279B) 78202, 78203 11/1950
Alco (Demonstrators) 1603B, 1603C (became Chicago & North Western #4103B-4104B) 78281, 78282 11/1950
Baltimore & Ohio 801x-807x (Odds) 78198-78201 10/1950 - 11/1950
Baltimore & Ohio 809x 78502 1/1951
Baltimore & Ohio 811x-817x (Odds) 78498-78501 12/1950 - 1/1951
Baltimore & Ohio 817ax 78497 12/1950
Baltimore & Ohio 819x-823x (Odds) 79760-79762 1/1952
Baltimore & Ohio 825x-831x (Odds) 80011-80014 3/1952 - 5/1952
Baltimore & Ohio 833x-837x (Odds) 80030-80032 4/1953 - 5/1953
Baltimore & Ohio 837ax 80033 5/1953
Erie Railroad 736B, 736C, 737B, 737C 78194-78197 10/1950
Erie Railroad 738B, 738C 78503, 78504 3/1951
Erie Railroad 739B, 739C 78505, 78656 4/1951
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico) 6507B-6516B 79023-79032 7/1951 - 8/1951
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico) 6517B-6520B 79327-79330 9/1951
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico) 6519B(2nd) 80910 12/1953
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico) 6521B, 6522B 79766, 80009 3/1952
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico) 6523B-6527B 80905-80909 9/1953 - 12/1953
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico) 6534B 81166 4/1955
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 834-837 81167-81170 6/1955
Louisville & Nashville 200-202 79763-79765 3/1952
Louisville & Nashville 203-209 80023-80029 3/1953 - 4/1953
Louisville & Nashville 330, 331 80911, 80912 2/1954, 1/1954
Louisville & Nashville 210, 211 81969, 81970 6/1956
Louisville & Nashville 383, 384 79982, 79983 4/1953
Lehigh Valley 581, 583 78283, 78284 11/1950, 12/1950
Lehigh Valley 585, 587 78657, 78658 4/1951
Missouri Pacific 331B-335B 78659-78663 4/1951
Missouri Pacific 345B-356B 79748-79759 12/1951 - 1/1952
Missouri Pacific 370B-380B 80034-80044 6/1953 - 8/1953
Missouri Pacific 381B, 382B 80913, 80914 1/1954 - 2/1954
Missouri Pacific 383B-386B 81111-81114 2/1954 - 4/1954
New Haven 465-469 79482-79486 11/1951
New York Central 3323-3333 78670-78680 5/1951 - 6/1951
New York Central 3334-3345 79011-79022 6/1951 - 7/1951
New York Central 3346-3354 79318-79326 8/1951 - 9/1951
New York Central 3355-3364 79472-79481 10/1951
New York Central 3365-3372 80015-80022 5/1952 - 9/1952
Pennsylvania 9608B-9618B (Evens) 78664-78669 5/1951
Pennsylvania 9620B-9628B (Evens) 79487-79491 11/1951 - 12/1951
Pennsylvania 9630B 79747 12/1951
Spokane, Portland & Seattle 868B-1, 868B-2 78285, 78496 12/1950

Montreal Locomotive Works

Total Built = 21

Owner Road Number(s) Serial Number(s) Date Built
Canadian National 9409-9427 (Odds) 77700-77709 2/1951 - 5/1951
Canadian National 9429-9437 (Odds) 77722-77726 2/1952 - 3/1952
Canadian Pacific 4465-4467 77727-77729 6/1953 - 7/1953
Canadian Pacific 4468-4470 79161-79163 9/1953 - 10/1953

FPA-2

Owner Road Number(s) Construction Number(s) Completion Date
Alco (Demo)1602A, 1602D (To Great Northern, 276A-277A)78272, 7827311/1950
Baltimore & Ohio4008-401778483-7849212/1950-1/1951
Ferrocarril del Pacífico901-90480898-809015/1954
Great Northern277A-277B (Ex-Alco Demonstrators)78272, 7827311/1950
Louisville & Nashville350-35279739-797413/1952
Louisville & Nashville383-38479982-799833/1952-4/1952
Missouri Pacific361-36979463-794711/1952
Missouri Pacific370-37279707-797091/1952
Missouri Pacific373800088/1953
Missouri Pacific387-39080831-808343/1954-4/1954
Missouri Pacific391-39280895-808964/1954
National Railways Of Mexico6500-6501 (As)78274-7827511/1950
National Railways Of Mexico6502A-6506A (As)78996-790008/1951
National Railways Of Mexico6523A (A)800099/1953
National Railways Of Mexico6524A-6527A (As)80820-808239/1953-10/1953
National Railways Of Mexico6502B-6504B (Bs)79033-790358/1951
National Railways Of Mexico6505B-65064B (Bs)79316-793178/1951
National Railways Of Mexico6523B-6527B (Bs)80905-809099/1953-10/1953

Montreal Locomotive Works

FPA-2/FPB-2

Total Built = 33

Owner Road Number(s) Construction Number(s) Completion Date
Canadian National6706-6711 (As)79197-792023/1955-4/1955
Canadian National6806-6809 (Bs)79212-792153/1955-4/1955
Canadian National6810-6911 (Bs)81186-811874/1955
Canadian Pacific4082-4083 (As)72278-722798/1953-9/1953
Canadian Pacific4094-4098 (As)79170-7917411/1953-12/1953
Canadian Pacific4463-4464 (Bs)77730-777318/1953-9/1953
National Railways Of Mexico6528A-6532A (As)79175-7917912/1953-2/1954
National Railways Of Mexico6533A (A)791962/1954
National Railways Of Mexico6528B-6533B (Bs)79206-7921112/1953-2/1954

FPA-4/FPB-4

Total Built = 46

Owner Road Number(s) Construction Number(s) Completion Date
Canadian National6760-6766 (As)82269-8227510/1958-12/1958
Canadian National6767-6793 (As)83145-831711/1959-5/1959
Canadian National6860-6862 (Bs)82276-8227810/1958-11/1958
Canadian National6863-6866 (Bs)82441-824448/1958-12/1958
Canadian National6867-6871 (Bs)82584-825881/1959-3/1959
Pennsylvania FA-2 #9610 at Enola, Pennsylvania in October, 1957. Author's collection.

Finally, Alco offered a passenger version of its FA, the FPA-2 and FPA-4 which sold modestly (it should be noted that the final model, the FPA-4, used Alco's much improved 251 model engine although by the time it was released the builder had already lost most confidence from railroads in its ability to produce reliable locomotives).

All told, Alco would sell over a thousand FA units (EMD's F series in comparison sold more than 4,800 units). 

In any event, it is interesting to wonder how well the model would have sold had the initial troubles with the 244 (and early 241) model engine had not been present with further research and development taking place before they entered production.  

Sources

  • Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.
  • Kirkland, John F. Diesel Builders, The: Volume Two, American Locomotive Company And Montreal Locomotive Works. Glendale: Interurban Press, 1989.
  • Pinkepank, Jerry A. Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1967.

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