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Baldwin "AS-16" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, Data Sheet

Last revised: December 29, 2024

By: Adam Burns

The AS16 began a new series and designation system for Baldwin's diesel line, one which was much simpler and easier to grasp than the complicated hyphens and numbers used before.

Interestingly, this new series also found Baldwin becoming a bit more successful in the locomotive market, although it remained well behind the American Locomotive (Alco) and Electro-Motive. 

Overview

Interestingly, this improvement was likely not a coincidence. With the unveiling of its Standard Line in 1950 the company released an updated prime mover with the goal of becoming a more dominant player in the market once more. 

While the Baldwin's latest designs were still not of the quality cataloged by Electro-Motive they were certainly a step in the right direction and an improvement over earlier designs.

Unfortunately, with its purchase by the Westinghouse Electric Company, Baldwin's direction was steered away from locomotive manufacturing thus ending any ideas of remaining a major competitor.

Photos

99113556651000039183455558800ing778.jpgPennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines AS16 #6025 works freight service as it passes the station at Haddonfield, New Jersey on September 2, 1965. Roger Puta photo.

The AS16 began production in 1950 and it introduced the manufacturer's new Standard Line of diesels. "Standard" most definitely is an understatement as the new designations were easier to understand and far simpler than previous descriptions. 

Taking direction from Alco and EMD, Baldwin used a plain one or two letter designation for each model followed by two or three numbers.

A Baldwin company photo of new Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy) AS16 #1578 taken in the early 1950s.

In part, this was due to its discontinuance of manufacturing steam locomotives after 1949, realizing the motive power could no longer compete in the market. Its new designations were as follows:

  • AS for All Service
  • RS for Road Switcher
  • RF for Road Freight
  • RT for Road Transfer

The system included the number of powered axles and horsepower, although the AS16 was the only Standard Line road switcher not to include the former in its designation.

For instance, the AS416 meant All Service road switcher that featured 4 powered axles and 1,600 horsepower. Utilizing Baldwin's updated 608A prime mover, the AS16 sold relatively well at least when considering the builder's diesel line as a whole.

92874182823578239826096043066.jpgA Western Maryland publicity photo featuring a pair of its new Baldwin AS16s, led by #176, in June, 1951.

Reception

In terms of its road switchers the AS16 was the second highest seller with 127 sold to several Class I railroads including:

  • Baltimore & Ohio
  • Erie Railroad
  • Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)
  • St. Louis Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)
  • International-Great Northern (Missouri Pacific)
  • Nickel Plate Road
  • Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL)
  • Soo Line
  • Reading
  • Western Maryland

The AS16 was produced between 1950 and 1955, after which time the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation (a formation of the Baldwin Locomotive Works and Lima-Hamilton Corporation) called it quits. As usual, all internal components were supplied by Westinghouse and once again, BLH failed to offer the AS16 with dynamic braking.

Data Sheet and Specifications

Entered Production9/28/1950 (Missouri-Kansas-Texas #1571)
Years Produced9/28/1950 - 2/29/1956
Baldwin ClassDRS-4-4-1600/1 SC
Engine608A
Engine BuilderDe La Vergne
Horsepower1600
Carbody StylingBaldwin
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)58'
Weight236,000 Lbs (Optional ballasting to 250,000 Lbs.)
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)14'
Width10' 2"
TrucksB-B
Truck TypeSwing Bolster-Drop Side Equalizers
Truck Wheelbase9' 10"
Wheel Size42"
Traction Motors370DL (4)*, Westinghouse
Traction Generator471B**, Westinghouse
Auxiliary GeneratorYG42B, Westinghouse
Gear Ratio15:63
Tractive Effort Rating42,800 Lbs at 10.5 MPH (15:63)
Top Speed70 MPH

*  Later upgraded to model 370DE and then 370DEZ.

** Later upgraded to model 471BZ.

The Erie Railroad and Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines acquired a group of AS16's with freight gearing (15:68).  In addition, PRSL purchased a secondary allotment with passenger gearing (17:62).  They are as follows:

  • Erie Railroad #1106-1116 = 15:68 Gearing

  • Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines #6022-6023 =  15:68 Gearing

  • Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines #6007-6016 = 17:62 Gearing

The 15:68 freight gearing offered 52,500 pounds of continuous tractive effort at 9.2 mph.  Maximum speed was listed at 65 mph.

