Baldwin "VO-660" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, Data Sheet

Last revised: December 31, 2024

The VO660 was Baldwin's first diesel switcher model, debuting in 1939 along with its more powerful cousin, the VO-1000. It somewhat resembled models then in production by the American Locomotive and Electro-Motive Corporation.

The Baldwin Locomotive Works was slow to embrace the diesel-electric concept as a main line locomotive.

However, as John Kirkland points out in his book, "The Diesel Builders: Volume Three (Baldwin Locomotive Works," Baldwin was quite familiar with electric and diesel-electric technology dating back to the early 20th century.

Between 1910-1926, Baldwin constructed more than 1,230 gasoline-engine switchers and in 1925 built its first diesel-powered locomotive.

Today, a few examples of the VO-660 remain preserved; Wyandotte Terminal #103 is located at the Illinois Railway Museum while Standard Steel #6712 is currently being put back into operation by short line SMS Lines (which loves Baldwins and rosters several in active service).

Photos

Chicago & North Western VO-660m #1237, circa 1965. This unit was outshopped by Baldwin on April 28, 1945. It was sent to Electro-Motive in the late 1950s and rebuilt with a 567C power plant. American-Rails.com collection.

Overview

The VO660 began production in April, 1939 as the company's first true diesel model. The company was able to produce its own line of diesels only after it had acquired the I.P. Morris & De La Vergne company, which specialized in the design and construction of diesel engines.

Interestingly, Baldwin's purchase of the company was more to diversify its holdings in offering switcher and light duty diesels, as it saw no need to develop a main line freight or passenger locomotive. This can also be seen in its 1929 purchase of the Whitcomb Locomotive Works, which dated back to the late 19th century.

Whitcomb began specializing in electric/diesel-electric locomotives as early as 1914 and after Baldwin's purchase continued to release small, industrial size switchers that actually sold relatively well.

Despite Baldwin's later issues of remaining competitive in the diesel market it actually found sustained business in small switchers.

The "VO" was the designation De La Vergne gave to the prime mover used in the locomotive and the "660" simply regarded the horsepower.

The company kept this setup through the VO1000 but soon after changed its classification system to a complex set of numbers and letters.

While Baldwin only sold a little over 100 VO660s railroads tended to favor the design, as could be seen in later models that sold several hundred units.

Class I railroads like the Denver & Rio Grande Western, Chicago & North Western, New York Central, Northern Pacific, Western Maryland, Reading, Wabash and others all purchased at least a few examples of the VO660.

The relatively good reliability of the small switcher and its rugged pulling power made it a real favorite among crews and railroads.

Data Sheet and Specifications

Baldwin's early "VO" model switchers are somewhat difficult to differentiate in that the builder was slowly phasing production over to diesel technology. As a result, its early variants were offered in a variety of horsepower ratings and constructed at the same time.

The information presented here will break down the switchers built to the 660 horsepower rating, and the various differences to which each was constructed until Baldwin settled on a standardized design.

Baldwin technically never classified the model as the "VO-660." As Brian Solomon notes in his book, "Baldwin Locomotives," this was another railfan designation to classify these early switchers.

In truth, Baldwin never gave its first production switcher line any name at all, only listing them by their horsepower rating.

The first built to 660 horsepower (and Baldwin's third diesel-electric it ever produced) was demonstrator #62000; despite changes here and there this locomotive essentially kicked off the 660 horsepower line.

Demonstrator #62000

Date Built	10/1936
Baldwin Class	8-OE-660/1 E-1*
Engine	VO, 6-Cylinder In-Line
Engine Builder	De La Vergne
Horsepower	660
RPM	600
Carbody Styling	Baldwin
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)	39' 6"
Weight	212,000 Lbs.
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	Rigid Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer
Truck Wheelbase	8'
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company
Traction Generator	Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company
Auxiliary Generator	Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company
Gear Ratio	16:76
Tractive Effort Rating	29,900 Lbs at 5.7 MPH.
Top Speed	45 MPH

* Baldwin's classification system:

8 = Total number of wheels
OE = Oil engine-Electric transmission
660/1 = One 660 HP engine
E = 4 pairs of driving wheels
1 = First locomotive of this class

From Baldwin's view, #62000 was its first production diesel locomotive, completed as a demonstrator in October, 1936. Following demonstrations on June 28, 1937 it was sold to the Santa Fe as #2200. The locomotive primarily handled switching chores at AT&SF's Dearborn Station (Chicago).

In 1940 Baldwin offered to replace the locomotive with a 1,000 horsepower variant (Class 0-4-4-0 1000/1 DE29), which featured Westinghouse equipment, a trait by then shared with all Baldwin-produced diesels.

