Baldwin "DR-4-4-1500" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, Data Sheet

Last revised: December 28, 2024

The DR-4-4-1500 was the first domestically produced cab freight unit Baldwin offered in an effort to compete against Electro-Motive's extremely successful F series.

Baldwin used two carbody styles for its road freight units; the original "Baby Face" design and later the more striking "Sharknose" design.

At least one version could be found on several models including the DR-4-4-1500, DR-6-4-1500, DR-6-4-2000, and finally the RF-16 (offered only in the "Sharknose" carbody).

The latter was part of the builder's new "Standard Line" released in the early 1950's. Baldwin faced reliability issues with its early models; coupled with an unattractive design the company sold few DR-4-4-1500s.

By the time production had ended just over 100 A and B units rolled out of Eddystone (most of which were purchased by the PRR).

Photos

An A-B-A set of Pennsylvania's handsome Baldwin cab units in the "Sharknose" carbody, including DR-4-4-1500 #9700 and RF16A #9725, layover in Toledo, Ohio on March 7, 1963. Fred Byerly photo. American-Rails.com collection.

Overview

The DR-4-4-1500 began production in November, 1947 using a carbody design that can only be described as unique.

Similar to EMD's cab units that carried a streamlined look with a sloped front nose ahead of the crew cab, the DR-4-4-1500 wore something similar.

The most noticeable difference was the nose; EMD's was much higher, sporting narrower windshields which molded to the carbody's overall appearance.

By contrast, the DR-4-4-1500 featured a lower nose with larger, wider windshields. The appearance earned it the nickname "Baby Face" by railfans and train enthusiasts.

Reception

From the start, the DR-4-4-1500 was intended for freight service as a direct competitor against similar models from Electro-Motive (F series) and American-Locomotive (FA).

If there was an area in which Baldwin struggled immensely, it was the cab market. The builder found few buyers for either its original "Baby Face" variant or later "Shark Nose" design.

In addition, it was nearly a decade late in releasing a cab design to complete against Electro-Motive. To Baldwin's credit, the builder continued refining its locomotives. The RF16, for example, was much more successful.

It is interesting to wonder what may have happened if Baldwin weathered its initial poor performance selling diesel locomotives. The builder's "Standard Line" was growing in demand when parent Westinghouse pulled Baldwin out of the locomotive market.

The DR-4-4-1500 (or, DR-4-4-15) utilized the builder's original 608SC prime mover. The DR-4-4-1500 could produce 1,500 horsepower and featured a B-B truck setup (two axles per truck).

Model Classification

Since Baldwin was still building a few steam locomotives when the DR-4-4-1500 was released, the company continued to utilize a version of the "Whyte Notation" classification system from the steam era.

For example, the model's numbers and letters referred to the following:

Diesel Road unit

The first 4 referred to four overall axles

The second 4 regarded four powered traction motors

1,500 indicated the horsepower rating

The A-B-B-A demonstrator set of Baldwin's DR-4-4-1500 are seen here at Maybrook Yard (New York) testing on the Lehigh & Hudson River, circa 1949. This is the later version of the model wearing the "Sharknose" carbody, which replaced the earlier "Baby Face" design.

The "Baby Face" design did not last long. Realizing it was unpopular, Baldwin contracted with Hadley, Ryder & Pedersen for a complete carbody redesign.

The company came up with the classic "Sharknose" concept, which gave Baldwin's late-era cab locomotives an entirely unique look.

Hadley, Ryder & Pedersen was also tasked with arranging the interior equipment, stress analysis of the carbody, and working with Baldwin in the final overall design.

Contrary to popular railfan belief, the Sharknose was not a Raymond Loewy design. As John Kirkland points out in his book, "The Diesel Builders: Volume Three (Baldwin Locomotive Works," this idea likely derived from the carbody's similarity to Pennsylvania Railroad's streamlined 4-4-4-4 "Duplex Drive" T-1's.

The angular nose of these famous steam locomotives, which as a Lowey inspiration, bore a striking resemblance to the Sharknose carbody.

A pair of Jersey Central's DR-4-4-1500s, with #72 closest to the photographer, is seen here in Allentown, Pennsylvania on March 27, 1965. Warren Calloway collection.

Internally, the DR-4-4-15 featured components from Westinghouse Electric, which supplied Baldwin with virtually all of its internal equipment for its diesel models (the two companies had been working in conjunction since the 19th century).

As for tractive effort, the original "Baby Face" variant ranged from 28,100 to 42,800 continuous depending upon the gearing chosen.

