Baldwin "DS-4-4-750" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, Data Sheet

Last revised: December 28, 2024

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 Production	7/15/1949 (Santa Fe #525)
Years Produced	7/15/1946-2/23/1951
Baldwin Class	DS-4-4-750
Engine	606NA, 6-Cylinder In-Line
Engine Builder	De La Vergne
Horsepower	750
RPM	625
Carbody Styling	Baldwin
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)	48'
Weight	200,000 Lbs
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	14'
Width	10'
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	GSC Rigid Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer
Truck Wheelbase	8'
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	362D (4), Westinghouse
Traction Generator	480F, Westinghouse
Auxiliary Generator	YG42A, Westinghouse
Gear Ratio	16:76
Tractive Effort Rating	33,600 Lbs at 8.3 MPH.
Top Speed	45 MPH

Production Roster

Total Built = 53

Owner	Road Number	Baldwin Serial Number	Construction Number	Completion Date
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe	525	1	74394	7/15/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe	526	2	74395	7/27/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe	527	3	74396	7/14/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe	528	4	74397	7/14/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe	529	5	74398	7/16/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe	530	6	74399	7/15/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe	531	7	74400	7/23/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe	532	8	74401	7/23/1949
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe	533	9	74402	7/19/1949
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	608	10	74405	8/8/1949
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	609	11	74406	8/8/1949
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	610	12	74407	8/8/1949
California Western	51	13	74408	8/19/1949
California Western	52	14	74409	8/19/1949
Erie Railroad	386	15	74430	8/5/1949
Erie Railroad	387	16	74431	8/5/1949
Erie Railroad	388	17	74432	8/5/1949
Erie Railroad	389	18	74433	8/5/1949
Texas-Mexican Railway	509	19	74594	7/16/1949
Texas-Mexican Railway	510	20	74595	7/18/1949
American Steel & Wire	20	21	74674	8/16/1949
Pennsylvania	5595	22	74720	5/17/1950
Pennsylvania	5596	23	74721	5/29/1950
Pennsylvania	5597	24	74722	5/24/1950
Pennsylvania	5598	25	74723	5/29/1950
Pennsylvania	5599	26	74724	6/12/1950
Pennsylvania	5600	27	74725	6/12/1950
Pennsylvania	5601	28	74726	6/14/1950
Pennsylvania	5602	29	74727	6/13/1950
Pennsylvania	5603	30	74728	6/14/1950
Pennsylvania	5604	31	74729	6/15/1950
Pennsylvania	5605	32	74730	6/19/1950
Pennsylvania	5606	33	74731	6/19/1950
Pennsylvania	5607	34	74732	6/20/1950
Pennsylvania	5608	35	74733	6/20/1950
Pennsylvania	5609	36	74734	6/21/1950
Pennsylvania	5610	37	74735	6/22/1950
Pennsylvania	5611	38	74736	6/23/1950
Pennsylvania	5612	39	74737	6/26/1950
Pennsylvania	5613	40	74738	6/26/1950
Pennsylvania	5614	41	74739	6/27/1950
Pennsylvania	5615	42	74740	6/28/1950
Pennsylvania	5616	43	74741	6/28/1950
Pennsylvania	5617	44	74742	6/29/1950
Pennsylvania	5618	45	74743	6/30/1950
American Cyanamid Company	14	46	74784	3/24/1950
Warner Company	14	47	74785	4/4/1950
Baldwin	301*	48	74813	7/19/1950
Baldwin	750 (Became Weyerhaeuser Timber Company #101)	49	74814	6/1950
Baldwin	751 (Became Weyerhaeuser Timber Company #102)	50	74815	6/1950
Weyerhaeuser Timber Company	101	49	74814	Acquired 10/28/1950
Weyerhaeuser Timber Company	102	50	74815	Acquired 11/15/1950
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	700	51	73657	2/21/1950
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	701	52	73658	2/22/1950
Youngstown Sheet & Tube	702	53	73659	2/23/1950

* 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).