Alco "FA-1"/"FA-2" Locomotives

Last revised: March 11, 2023

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

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.

The Alco FA sporting a beefier carbody than EMD's F series was introduced by the company in 1946 and initially offered 1,500 horsepower with a B-B wheel arrangement (four axles per truck).

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 (later General Motors' Electro-Motive Division) 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.

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

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.

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 FA-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

Owner Road Number(s) Quantity Date Built
Canadian National9400-940784/1950-6-1950 (MLW)
Canadian Pacific4008-4027 (As)206/1950-10/1950 (MLW)
Canadian Pacific4404-4423 (Bs)206/1950-10/1950 (MLW)
Erie Railroad725A-735A, 725D-735D (As)221947-1949
Erie Railroad725B-735B, 725C-735C (Bs)221948-1949
Great Northern276A, 276B, 310A, 310C, 440A, 440A, 442A, 442D (As)81948-1950
Great Northern310B, 440B, 440C, 442B, 442C (Bs)51948-1950
Green Bay & Western501-502, 503 (1st/2nd), 50751947-1949
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio700-754 (As)551946-1947
Gulf, Mobile & OhioB1-B33 (Bs)331946-1950
Lehigh & New England701-710 (As)101948-1949
Lehigh & New England751-753 (Bs)31948-1949
Lehigh Valley530-548 (As, Evens)101948
Lehigh Valley531-549 (Bs, Odds)101948
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy)326A-334A, 326C-334C181948-1949
Missouri Pacific301-330 (As)301948-1950
Missouri Pacific301B-310B, 321B-325B (Bs)151948-1950
New York Central1000-1043 (As)441947-1949
New York Central2300-2322 (Bs)231947-1949
New Haven0400-0429 (As)301947
New Haven0450-0464 (Bs)151947
Pennsylvania9600-9607 (As)81948-1950
Pennsylvania9600B-9607B (Bs)81948-1950
Reading300A-305A (As)61948
Reading300B-305B (Bs)61948
Rock Island145-160 (As)161948
Rock Island145B-152B (Bs)81948
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco)5200-5231 (As)321948-1949
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway (Frisco)5300-5315 (Bs)161948-1949
Seaboard Air Line4200-4202 (As)31948
Seaboard Air Line4300-4302 (Bs)31948
Soo Line205A-211A, 205B-211B141948-1949
Spokane, Portland & Seattle850A-1 - 860A-1 (Evens), 850A-2 - 860A-2 (Evens), 866A-1, 866A-2 (As)141948-1950
Spokane, Portland & Seattle856B-1 - 860B-1 (Evens), 856B-2 - 860B-2 (Evens), 866B-1, 866B-2 (Bs)81949-1950
Tennessee Central801-805 (As)51949
Tennessee Central801B (Bs)11949
Union Pacific1500A-1543A, 1626-1643 (As)621947-1948
Union Pacific1524B-1541B, 1618B-1642B (Evens), 1618C-1642C (Evens) (Bs)441947-1948
Wabash Railroad1200-1204, 1200A-1204A (As)101949
Wabash Railroad1200B-1204B (Bs)51949
Wisconsin Central (Soo Line)2220A-2223A, 2220B-2223B81949

FA-2

Owner Road Number(s) Quantity Date Built
Alco (Demo)1600A, 1600D, 1602A, 1602D (As)41950
Alco (Demo)1600B, 1600C, 1602B, 1602C (Bs)41950
Ann Arbor50-56, 50A-56A141950
Baltimore & Ohio801-837 (Odds), 801A-837A (Odds) (As)361950-1953
Baltimore & Ohio801x-817x (Odds), 817ax, 819x-837x (Odds), 837ax (Bs)211950-1953
Canadian National9408-9456 (Evens) (As)262/1951-6/1953 (MLW)
Canadian National9409-9437 (Odds) (Bs)152/1951-3/1952 (MLW)
Canadian Pacific4042-4051, 4084-4093 (As)207/1951-10/1953 (MLW)
Canadian Pacific4465-4470 (Bs)66/1953-10/1953 (MLW)
Erie Railroad736A-739A, 736D-739D (As)81950-1951
Erie Railroad736B-739B, 736C-739C (Bs)81950-1951
Great Northern277A, 277B21950
Louisville & Nashville300-321, 350-369, 383-384 (As)441952-1956
Louisville & Nashville200-211, 300-331 (Bs)141952-1956
Lehigh Valley580-594 (Evens, As)81950-1951
Lehigh Valley581-587 (Odds, Bs)41950-1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy)331A11950
Missouri Pacific331-360, 374-386 (As)431951-1954
Missouri Pacific331B-335B, 345B-356B, 370B-386B (Bs)341951-1954
New Haven465-469 (Bs)51951
New York Central1044-1123 (As)801951-1952
New York Central3323-3372 (Bs)501951-1952
Pennsylvania9608A-9631A (As)241951
Pennsylvania9608B-9630B (Bs)121951
Spokane, Portland & Seattle868A-1, 868A-2 (As)21950
Spokane, Portland & Seattle868B-1, 868B-2 (Bs)21950
Western Maryland301-30441951

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

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

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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