FM "H20-44" Locomotives: Specs, Data Sheet, Roster

Last revised: December 27, 2024

The H20-44 was the most powerful switcher Fairbanks-Morse cataloged. It was also powerful true switcher ever built at 2,000 horsepower.

In fact, the locomotive was so powerful that John Kirkland notes in his book, "The Diesel Builders: Fairbanks-Morse And Lima Hamilton," all of its 2,000 horses could not be used in a true switching capacity.

The only way to do so was by using the locomotive in a transfer or road-switcher capacity were it was operating in main line service.

While the H20-44 sold better than other FM models, overall its sale were only lukewarm. Few Fairbanks-Morse diesel locomotives were ever preserved but thankfully, three H20-44's were saved and are on display at various museums around the country.

Photos

Pittsburgh & West Virginia H20-44 #67 is seen here at Rook Yard (Pennsylvania) during the 1950s. Warren Calloway collection.

Overview

The H20-44 debuted in August, 1947 when it was featured at the AAR Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey alongside H15-44 #1500 and a pair of Erie-Built 'A' units.

FM was in such a rush to finish the H20-44 demonstrator, #2000, that paint crews had to finish the job on site!

The locomotive used the builder's standard 2-cycle 38D8 1/8 O-P prime mover (10 cylinders).

Additionally, it featured swing bolster, drop-side equalizer trucks with all internal electrical components outsourced from Westinghouse.

Aside from the high horsepower rating, the H20-44 featured a tractive effort rating of 42,800 pounds (at 14.7 mph) with 63:15 gearing. No other gearing was optional on this unit.

At 51 feet in length it was somewhat shorter than either of FM's lightweight road-switcher models, the H15-44 and H16-44.

As was the case with most of FM's diesel locomotive models the company hired famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy to give the H20-44 fine lines and exterior features.

Finding such design features somewhat frivolous and doing little to boost sales, FM scrapped Loewy's recommendations in the model's latter years of production to save on construction costs.

In any event, Fairbanks-Morse apparently learned from the unsuccessful nature of the H20-44 and offered no future switcher-type models that included such a high horsepower rating.

Instead, in 1950 it released the H12-44 switcher that went on to become its most successful such design.

In regards to the model's classification system, it was more or less similar to what Baldwin used in its early diesel designs but was not quite as complicated in understanding.

For example, the H20-44's designation was as follows:

"H" stood for Hood unit

"20" was the horsepower rating

Each 4 meant four axles and four traction motors

Reception

When production had ended in March, 1954 the H20-44 had sold just 96 units to a handful of railroads. The Pennsylvania wound up with the most, 38 examples.

While FM locomotives were not the unreliable machines that is often portrayed in historical texts, the H20-44 was not an especially great design.

It was too powerful as as switcher and is why the H12-44 (at 1,200 horsepower) was much more suited for this role. Interestingly, as a road or transfer switcher the H20-44 proved much more successful.

The small Akron, Canton & Youngstown of northern Ohio and nearby Pittsburgh & West Virginia, for instance, employed theirs in daily road assignments for many years.

Data Sheet and Specifications

Entered Production	8/1947 (Demonstrator #2000)
Years Produced	8/1947 - 3/1954
Fairbanks-Morse Class	H20-44
Engine	38D8 1/8, 10-cylinder Opposed-Piston
Engine Builder	Fairbanks-Morse
Horsepower	2000
RPM	850
Carbody Styling	Raymond Loewy
Length (Inside Couplers)	51'
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	14' 6"
Width	10' 6"
Weight	250,000 Lbs
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	GSC Swing Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer
Truck Wheelbase	9' 6"
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	370F (4), Westinghouse
Traction Generator	474A, Westinghouse
Auxiliary Generator	YG45A, Westinghouse
MU (Multiple-Unit)	Yes
Gear Ratio	63:15
Tractive Effort	42,800 Lbs at 14.7 mph
Top Speed	65 mph

Production Roster

Total Built = 96

Owner	Road Number	Construction Number	Contract Number	Completion Date	Quantity
Fairbanks Morse (Demo)	2000*	L1032	LD43	8/1947	1
Union Pacific	DS1365	L1031	LD43	10/1947	1
Union Pacific	DS1360-DS1364	L1033-L1037	LD39	8/1947	5
Pittsburgh & West Virginia	50-51	L1038-L1039	LD40	10/1947	2
Union Pacific	DS1367	L1040	LD43	11/1947	1
Union Pacific	DS1368-DS1370	L1041-L1043	LD43	12/1947	3
Akron, Canton & Youngstown	500-502	L1044-L1046	LD42	1/1948	3
Akron, Canton & Youngstown	503	L1047	LD42	2/1948	1
Indiana Harbor Belt (New York Central)	7110-7114	20L18-20L22	LD55	7/1948	5
Indiana Harbor Belt (New York Central)	7100-7102	20L23-20L25	LD44	7/1948	3
Indiana Harbor Belt (New York Central)	7103-7104	20L26-20L27	LD44	8/1948	2
Indiana Harbor Belt (New York Central)	7105	20L28	LD44	9/1948	1
Indiana Harbor Belt (New York Central)	7106-7109	20L29-20L32	LD44	10/1948	4
Pittsburgh & West Virginia	52-53	20L33-20L34	LD58	10/1948	2
Indiana Harbor Belt (New York Central)	7115-7116	20L35-20L36	LD61	9/1948	2
Pennsylvania	9305-9307	20L37-20L39	LD65	12/1948	3
Pennsylvania	9308-9309	20L40-20L41	LD65	1/1949	2
Pennsylvania	9300-9301	20L42-20L43	LD65	1/1949	2
Pennsylvania	9302-9304	20L44-20L46	LD65	2/1949	3
Pennsylvania	9310	20L47	LD65	2/1949	1
Pennsylvania	9311	20L48	LD65	3/1949	1
Indiana Harbor Belt (New York Central)	7117	20L49	LD78	4/1948	1
Indiana Harbor Belt (New York Central)	7118	20L50	LD78	5/1948	1
Pittsburgh & West Virginia	54-55	20L51-20L52	LD98	1/1951	2
Pittsburgh & West Virginia	56-58	20L53-20L55	LD102	1/1951	3
Pittsburgh & West Virginia	59	20L56	LD98	2/1951	1
Akron, Canton & Youngstown	504	21L309	LD101	2/1951	1
Pennsylvania	8917-8924	21L453-21L460	LD105	5/1951	8
Pennsylvania	8925-8931	21L461-21L467	LD105	6/1951	7
Pennsylvania	8932-8933	21L468-21L469	LD105	4/1951	2
Pennsylvania	8934-8936	21L470-21L472	LD105	5/1951	3
Pennsylvania	8937-8942	21L473-21L478	LD105	4/1951	6
Pittsburgh & West Virginia	60-65	21L630-21L635	LD105	5/1952	6
Pittsburgh & West Virginia	66-71	21L713-21L718	LD139	2/1953	6
Akron, Canton & Youngstown	505	21L832	LD162	3/1954	1

* Fairbanks-Morse demonstrator #2000 became Union Pacific #DS1366. It was originally built for the AAR Convention held in Atlantic City, New Jersey in August, 1947.

When production had ended on the FM H20-44 in March 1954 it had sold to five different railroads: