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.
A 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S4 | 291-292 | 80054, 80065 | 7/1952 | - |
| RSD-15 | 881-886 | 81756-81756 | 4/1956 | ex-DM&IR #50-55 |
Baldwin Locomotive Works
| Model Type | Road Number | Serial Number | Completion Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DS-4-4-1000 | 282 | 73958 | 3/1949 | - |
| DRS-6-6-1500 | 401, 402 | 73988, 73989 | 2/1949, 1/1949 | - |
| DRS-6-6-1500 | 403 | 74715 | 5/1950 | - |
| AS616 | 408-409 | 75757-75758 | 7/1952 | - |
Electro-Motive Division
| Model Type | Road Number | Serial Number | Completion Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW1500 | 150 | 7355-33 | 3/1972 | ex-Conrail #9542; built as Penn Central #9542. Became U.S. Steel #150. |
| SW1500 | 151 | 7355-7 | 2/1972 | ex-Conrail #9516; built as Penn Central #9516. Became U.S. Steel #151, then Buffalo Southern #151. |
| SW1500 | 152 | 7355-47 | 3/1972 | ex-Conrail #9556; built as Penn Central #9556. Became U.S. Steel #152, then Buffalo Southern #152. |
| SW1500 | 153 | 7355-3 | 2/1972 | ex-Conrail #9512; built as Penn Central #9512. Became U.S. Steel #153. |
| SW1500 | 160 | 72673-1 | 9/1973 | ex-Union Railroad #6. |
| SW1500 | 161 | 72673-3 | 9/1973 | ex-Union Railroad #8. |
| SD38-2 | 210 | 74649-2 | 3/1975 | ex-DM&IR #210, returned in 1992. |
| 65 Tonner | 281 | - | 1936 | Sold to AJ O'Neille in 1955; later sold to United States Asphalt Company. Retired in 1962. |
| DS-4-4-1000 | 282 | 73958 | 3/1949 | - |
| SD7 | 451-455 | 17904-17908 | 4/1953 | - |
| SD38-2 | 658 | 73654-3 | 1/1974 | ex-EJ&E #658, returned 2001 |
| F7A | 701A-707A | 11809-11815 | 6/1950 | Became B&O #4644-4647 and #4652-4654 |
| F7A | 708A-714A | 13678-13684 | 2/1951-3/1951 | #708A-711A became B&O #4648-4851; #712A-714A sold to Precision National in 1970. |
| F7A | 715A | 16587 | 6/1952 | Sold to Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock as #715A in 1968. |
| F7A | 716A-718A | 16588-16590 | 6/1952 | Sold to Precision National in 1970. |
| F7A | 719A | 16591 | 6/1952 | Sold to Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock as #719A in 1973. |
| F7A | 720A | 16592 | 6/1952 | Sold to the Toledo, Peoria & Western as #1500. |
| F7A | 721A | 16593 | 6/1952 | - |
| F7A | 722A-724A | 16594-16596 | 6/1952 | #722A became Potomac Eagle Scenic/B&O #722; #723A-724A became U.S. Steel #723A-724A. |
| F7A | 725A-728A | 17909-17912 | 2/1953 | #725A became Coe Rail, Inc. #725; #726A became U.S. Steel #726A; #727A-728A became Southern Railroad of New Jersey 727-728. |
| F7B | 701B-707B | 11816-11822 | 6/1950 | - |
| F7B | 708B-714B | 13685-13691 | 2/1951 | #710B became B&O #5536; #712B became U.S. Steel #712. |
| F7B | 715B-722B | 16598-16605 | 6/1952 | #715B and #719B sold to Tennessee Central Railway Museum (#715 and #719); |
| F7B | 723B-726B | 17913-17914, 17919-17920 | 2/1953 | #723B-724B, #726B became U.S. Steel #723-724, #726. |
| SD7 | 801-803 | 17138-17140 | 10/1952 | - |
| SD9 | 821 | 23916 | 2/1958 | ex-DM&IR #136 |