The 17:62 passenger gearing offered 42,400 pounds of continuous tractive effort at 11.4 mph.  Maximum speed was listed at 80 mph.

Production Roster

Total Built = 127

Owner Road Number Baldwin Serial Number Construction Number Completion Date
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)15711748919/28/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)15722748929/28/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)15733748939/29/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)157447489410/3/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)15755748959/29/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)157667489610/3/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)157777489710/4/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)157887489810/4/1950
Western Maryland1739748995/31/1951
Western Maryland17410749005/31/1951
Western Maryland17511749016/22/1951
Western Maryland17612749026/22/1951
Erie Railroad110613749035/3/1951
Erie Railroad110714749045/3/1951
Erie Railroad110815749055/3/1951
Erie Railroad110916749817/10/1951
Erie Railroad111017749827/30/1951
Erie Railroad114018749837/31/1951
Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Line)37919749848/27/1951
Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Line)38020749858/27/1951
Erie Railroad1111217498611/30/1951
Erie Railroad1112227498711/30/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas1585237534111/14/1953
Reading Railroad53025751517/24/1951
Reading Railroad53126751528/1/1952
Reading Railroad53227751538/28/1951
Reading Railroad53328751548/31/1951
Reading Railroad53429751559/1/1951
Reading Railroad53530751569/2/1951
Reading Railroad56031751579/24/1951
Reading Railroad56132751589/25/1951
Reading Railroad56233751599/27/1951
Reading Railroad56334751608/30/1951
International-Great Northern (Missouri Pacific)4195357516111/29/1951
International-Great Northern (Missouri Pacific)4196367516211/29/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)158637753421/14/1953
Reading Railroad53638753179/5/1951
Reading Railroad53739753189/30/1951
Reading Railroad538407531910/30/1951
Reading Railroad539417532010/31/1951
Reading Railroad540427532111/1/1951
Reading Railroad541437532211/7/1951
Reading Railroad542447532311/9/1951
Reading Railroad543457532411/12/1951
Reading Railroad544467532511/14/1951
Reading Railroad545477532611/14/1951
Reading Railroad546487532711/15/1951
Reading Railroad547497532811/16/1951
Reading Railroad548507532911/20/1951
Reading Railroad549517533011/21/1951
Reading Railroad550527533111/23/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)178753756941/20/1953
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)1579547543110/23/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)1580557543210/23/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)1581567543310/25/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)1582567543310/25/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)1583577543410/25/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)1584587543510/27/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)1585597543610/26/1951
Baltimore & Ohio90060754985/27/1952
Baltimore & Ohio90161754995/27/1952
Baltimore & Ohio90262755005/29/1952
Baltimore & Ohio90363755015/29/1952
Baltimore & Ohio90464755026/3/1952
Erie Railroad111365755163/25/1952
Erie Railroad111466755173/27/1952
Erie Railroad111567755183/25/1952
Erie Railroad111668755193/27/1952
Erie Railroad111769755381/29/1952
Erie Railroad111870755391/29/1952
Erie Railroad111971755401/31/1952
Erie Railroad112072755411/31/1952
Reading Railroad57673755916/21/1952
Reading Railroad57774755926/21/1952
Reading Railroad57875755936/25/1952
Reading Railroad57976755946/25/1952
Reading Railroad58077755956/30/1952
Reading Railroad58178755966/30/1952
Reading Railroad58279755977/11/1952
Reading Railroad58380755987/11/1952
Reading Railroad58481755997/18/1952
Reading Railroad58582756007/17/1952
Reading Railroad58683757157/18/1952
Reading Railroad58784757167/24/1952
Reading Railroad58885757177/22/1952
Reading Railroad58986757187/24/1952
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)178887756951/21/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines600788758043/19/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines670889758053/19/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines670990758063/23/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines671091758073/26/1953
Baltimore & Ohio90592754203/27/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines601193758503/31/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines601294758513/31/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines601395758524/16/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines601496758534/23/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines601597758544/16/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines601698758554/23/1953
Reading Railroad551997592610/5/1954
Reading Railroad5521007592710/8/1953
Reading Railroad5531017592810/26/1953
Reading Railroad5541027592911/3/1953
New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate)3201037594311/4/1953
New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate)3211047594411/4/1953
Baltimore & Ohio899105759662/25/1954
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines6024106759752/16/1956
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines6025107759762/16/1956
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines6026108759772/29/1956
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines6027109759782/29/1956
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines60221107597912/30/1955
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines60231117598012/30/1955
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)4326112760046/30/1954
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)4327113760056/30/1954
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)4328114760067/15/1954
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)4329115760077/15/1954
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)4330116760087/23/1954
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)4331117760097/23/1954
New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate)322118760286/15/1954
New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate)323119760296/18/1954
Baltimore & Ohio890120760965/6/1955
Baltimore & Ohio891121760975/23/1955
Baltimore & Ohio892122760985/24/1955
Baltimore & Ohio893123760995/25/1955
Baltimore & Ohio894124761005/27/1955
Baltimore & Ohio895125761016/16/1955
Baltimore & Ohio896126761026/22/1955
Baltimore & Ohio897127761036/27/1955
Baltimore & Ohio898128761046/30/1955

