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Baldwin's "DS-4-4-750": A 606NA-Powered Switcher

Last revised: September 19, 2024

By: Adam Burns

The DS-4-4-750 was a lightly powered switcher locomotive Baldwin cataloged during a two-year production run, from 1949-1950.

It was slightly more powerful than its earlier counterpart (DS-4-4-660), but less powerful than the DS-4-4-1000.

The switcher saw lukewarm interest, largely because the 1,000 horsepower variant had shown such strong demand.

Overview

The Baldwin Locomotive Works initially had a pessimistic view toward the diesel-electric (despite dabbling with diesel technology as early as 1925, and gasoline-powered switchers as far back as 1910). 

Management, even into the 1940's, viewed it as an inferior motive power type when compared against tried and proven steam locomotive.

Today, two DS-4-4-750's remain extant; Weyerhaeuser Timber #101 (former plant switcher #300) is preserved at the Train Mountain Railroad Museum in Chiloquin, Oregon and Warner Sand & Gravel #14 is owned by the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society.

Photos

Santa Fe DS-4-4-750 #625 at Argentine Yard in Argentine, Kansas, circa 1965. American-Rails.com collection.

The DS-4-4-750 began production in the summer of 1949 using the builder's latest 606NA model prime mover. Producing 750 horsepower, the DS-4-4-750 was a mid-grade switcher as Baldwin also produced a 660 horsepower and 1,000 horsepower model.

Using a B-B truck arrangement the model found a diversity of buyers from Class I railroads like the Pennsylvania, Erie, and Santa Fe to industrial companies like American Cynamid, Youngstown Sheet & Tube, and American Steel & Wire.

Santa Fe DS-4-4-750 #626 is seen here in Kansas, circa 1960. American-Rails.com collection.

As with the American Locomotive, Baldwin at the time still held a loyal following by some railroads that had worked with it for years during the reign of steam. The PRR, for instance, purchased examples of nearly every Baldwin diesel it ever produced.

Data Sheet and Specifications

Entered Production7/15/1949 (Santa Fe #525)
Years Produced7/15/1946-2/23/1951
Baldwin ClassDS-4-4-750
Engine606NA, 6-Cylinder In-Line
Engine BuilderDe La Vergne
Horsepower750
RPM625
Carbody StylingBaldwin
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)48'
Weight200,000 Lbs
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)14'
Width10'
TrucksB-B
Truck TypeGSC Rigid Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer
Truck Wheelbase8'
Wheel Size40"
Traction Motors362D (4), Westinghouse
Traction Generator480F, Westinghouse
Auxiliary GeneratorYG42A, Westinghouse
Gear Ratio16:76
Tractive Effort Rating33,600 Lbs at 8.3 MPH.
Top Speed45 MPH

Production Roster

Total Built = 53

Owner Road Number Baldwin Serial Number Construction Number Completion Date
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe5251743947/15/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe5262743957/27/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe5273743967/14/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe5284743977/14/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe5295743987/16/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe5306743997/15/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe5317744007/23/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe5328744017/23/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe5339744027/19/1949
Youngstown Sheet & Tube60810744058/8/1949
Youngstown Sheet & Tube60911744068/8/1949
Youngstown Sheet & Tube61012744078/8/1949
California Western5113744088/19/1949
California Western5214744098/19/1949
Erie Railroad38615744308/5/1949
Erie Railroad38716744318/5/1949
Erie Railroad38817744328/5/1949
Erie Railroad38918744338/5/1949
Texas-Mexican Railway50919745947/16/1949
Texas-Mexican Railway51020745957/18/1949
American Steel & Wire2021746748/16/1949
Pennsylvania559522747205/17/1950
Pennsylvania559623747215/29/1950
Pennsylvania559724747225/24/1950
Pennsylvania559825747235/29/1950
Pennsylvania559926747246/12/1950
Pennsylvania560027747256/12/1950
Pennsylvania560128747266/14/1950
Pennsylvania560229747276/13/1950
Pennsylvania560330747286/14/1950
Pennsylvania560431747296/15/1950
Pennsylvania560532747306/19/1950
Pennsylvania560633747316/19/1950
Pennsylvania560734747326/20/1950
Pennsylvania560835747336/20/1950
Pennsylvania560936747346/21/1950
Pennsylvania561037747356/22/1950
Pennsylvania561138747366/23/1950
Pennsylvania561239747376/26/1950
Pennsylvania561340747386/26/1950
Pennsylvania561441747396/27/1950
Pennsylvania561542747406/28/1950
Pennsylvania561643747416/28/1950
Pennsylvania561744747426/29/1950
Pennsylvania561845747436/30/1950
American Cyanamid Company1446747843/24/1950
Warner Company1447747854/4/1950
Baldwin301*48748137/19/1950
Baldwin750 (Became Weyerhaeuser Timber Company #101)49748146/1950
Baldwin751 (Became Weyerhaeuser Timber Company #102)50748156/1950
Weyerhaeuser Timber Company1014974814Acquired 10/28/1950
Weyerhaeuser Timber Company1025074815Acquired 11/15/1950
Youngstown Sheet & Tube70051736572/21/1950
Youngstown Sheet & Tube70152736582/22/1950
Youngstown Sheet & Tube70253736592/23/1950

* Originally Baldwin's plant switcher, #300.  It became Weyerhaeuser Timber #301 on January 29, 1956.

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.

After less than two years in production, Baldwin removed the DS-4-4-750 from its catalog, replacing it with the S-8 (the offered just slightly more horsepower) and the more powerful S-12.

The DS-4-4-750, and later DS-4-4-1000, also ended the company's use of its confusing classification system, which could be traced back to the steam era and "Whyte Notation."

In 1950, after it released upgraded prime movers (the model 606 and 608) it likewise used a simpler system of model type and horsepower (for instance, the S-12 meant Switcher, 1,200 horsepower). 

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