Baltimore & Ohio (B&O): Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Published: March 13, 2025
By: Adam Burns
The Baltimore & Ohio's diesel locomotive roster was initially an eclectic array of road-switcher models from all of the major builders, except General Electric (the railroad did own a few GE switchers).
However, by the 1950s it was largely a loyal Electro-Motive customer, purchasing large batches of first-generation cab and GP units. Due to severe financial constraints by the 1950s, the railroad went nearly ten years without acquiring new locomotives.
That all changed with the Chesapeake & Ohio's acquisition in early February of 1963. The C&O was a very healthy company and its infusion of cash enabled the B&O; to purchase large batches of second-generation power such as GP30's, GP35's, GP38's, GP40's, GP40-2's, and more.
The final new locomotives to wear any kind of "B&O" markings were a batch of SD50's that rolled of La Grange in 1984 wearing the Chessie System livery.
From a historical perspective the B&O had been fascinating line to railfan dating back to the late steam era with big 2-8-8-4 EM-1's and 2-10-2 "Big Sixes" working Sand Patch, and 4-8-2's hustling fast freights through the Midwest.
This enthusiasm continued into the diesel era as the railroad operated a variety of locomotives, ranging from Electro-Motive's very early EA passenger model to Baldwin's RF16 and Alco's stylish FA freight units.
Photos
Baltimore & Ohio FA-2's head east past the depot at Brunswick, Maryland during the 1950s. American-Rails.com collection.Early History
The Baltimore & Ohio enjoyed many firsts throughout its history, from the first common-carrier railroad chartered in 1827 to the first employing air-conditioning in 1930 when dining car Martha Washington was unveiled with the newfangled accommodation.
The B&O was also the first to implement electrification in main line applications when it opened its Baltimore Belt Railroad in 1895.
This 4-mile stretch of railroad operated through Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore and closed the gap between the B&O's railroad’s New York-Washington (north-south) and Washington – Cumberland (east-west) main lines.
It was electrified to eliminate smoke through the downtown area. This electrification lasted until 1952 when the B&O had accumulated enough diesels to discontinue electric operations.
In another move to eliminate steam locomotives in an urban setting and comply with a city's smoke abatement ordinance, the B&O put into service its first diesel in 1925.
That year it acquired a 60-ton, 300 horsepower boxcab produced by American Locomotive/General Electric/Ingersoll-Rand to carry out switching chores along its confined yard at 26th Street in New York City, situated on Manhattan's West Side.
Then, in 1935 the railroad acquired Electro-Motive's early boxcab design for main line service, an 1,800 horsepower testbed unit numbered 50.
It tested on Sand Patch and spent time pulling the Royal Blue between Washington and New York before being transferred to Abraham Lincoln on subsidiary Alton Railroad.
The railroad came back to Electro-Motive in 1937 for the streamlined variants of these boxcabs known as the EA model. The cab units featured a beautiful sweeping carbody with a slanted nose.
They went to work on the flagship Capitol Limited that year and the B&O was quite pleased with the units. From this point forward the railroad was a loyal EMD customer although did experiment with some models from other builders.
You could find Baldwins, FMs, and Alcos in yard work while the B&O even tried out a few of the latter's dual-service cab model, the FPA-2.
After the War Production Board eased restrictions on buying new diesels during World War II, the B&O picked up its efforts to fully dieselize its locomotive fleet in the late 1940s.
During the 1950s the Baltimore & Ohio purchased large batches of GP units, like the GP7, and even tried out Baldwin's unique AS616 road-switcher.
