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Bessemer & Lake Erie Diesel Roster (All Time)

Published: May 30, 2026

By: Adam Burns

The Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad (B&LE) transitioned to diesel power efficiently, completing full dieselization in 1953 thanks to its focused heavy-haul profile. As a U.S. Steel family road, it emphasized reliable, high-tractive-effort locomotives ideal for slow, dense ore and coal trains between Conneaut and the Pittsburgh district. The roster blended early experimentals with a massive EMD fleet, later supplemented by six-axle road switchers and secondhand units shared with relatives like the DM&IR and EJ&E. Total diesel units acquired over the years exceeded 150.

4455611122008145bukmex4213678.jpgA pair of Bessemer & Lake Erie SD9's lead their train through the yard at North Bessemer, Pennsylvania on September 4, 1979. Warren Calloway photo.

Dieselization began modestly with a Westinghouse 65-ton center-cab switcher (#281) in 1936 for Erie yard work. Post-WWII experiments included a Baldwin DS-4-4-1000 (#282, 1949) and several DRS-6-6-1500 transfer units (401–407, 1949–1950) plus AS616s (408–409, 1952) in the distinctive orange-and-black “butterknife” scheme. Two Alco S4 switchers (291–292, 1952) rounded out early yard power.

The core of the diesel fleet arrived as EMD F7 cab units. Between 1950 and 1953, B&LE acquired approximately 28 F7As (701–728 series) and 26 F7Bs, often operating in A-B-A or A-A consists on mainline ore trains. These 1,500-hp units provided dependable service for decades; many were later sold, rebuilt, or reassigned, with some lasting nearly 50 years in various roles, including winter leases elsewhere.

Six-axle EMD road switchers quickly became the standard for heavy service. Early SD7s (including passenger-equipped units with steam generators) were joined by large groups of SD9s (around 27 units, many ex-DM&IR acquired 1960s–1980s) and SD18s (nine units). These 1,750–1,800 hp locomotives excelled in low-speed, high-tonnage applications.

In the late 1960s–1970s, B&LE standardized on the SD38 family—SD38s, SD38ACs, and SD38-2s (including units like 861–863 and later 868–869 series). Their non-turbocharged 2,000 hp engines delivered exceptional starting tractive effort without excessive speed, perfectly suiting the B&LE’s profile. A handful of Alco RSD-15s (881–886, ex-DM&IR) added variety in the 1950s–1970s.

Later, secondhand SW1500 switchers (150–161 series, ex-Conrail/URR) handled yard work, while SD40T-3 “tunnel motors” from SP arrived in the late 1990s for renewed mainline strength. The roster reflected pragmatic U.S. Steel synergies, with many units traded among affiliated roads.

B&LE diesels often wore striking orange with black accents or simplified black schemes, evolving with corporate changes. The fleet’s focus on rugged 6-axle EMD power allowed the railroad to efficiently move mountains of ore long after steam’s departure. Many classic units found second lives or preservation, underscoring the B&LE’s reputation for durable, no-nonsense motive power tailored to industrial steel transport.

American Locomotive Company

Model Type Road Number Serial Number Completion Date Notes
S4291-29280054, 800657/1952-
RSD-15881-88681756-817564/1956ex-DM&IR #50-55

Baldwin Locomotive Works

Model Type Road Number Serial Number Completion Date Notes
DS-4-4-1000282739583/1949-
DRS-6-6-1500401, 40273988, 739892/1949, 1/1949-
DRS-6-6-1500403747155/1950-
AS616408-40975757-757587/1952-