The Santa Fe accepted #2206 on May 29, 1941; #2200 was returned to Baldwin and became Eddystone plant switcher #1. It was eventually sold to Boston Metals Company in the 1960's and scrapped in 1966.

Reading #36

Completion Date	6/22/1939
Baldwin Class	8-DE-660/1 E-1*
Engine	VO, 6-Cylinder In-Line
Engine Builder	De La Vergne
Horsepower	660
RPM	600
Carbody Styling	Baldwin
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)	43' 8"
Weight	194,000 Lbs.
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	Batz
Truck Wheelbase	8' 4"
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	362 (4), Westinghouse
Traction Generator	485D2, Westinghouse
Auxiliary Generator	YG30B, Westinghouse
Gear Ratio	16:76
Tractive Effort Rating	28,000 Lbs at 6.5 MPH.
Top Speed	45 MPH

* Baldwin's updated classification system:

8 = Total number of wheels
DE = Diesel-Electric
660/1 = One 660 HP engine
E = 4 pairs of driving wheels
1 = First locomotive of this class

Reading #36 (later renumbered 60 within a year of its delivery) was a one-off design that featured 'I' beams between the engine compartment running the length of the carbody.

This resulted in an extended pilot "porch" and unconventional elevated walkway along the long hood. No other VO-660's were built like this particular unit.

Early Variants

Completion Date	12/5/1939 (Demonstrator #299*)
Years Produced	12/5/1939-2/1940
Baldwin Class	8-DE-660/1 E
Engine	VO, 6-Cylinder In-Line
Engine Builder	De La Vergne
Horsepower	660
RPM	600
Carbody Styling	Baldwin
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)	45'
Weight	198,500 Lbs.
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	14' 6"
Width	10'
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	Batz
Truck Wheelbase	8'
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	362 (4), Westinghouse
Traction Generator	485H2, Westinghouse
Auxiliary Generator	YG30C, Westinghouse
Gear Ratio	16:76
Tractive Effort Rating	28,000 Lbs at 6.5 MPH.
Top Speed	45 MPH

* Baldwin demonstrator #299, completed on December 5, 1939, was the first VO-660 to carry the now classic-lines of its switcher series.

Later Variants

Completion Date	5/20/1940 (Northern Pacific #128)
Years Produced	5/20/1940-6/15/1946
Baldwin Class	8-DE-660/1 E
Engine	VO, 6-Cylinder In-Line
Engine Builder	De La Vergne
Horsepower	660
RPM	600
Carbody Styling	Baldwin
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)	45'
Weight	198,500 Lbs.
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	14' 6"
Width	10'
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	Rigid Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer*
Truck Wheelbase	8'
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	362B (4), Westinghouse
Traction Generator	485H2, Westinghouse
Auxiliary Generator	YG30C, Westinghouse
Gear Ratio	16:76
Tractive Effort Rating	28,000 Lbs at 6.5 MPH.
Top Speed	45 MPH

* As John Kirkland notes in his book, "The Diesel Builders: Volume Two," General Steel Casting Corporation never gave their trucks model identifications, such as AAR Type A or AAR Type B.

While the types were adopted by American Association of Railroads (AAR) as standard designs, their specific designations were actually coined by railfans, not the industry.