Gearing Options

Gear Ratio	Maximum Speed	Continuous Tractive Effort (Lbs)	Continuous TE Rating Speed
15:63	65	42,800	10.5
17:62	75	37,200	12.2
19:60	82	32,200	14.0
20:59	87.5	30,000	15.0
21:58	93.5	28,100	16.0

Data Sheet and Specifications

"Baby Face"

Entered Production	11/11/1947 (Jersey Central #70-71 [As] and #K [B])
Years Produced	11/11/1947 - 12/30/1948
Baldwin Class	DR-4-4-1500/1 SC
Engine	608SC
Engine Builder	De La Vergne
Horsepower	1500
RPM	625
Carbody Styling	Baldwin
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)	53' 6"
Weight	250,000 Lbs
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	GSC Swing Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizers
Truck Wheelbase	9' 10"
Wheel Size	42"
Traction Motors	370F (4), Westinghouse
Traction Generator	471A, Westinghouse
Auxiliary Generator	YG42A, Westinghouse
Gear Ratio	15:63*
Tractive Effort Rating	42,800 Lbs at 10.5 MPH.
Top Speed	65 MPH

* All DR-4-4-1500's of the "Baby Face" carbody were purchased with the 15:63 gearing although the options mentioned in the first table were available.

Following completion of the Jersey Central units, Baldwin rearranged equipment within the "A" units which increased their length to 55' 6". The "B" units length remained unchanged.

"Shark Nose"

Entered Production	2/28/1949 (Pennsylvania #9568 [A] and #9568B-9569B [Bs])
Years Produced	2/28/1949 - 6/9/1950
Baldwin Class	DR-4-4-1500/1 SC
Engine	608SC
Engine Builder	De La Vergne
Horsepower	1500
RPM	625
Carbody Styling	Baldwin
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)	54' 8" (A units), 53' 22" (B units)
Weight	250,000 Lbs
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	GSC Swing Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizers
Truck Wheelbase	9' 10"
Wheel Size	42"
Traction Motors	370F (4), Westinghouse
Traction Generator	471A, Westinghouse
Auxiliary Generator	YG42A, Westinghouse
Gear Ratio	15:63
Tractive Effort Rating	42,800 Lbs at 10.5 MPH.
Top Speed	65 MPH

Pennsylvania units #9705A-9707A and #9704B-9705B were upgraded with a YG42B auxiliary-exciter generator and 370GL traction motors.

Production Rosters

Total Built = 105

Rick Burn caught a rare of set of Jersey Central DR-4-4-1500s, led by #73, with freight 2410 at the West 8th Street Station in Bayonne, New Jersey in August, 1964.

"Babyface"

Owner	Road Number	Baldwin Serial Number (A Unit)	Baldwin Serial Number (B Unit)	Construction Number	Completion Date
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	70	1	-	73114	11/11/1947
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	K	-	1	73124	11/11/1947
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	71	2	-	73115	11/11/1947
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	72	3	-	73116	7/1/1948
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	L	-	2	73125	7/1/1948
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	73	4	-	73117	7/1/1948
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	74	5	-	73118	8/20/1948
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	M	-	3	73126	8/20/1948
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	75	6	-	73119	8/20/1948
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	76	7	-	73120	9/9/1948
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	R	-	4	73127	9/9/1948
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	77	8	-	73121	9/9/1948
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	78	9	-	73122	9/26/1948
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	S	-	5	73128	9/26/1948
Central Railroad Of New Jersey	79	10	-	73123	9/26/1948
New York Central	3400	11	-	73676	10/26/1948
New York Central	3700	-	6	73680	10/26/1948
New York Central	3401	12	-	73677	10/30/1948
New York Central	3402	13	-	73678	10/30/1948
New York Central	3701	-	7	73681	10/30/1948
New York Central	3403	14	-	73679	10/30/1948
Missouri Pacific	201	15	-	73734	12/6/1948
Missouri Pacific	201B	-	8	73742	12/6/1948
Missouri Pacific	205	16	-	73735	12/6/1948
Missouri Pacific	202	17	-	73736	12/9/1948
Missouri Pacific	202B	-	9	73743	12/9/1948
Missouri Pacific	206	18	-	73737	12/9/1948
Missouri Pacific	203	19	-	73738	12/20/1948
Missouri Pacific	203B	-	10	73744	12/20/1948
Missouri Pacific	207	20	-	73739	12/20/1948
Missouri Pacific	204	21	-	73740	12/30/1948
Missouri Pacific	204B	-	11	73745	12/30/1948
Missouri Pacific	208	22	-	73741	12/30/1948

"Shark Nose"