Electro-Motive Division

Model Type Road Number Serial Number Completion Date Notes
SW15001507355-333/1972ex-Conrail #9542; built as Penn Central #9542. Became U.S. Steel #150.
SW15001517355-72/1972ex-Conrail #9516; built as Penn Central #9516. Became U.S. Steel #151, then Buffalo Southern #151.
SW15001527355-473/1972ex-Conrail #9556; built as Penn Central #9556. Became U.S. Steel #152, then Buffalo Southern #152.
SW15001537355-32/1972ex-Conrail #9512; built as Penn Central #9512. Became U.S. Steel #153.
SW150016072673-19/1973ex-Union Railroad #6.
SW150016172673-39/1973ex-Union Railroad #8.
SD38-221074649-23/1975ex-DM&IR #210, returned in 1992.
65 Tonner281-1936Sold to ​AJ O'Neille in 1955; later sold to United States Asphalt Company. Retired in 1962.
DS-4-4-1000282739583/1949-
SD7451-45517904-179084/1953-
SD38-265873654-31/1974ex-EJ&E #658, returned 2001
F7A701A-707A11809-118156/1950Became B&O #4644-4647 and #4652-4654
F7A708A-714A13678-136842/1951-3/1951#708A-711A became B&O #4648-4851; #712A-714A sold to Precision National in 1970.
F7A715A165876/1952Sold to Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock as #715A in 1968.
F7A716A-718A16588-165906/1952Sold to Precision National in 1970.
F7A719A165916/1952Sold to Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock as #719A in 1973.
F7A720A165926/1952Sold to the Toledo, Peoria & Western as #1500.
F7A721A165936/1952-
F7A722A-724A16594-165966/1952#722A became Potomac Eagle Scenic/B&O #722; #723A-724A became U.S. Steel #723A-724A.
F7A725A-728A17909-179122/1953#725A became Coe Rail, Inc. #725; #726A became U.S. Steel #726A; #727A-728A became Southern Railroad of New Jersey 727-728.
F7B701B-707B11816-118226/1950-
F7B708B-714B13685-136912/1951#710B became B&O #5536; #712B became U.S. Steel #712.
F7B715B-722B16598-166056/1952#715B and #719B sold to Tennessee Central Railway Museum (#715 and #719);
F7B723B-726B17913-17914, 17919-179202/1953#723B-724B, #726B became U.S. Steel #723-724, #726.
SD7801-80317138-1714010/1952-
SD9821239162/1958ex-DM&IR #136
SD9822239202/1958ex-DM&IR #140
SD9823239212/1958ex-DM&IR #141
SD9824239262/1958ex-DM&IR #146
SD9825239282/1958ex-DM&IR #148
SD9826217273/1956ex-DM&IR #101
SD9827217283/1956ex-DM&IR #102
SD9828217293/1956ex-DM&IR #103
SD9829217303/1956ex-DM&IR #104
SD9830217323/1956ex-DM&IR #106
SD9831206557/1955ex-DM&IR #110; built as demonstrator #5591
SD9832217354/1956ex-DM&IR #109
SD9833231012/1957ex-DM&IR #113
SD9834231022/1957ex-DM&IR #114
SD9835231072/1957ex-DM&IR #119
SD9836231102/1957ex-DM&IR #122
SD9837231112/1957ex-DM&IR #123
SD9838239112/1958ex-DM&IR #131
SD9839239172/1958ex-DM&IR #137
SD9840239312/1958ex-DM&IR #151
SD9841230992/1957ex-DM&IR #111
SD9842231002/1957ex-DM&IR #112
SD9843231032/1957ex-DM&IR #115
SD9844231052/1957ex-DM&IR #117
SD9845231062/1957ex-DM&IR #118
SD9846231122/1957ex-DM&IR #124
SD9847231142/1957ex-DM&IR #126
SD18851-85727721-277279/1962#853 wore Bicentennial colors.
SD18858257954/1960ex-DM&IR #182
SD18859257864/1960ex-DM&IR #191
SD38861-86333053-330555/1967Sold to DM&IR
SD38AC864-86933703-337087/1971-
SD38-2870-87972677-1 thru 72677-93/1973-2/1974-
SD38-2890-89274677-1 thru 74677-2, ​​​756069-14/1975, 3/1976-
SD40T-390072625-293/1973ex-SSW/SP SD45T-2 #9289
SD40T-390172601-245/1972ex-SSW SD45T-2 #9232
SD40T-39027336-243/1972ex-SP SD45T-2 #9189
SD40T-390373674-81/1975ex-SP SD45T-2 #9351
SD40T-390472625-93/1973ex-SP SD45T-2 #6816/SSW #9269
SD40T-390572625-263/1973ex-SP/SSW SD45T-2 #9286
SD40T-390673674-51/1975ex-SP SD45T-2 #9348
SD40T-390773621-49/1973ex-SP SD45T-2 #6305/SSW #6887
SD40T-390872625-413/1973ex-SP SD45T-2 #6827/SSW #9301
SD40T-390972625-172/1973ex-SP SD45T-2 #6890/SSW #9277
SD40T-391072601-215/1972ex-SP SD45T-2 #9229/#6825

Westinghouse

Model Type Road Number Serial Number Completion Date Notes
65 Tonner281-1936Sold to ​AJ O'Neille in 1955; later sold to United States Asphalt Company. Retired in 1962.

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