| SD9 | 822 | 23920 | 2/1958 | ex-DM&IR #140 |
| SD9 | 823 | 23921 | 2/1958 | ex-DM&IR #141 |
| SD9 | 824 | 23926 | 2/1958 | ex-DM&IR #146 |
| SD9 | 825 | 23928 | 2/1958 | ex-DM&IR #148 |
| SD9 | 826 | 21727 | 3/1956 | ex-DM&IR #101 |
| SD9 | 827 | 21728 | 3/1956 | ex-DM&IR #102 |
| SD9 | 828 | 21729 | 3/1956 | ex-DM&IR #103 |
| SD9 | 829 | 21730 | 3/1956 | ex-DM&IR #104 |
| SD9 | 830 | 21732 | 3/1956 | ex-DM&IR #106 |
| SD9 | 831 | 20655 | 7/1955 | ex-DM&IR #110; built as demonstrator #5591 |
| SD9 | 832 | 21735 | 4/1956 | ex-DM&IR #109 |
| SD9 | 833 | 23101 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #113 |
| SD9 | 834 | 23102 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #114 |
| SD9 | 835 | 23107 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #119 |
| SD9 | 836 | 23110 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #122 |
| SD9 | 837 | 23111 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #123 |
| SD9 | 838 | 23911 | 2/1958 | ex-DM&IR #131 |
| SD9 | 839 | 23917 | 2/1958 | ex-DM&IR #137 |
| SD9 | 840 | 23931 | 2/1958 | ex-DM&IR #151 |
| SD9 | 841 | 23099 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #111 |
| SD9 | 842 | 23100 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #112 |
| SD9 | 843 | 23103 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #115 |
| SD9 | 844 | 23105 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #117 |
| SD9 | 845 | 23106 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #118 |
| SD9 | 846 | 23112 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #124 |
| SD9 | 847 | 23114 | 2/1957 | ex-DM&IR #126 |
| SD18 | 851-857 | 27721-27727 | 9/1962 | #853 wore Bicentennial colors. |
| SD18 | 858 | 25795 | 4/1960 | ex-DM&IR #182 |
| SD18 | 859 | 25786 | 4/1960 | ex-DM&IR #191 |
| SD38 | 861-863 | 33053-33055 | 5/1967 | Sold to DM&IR |
| SD38AC | 864-869 | 33703-33708 | 7/1971 | - |
| SD38-2 | 870-879 | 72677-1 thru 72677-9 | 3/1973-2/1974 | - |
| SD38-2 | 890-892 | 74677-1 thru 74677-2, 756069-1 | 4/1975, 3/1976 | - |
| SD40T-3 | 900 | 72625-29 | 3/1973 | ex-SSW/SP SD45T-2 #9289 |
| SD40T-3 | 901 | 72601-24 | 5/1972 | ex-SSW SD45T-2 #9232 |
| SD40T-3 | 902 | 7336-24 | 3/1972 | ex-SP SD45T-2 #9189 |
| SD40T-3 | 903 | 73674-8 | 1/1975 | ex-SP SD45T-2 #9351 |
| SD40T-3 | 904 | 72625-9 | 3/1973 | ex-SP SD45T-2 #6816/SSW #9269 |
| SD40T-3 | 905 | 72625-26 | 3/1973 | ex-SP/SSW SD45T-2 #9286 |
| SD40T-3 | 906 | 73674-5 | 1/1975 | ex-SP SD45T-2 #9348 |
| SD40T-3 | 907 | 73621-4 | 9/1973 | ex-SP SD45T-2 #6305/SSW #6887 |
| SD40T-3 | 908 | 72625-41 | 3/1973 | ex-SP SD45T-2 #6827/SSW #9301 |
| SD40T-3 | 909 | 72625-17 | 2/1973 | ex-SP SD45T-2 #6890/SSW #9277 |
| SD40T-3 | 910 | 72601-21 | 5/1972 | ex-SP SD45T-2 #9229/#6825 |
Westinghouse
| Model Type | Road Number | Serial Number | Completion Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 Tonner | 281 | - | 1936 | Sold to AJ O'Neille in 1955; later sold to United States Asphalt Company. Retired in 1962. |
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