Serial number 24 remained vacant.

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.
Western Maryland AS-16 #173 was captured here by Roger Puta in the Hagerstown Yard during September of 1964. Note the Baltimore & Ohio F7's in the background.

Why the company elected to preclude this option has always remained a mystery considering the benefits it offered, particularly in heavy freight/drag service on stiff grades, and the fact that both the RS3 and GP7 offered the feature.  Unfortunately, none of the AS16s manufactured are known to be preserved or in operation. 

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    Grand Trunk Railway of Canada—charter Nov. 10, 1852, Montreal–Toronto 1856, Portland, Sarnia, Victoria Bridge, St. Clair Tunnel 1891, Great Western 1882, GTPR, CN Jan. 20, 1923. 1893 map and Official…

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  44. Troop Trains In World War II: Sleepers, Kitchen Cars & Movements

    Sep 09, 26 11:42 PM

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    WWII U.S. troop trains—almost 44 million armed-services passengers, Pullman troop sleepers, ACF kitchen cars, hospital trains, monthly movement tables 1942–45. Not the Military Railway Service. ODT an…

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  45. Railroads In The 1940s: War Traffic, Last Steam & the Diesel Flood

    Sep 09, 26 11:37 PM

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    U.S. railroads 1940–1950—233,670 to 223,779 miles. World War II as the decade’s center, last new steam, diesel flood after V-J Day, 1945 car orders, California Zephyr 1949.

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  46. Railroads In World War II: ODT, Record Traffic & Private Operation

    Sep 09, 26 03:00 PM

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    U.S. railroads in World War II—Lend-Lease freight, Pearl Harbor, Office of Defense Transportation, 1944 peak ~740 billion ton-miles, Dec. 1943–Jan. 1944 seizure. Private operation, not a USRA sequel.

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  47. Montana Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 09, 26 02:54 PM

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    2026 Montana Christmas trains—Charlie Russell Chew Choo North Pole Adventure from Hanover/Lewistown, Nov. 27–Dec. 19, $71, about 1.5 hours. Not Polar Express.

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  48. Railroads In The 1930s: Depression, Streamliners & the FT

    Sep 09, 26 09:32 AM

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    U.S. railroads 1930–1940—249,052 to 233,670 miles. Section 77, Eastman, Motor Carrier Act, M-10000 and Pioneer Zephyr 1934, EMC FT 1939. Decade frame, not the streamliner encyclopedia.

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  49. Sugar Cane Train (Lahaina): LK&P History, Roster & 2026 End

    Sep 09, 26 08:19 AM

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    Lahaina, Kaanapali & Pacific Sugar Cane Train—3-foot tourist line 1970–2014. Anaka, Myrtle, 2023 and 2025 fires, September 2026 scrapping. Roster, Hahakea trestle, Pioneer Mill corridor.

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  50. Massachusetts Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide

    Sep 09, 26 08:16 AM

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    2026 Massachusetts Christmas trains—Shelburne Falls Moonlight Magic Friday Nov. 27; Edaville Festival of Lights in Carver. Polar is Cape Cod Central in Buzzards Bay.

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