Owner	Road Number	Baldwin Serial Number (A Unit)	Baldwin Serial Number (B Unit)	Construction Number	Completion Date
Pennsylvania	9568	23	-	73697	2/28/1949
Pennsylvania	9568B	-	12	73698	2/28/1949
Pennsylvania	9569B	-	13	73699	2/28/1949
Pennsylvania	9569	24	-	73700	2/28/1949
Pennsylvania	9570	25	-	73701	3/22/1949
Pennsylvania	9570B	-	14	73702	3/22/1949
Pennsylvania	9571	26	-	73703	3/22/1949
Pennsylvania	9571B	-	15	73704	3/22/1949
Pennsylvania	9572	27	-	73705	3/30/1949
Pennsylvania	9572B	-	16	73964	3/30/1949
Pennsylvania	9573B	-	17	73965	3/30/1949
Pennsylvania	9573	28	-	73966	3/30/1949
Baldwin Locomotive Works	6001A*	29	-	73981	6/1949
Baldwin Locomotive Works	6001B*	-	18	73982	6/1949
Baldwin Locomotive Works	6001B1*	-	19	73983	6/1949
Baldwin Locomotive Works	6001A1*	30	-	73984	6/1949
Pennsylvania	9574	31	-	73985	3/31/1949
Pennsylvania	9574B	-	20	73986	3/31/1949
Pennsylvania	9575B	-	21	73987	3/31/1949
Pennsylvania	9575	32	-	74142	3/31/1949
Pennsylvania	9576	33	-	74143	4/15/1949
Pennsylvania	9576B	-	22	74144	4/15/1949
Pennsylvania	9577B	-	23	74145	4/15/1949
Pennsylvania	9577	34	-	74146	4/26/1949
Pennsylvania	9578	35	-	74147	4/26/1949
Pennsylvania	9578B	-	24	74148	4/26/1949
Pennsylvania	9579B	-	25	74149	4/26/1949
Pennsylvania	9579	36	-	74150	4/26/1949
Pennsylvania	9580	37	-	74151	5/5/1949
Pennsylvania	9580B	-	26	74152	5/5/1949
Pennsylvania	9581B	-	27	74153	5/5/1949
Pennsylvania	9581	38	-	74154	5/5/1949
Pennsylvania	9582	39	-	74155	5/18/1949
Pennsylvania	9582B	-	28	74156	5/18/1949
Pennsylvania	9583B	-	29	74157	5/18/1949
Pennsylvania	9583	40	-	74158	5/18/1949
Pennsylvania	9584	41	-	74159	5/26/1949
Pennsylvania	9584B	-	30	74160	5/26/1949
Pennsylvania	9585B	-	31	74161	5/26/1949
Pennsylvania	9585	42	-	74162	5/26/1949
Pennsylvania	9586	43	-	74163	6/27/1949
Pennsylvania	9586B	-	32	74164	6/27/1949
Pennsylvania	9587B	-	33	74165	6/27/1949
Pennsylvania	9587	44	-	74166	6/27/1949
Pennsylvania	9588	45	-	74167	6/30/1949
Pennsylvania	9588B	-	34	74168	6/30/1949
Pennsylvania	9589B	-	35	74169	6/30/1949
Pennsylvania	9589	46	-	74170	6/30/1949
Pennsylvania	9590	47	-	74171	7/29/1949
Pennsylvania	9590B	-	36	74172	7/29/1949
Pennsylvania	9591B	-	37	74173	7/29/1949
Pennsylvania	9591	48	-	74174	7/29/1949
Pennsylvania	9592	49	-	74175	7/29/1949
Pennsylvania	9592B	-	38	74176	7/29/1949
Pennsylvania	9593B	-	39	74177	7/29/1949
Pennsylvania	9593	50	-	74178	7/29/1949
Pennsylvania	9704	51	-	74439	5/26/1950
Pennsylvania	9700B	-	40	74440	4/27/1950
Pennsylvania	9701B	-	41	74443	4/27/1950
Pennsylvania	9700	52	-	74441	4/27/1950
Pennsylvania	9701	53	-	74442	4/27/1950
Pennsylvania	9702B	-	42	74446	5/16/1950
Pennsylvania	9703B	-	43	74449	5/16/1950
Pennsylvania	9702	54	-	74444	5/16/1950
Pennsylvania	9703	55	-	74445	5/15/1950
Pennsylvania	9704B	-	44	74748	5/26/1950
Pennsylvania	9705B	-	45	74749	5/26/1950
Pennsylvania	9705	56	-	74447	5/26/1950
Pennsylvania	9706	57	-	74448	6/9/1950
Pennsylvania	9706B	-	46	74750	9/9/1950
Pennsylvania	9707B	-	47	74751	9/9/1950
Pennsylvania	9707	58	-	74450	6/9/1950

* Sold to Elgin, Joliet & Eastern on December 22, 1950 and became EJ&E #700A-701A and #700B-701B. The units were soon resold to the Baltimore & Ohio where A units became #847 and #849 while the B units were given #847X and #849X. The B&O later renumbered them as #4200-4201 and #5200-5201 respectively.

Sources

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.

A better view of the DR-4-4-1500 "Sharknose" demonstrator set testing on the Lehigh & Hudson River at Maybrook Yard in New York during 1949. The units include A #6001A and #6001D (A's) along with #6001B and #6001C (B's).

By early 1948 Baldwin had entirely scrapped the "Baby Face" carbody design, save for any orders that were already ordered.

With the DR-4-4-1500 still in production during the Hadley, Ryder & Pedersen makeover, more than half of the units built were in the "Sharknose" design, which included 58 A and 47 B units.

In total, Baldwin built 138 units of the DR-4-4-1500 for four different Class Is; Pennsylvania (which purchased all of the "Sharknose" models), Jersey Central, New York Central, and Missouri Pacific.

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