Production Roster

Total Built = 141

Later Variants

Owner	Road Number	Baldwin Serial Number	Construction Number	Completion Date
Northern Pacific	128 (Renumbered 650)	6	62392	5/20/1940
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific (Milwaukee Road)	1635	7	62393	5/19/1940
Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern	600	8	62394	6/9/1940
Terminal Railroad Association Of St. Louis	531	9	62395	7/23/1940
Terminal Railroad Association Of St. Louis	532	10	62396	7/24/1940
Missouri Pacific	9009	11	62397	9/3/1940
Missouri Pacific	9010	12	62398	9/12/1940
Reading	61	13	62399	9/26/1940
Reading	62	14	62400	10/4/1940
Reading	63	15	62401	10/16/1940
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern	271	16	62488	3/19/1941
Elgin, Joliet & Eastern	272	17	62489	3/19/1941
Seaboard Air Line	1202	18	62490	2/10/1941
American Steel & Wire	1	19	62491	4/17/1941
Southern Pacific	1021	20	62492	4/15/1941
Southern Pacific	1022	21	62493	4/15/1941
New York Central	501	22	62494	5/7/1941
Iowa Ordnance Depot	2-100	23	62495	5/29/1941
Denver & Rio Grande Western	66	24	62496	5/31/1941
Wabash Railway	200	25	62497	7/28/1941
Missouri Pacific	9206	26	62498	6/26/1941
Upper Merion & Plymouth	51	27	62499	7/21/1941
Missouri Pacific	9012	28	62500	7/25/1941
Denver & Rio Grande Western	67	29	62501	7/20/1941
Denver & Rio Grande Western	68	30	62502	7/17/1941
Denver & Rio Grande Western	69	31	64183	8/4/1941
Denver & Rio Grande Western	70	32	64184	8/8/1941
Denver & Rio Grande Western	71	33	64185	8/18/1941
Denver & Rio Grande Western	72	34	64186	8/19/1941
Denver & Rio Grande Western	73	35	64187	9/5/1941
Denver & Rio Grande Western	74	36	64188	8/30/1941
Patapsco & Back Rivers	63	37	64189	8/21/1941
Reading	64	38	64190	9/4/1941
Western Maryland	1201	39	64191	10/6/1941
Reading	65	40	64192	9/11/1941
Reading	66	41	64193	9/26/1941
Reading	67	42	64194	10/8/1941
Southern Railway	DS-2005	43	64195	10/10/1941
New Orleans Public Belt	41	44	64196	10/24/1941
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis	40	45	64197	11/5/1941
Louisville & Nashville	20	46	64230	11/26/1941
Louisville & Nashville	21	47	64231	12/7/1941
Louisville & Nashville	22	48	64232	12/18/1941
Louisville & Nashville	23	49	64233	12/3/1941
New York Central	502	50	64234	1/16/1942
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	1040	51	64235	1/22/1942
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	1041	52	64236	1/22/1942
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	1042	53	64237	1/26/1942
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	1043	54	64238	1/27/1942
Terminal Railroad Association Of St. Louis	533	55	64239	2/22/1942
Terminal Railroad Association Of St. Louis	534	56	64240	3/1/1942
New Orleans Public Belt	42	57	64241	3/11/1942
New Orleans Public Belt	43	58	64242	3/12/1942
Upper Merion & Plymouth	52	59	64243	2/28/1942
Akron & Barberton Belt	25	60	64244	3/18/1942
Northern Pacific	129	61	64245	4/10/1942
Northern Pacific	130	62	64246	4/7/1942
Pennsylvania	5907	63	64247	3/26/1942
Upper Terminal Of Memphis	9090	64	64248	4/16/1942
Upper Terminal Of Memphis	9091	65	64249	4/5/1942
Basic Magnesium, Inc.	1000	66	64250	4/19/1942
Patapsco & Back Rivers	64	67	64251	4/11/1942
Patapsco & Back Rivers	65	68	64252	4/1/1942
St. Louis-San Francisco	600	69	64253	5/3/1942
St. Louis-San Francisco	601	70	64254	5/7/1942
American Steel & Wire	23-1	71	64387	7/2/1942
Western Maryland	103	72	64388	7/18/1942
Western Maryland	104	73	64389	7/13/1942
Reading	68	74	64390	7/22/1942
Reading	69	75	64391	7/23/1942
Chicago & Eastern Illinois	110	76	64392	8/28/1942
Pennsylvania	5908	77	64393	9/1/1942
Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern	1	78	64394	9/24/1942
Pennsylvania	5809	79	64395	9/1/1942
New York Central	752	80	64396	10/22/1942
New York Central	753	81	64397	11/2/1942
New York Central	754	82	64398	11/2/1942
Reading	70	82	64399	9/11/1942
Western Maryland	105	84	64400	9/15/1942
Pennsylvania	5932	85	64401	9/11/1942
Pennsylvania	5933	86	64402	9/23/1942
Pennsylvania	5934	87	64403	9/23/1942
Pennsylvania	5935	88	64404	10/4/1942
Pennsylvania	5936	89	64405	10/4/1942
Pennsylvania	5937	90	64406	10/6/1942
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company	10	92	64757	6/9/1942
U.S. Navy	15	93	70324	12/30/1944
U.S. Navy	16	94	70325	12/29/1944
U.S. Navy	18	95	70326	12/28/1944
New York Central	755	96	70327	1/2/1945
New York Central	756	97	70328	1/2/1945
New York Central	757	98	70329	1/5/1945
New York Central	758	99	70330	1/6/1945
New York Central	759	100	70331	1/10/1945
New York Central	760	101	70332	1/10/1945
New York Central	761	102	70333	1/10/1945
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	600	103	71759	2/15/1945
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	601	104	71760	3/19/1945
U.S. Navy	10	105	72002	4/26/1945
U.S. Navy	11	106	72003	4/26/1945
U.S. Navy	31	107	72004	5/16/1945
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	602	108	71512	4/25/1945
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	603	109	71513	4/24/1945
Chicago & North Western	1237	110	71514	4/28/1945
Chicago & North Western	1238	111	71515	4/28/1945
Chicago & North Western	1239	112	71516	5/11/1945
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	604	113	71517	5/30/1945
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	605	114	71518	5/30/1945
Chicago & North Western	1240	115	71519	6/7/1945
Chicago & North Western	1241	116	71520	6/7/1945
Chicago & North Western	1242	117	71521	6/8/1945
Chicago & North Western	1243	118	71569	6/14/1945
Chicago & North Western	1244	119	71570	6/16/1945
Chicago & North Western	1245	120	71571	6/18/1945
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha (C&NW)	58	121	71572	6/25/1945
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha (C&NW)	59	122	71573	6/28/1945
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha (C&NW)	68	123	71574	6/28/1945
Chicago & North Western	1246	124	71575	8/13/1945
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	606	125	71576	8/20/1945
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	607	126	71577	9/17/1945
Long Island Rail Road	403	127	71578	10/2/1945
American Smelting & Refining	1950	128	72813	11/2/1945
American Smelting & Refining	1951	129	72814	10/29/1945
American Smelting & Refining	1952	130	72815	11/4/1945
American Smelting & Refining	1953	131	72816	11/5/1945
Warner Company	11	132	72817	11/30/1945
Francisco Sugar Company	45	133	72818	6/15/1946
Proctor & Gamble Company	125	134	72819	12/26/1945
American Steel & Wire	11	135	72820	1/9/1946
Pennsylvania	5941	136	72821	10/13/1945
Pennsylvania	5942	137	72822	10/13/1945
Wyandotte Terminal Railroad	101	138	72823	10/30/1945
Singer Manufacturing Company	2	139	72824	11/24/1945
Wyandotte Terminal Railroad	102	140	72825	11/28/1945
Wyandotte Terminal Railroad	103	141	72826	11/28/1945
Pennsylvania	5943	142	72827	11/3/1945
LaSalle & Bureau County	6	143	72828	1/24/1946
Kansas City Southern	1150	144	72829	5/8/1946

Beginning with Baldwin's "B Lot" of VO-660's, the first of which was serial number 16 (Elgin, Joliet & Eastern #271), the cab roof was lowered from 14' 6" to 14'.

This was made to improve clearance restrictions under bridges, within tunnels, and among other potential obstacles. In total, the VO-660 was built in Lots A through K; changes after Lot B were minor.

Early Variants

Owner	Road Number	Baldwin Serial Number	Construction Number	Completion Date
Baldwin Demonstrator	62000 (Became Santa Fe #2200)	1	62000	10/1936
Santa Fe	2200 (Traded to Baldwin on 5/29/1941; became plant switcher #1.)	1	62000	10/1936
Reading	36 (Renumbered 60)	1	62300	6/22/1939
Baldwin Demonstrator	299 (Plant switcher)	2	62299	12/5/1939
Baldwin Demonstrator	335 (Sold to Standard Steel Works [#12] on 2/24/1940, later renumbered 6712.)	3	62335	1/31/1940
Baldwin Demonstrator	336 (Sold to Elgin, Joliet & Eastern [#270] on 5/7/1940.)	4	62336	3/1940
Baldwin Demonstrator	337 (Sold to Central of Georgia [#5])	5	62337	2/1940

Of important note is the first five VO-660's constructed, Baldwin serial numbers 1-5; these locomotives were built to the specifications noted above.

Beginning with Baldwin serial #6 (Northern Pacific #128), part of "Lot A" (Baldwin's way of designating minor differences/improvements to a model type), some changes were made which is reflected in the below data sheet.

Sources

Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.

Kirkland, John F. Diesel Builders, The: Volume Three, Baldwin Locomotive Works. Pasadena: Interurban Press, 1994.

Pinkepank, Jerry A. Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1967.

Solomon, Brian. Baldwin Locomotives. Minneapolis: Voyageur Press, 2009.

Standard Steel VO-660 #6712 is seen here at the company's plant in Burnham, Pennsylvania on July 20, 1976. Purchased new by the manufacturer in 1940 she is the oldest preserved Baldwin, currently owned by SMS Rail. Doug Kroll photo.

Reception

The VO660 also found an interest with industrial settings as companies like the Iowa Ordnance Plant, American Smelting and Refining Company, American Steel & Wire Company and even the US Navy and Westinghouse itself purchased the VO660.

For Baldwin its real successes with switcher designs came later with models like the VO-1000, S12, and DS-4-4-1000. These locomotives offered much greater horsepower and tractive effort, which made them more marketable (as railroads could employ them in a number of different applications, not just switching and shuffling cars).

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