A Baltimore & Ohio FA-2/FB-2/FA-2 set, led by #829, hustle a freight train through Maryland's Cumberland Narrows on June 12, 1952. Photographer unknown.American Locomotive (Alco)
| Model Type | Road Number (1st) | Road Number (2nd) | Road Number (3rd) | Order Number | Serial Number | Date Built | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boxcab* | 1 | - | - | S1484 | Unknown | 1925 | 1 | - |
| S1 | 222-223 | 8010-8011 | 9150-9151 | Unknown | 70057, 72694 | 8/1944-9/1944 | 2 | - |
| S1 | 224-227 | 8012-8015 | 9152-9155 | S1942 | 72835-72836, 72840-72841 | 10/1944-11/1944 | 4 | - |
| S4 | 468-474, 542-545 | - | 9008-9018 | 20961 | 81320-81330 | 4/1955 | 11 | - |
| S2 | 475-481 | - | 9019-9025 | S1884 | 70248-70254 | 4/1943-11/1943 | 7 | - |
| S2 | 482-487 | - | 9026-9031 | S1915 | 71301-71303, 71309-71311 | 4/1943-11/1943 | 6 | - |
| S2 | 488-492 | - | 9032-9036 | Unknown | 76175-76184 | 4/1944-7/1944 | 5 | - |
| S2 | 493-496 | - | 9037-9040 | S1943 | 72727, 72892-72894 | 8/1944-1/1945 | 4 | - |
| S2 | 497-508 | - | 9041-9052 | S1943 | 72903-72909, 72912-72916 | 2/1945-5/1945 | 12 | - |
| S2 | 509-510 | - | 9053-9054 | 20243 | 76160-76161 | 8/1948 | 2 | - |
| S2 | 511-520 | - | 9055-9064 | 20243 | 76175-76184 | 9/1948-10/1948 | 10 | - |
| S2 | 521-524 | - | 9065-9068 | 20243 | 76202-76205 | 11/1948 | 4 | - |
| S2 | 525-533 | - | 9069-9077 | 20243 | 76500-76508 | 11/1948-12/1948 | 9 | - |
| S4 | 534-541 | - | 9000-9007 | Unknown | 80954-80959, 80962-80963 | 11/1953-12/1953 | 2 | - |
| FA-2 | 801-805 (Odds), 801A-805A (Odds) | 4000-4005 | - | Unknown | 78188-78193 | 10/1950-11/1950 | 6 | - |
| FB-2 | 801x-809x (Odds) | 5000-5003 | - | Unknown | 78198-78200, 78502 | 10/1950-1/1951 | 4 | - |
| FA-2 | 807, 807A | 4006-4007 | - | Unknown | 78266-78267 | 11/1950 | 2 | - |
| FPA-2 | 809-817 (Odds), 809A-817A (Odds) | 4008-4017 | - | 20551 | 78483-78492 | 12/1950-1/1951 | 10 | - |
| FB-2 | 809x-817x (Odds)** | 5004-5008 | - | Unknown | 78201, 78498-78501 | 12/1950-1/1951 | 5 | - |
| FB-2 | 817Ax | 5009 | - | Unknown | 78497 | 1/1951 | 1 | - |
| FA-2 | 819-823 (Odds), 819A-823A (Odds) | 4018-4023 | - | 20774 | 79710-79715 | 1/1952-2/1952 | 6 | - |
| FB-2 | 819x-823x (Odds) | 5010-5012 | - | Unknown | 79760-79762 | 1/1952 | 3 | - |
| FA-2 | 825-827 (Odds), 825A-827A (Odds) | 4024-4027 | - | 20774 | 79744-79746, 79955 | 3/1952 | 4 | - |
| FB-2 | 825x-835x (Odds) | 5013-5018 | - | Unknown | 80010-80013, 80030-80031 | 4/1952, 4/1953 | 6 | - |
| FA-2 | 829-831 (Odds), 829A-831A (Odds) | 4028-4031 | 4128-4131 | 20774 | 79956-79959 | 3/1952-4/1952 | 4 | - |
| FA-2 | 833-837 (Odds), 833A-837A (Odds) | 4032-4037 | 4132-4137 | 20848 | 79984-79989 | 4/1953-5/1953 | 6 | - |
| FB-2 | 837x, 837Ax | 5019-5020 | - | Unknown | 80032-80033 | 5/1953 | 2 | - |
| RSD12 | - | - | 2007-2016 | Unknown | 81943-81952 | 4/1956-5/1956 | 10 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #6700-6709 |
| RS1 | - | - | 9185-9186 | 20871 | 80851-80852 | 9/1953 | 2 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #5114-5115 |
| S4 | 9078-9097 | - | - | 21023 | 81860-81879 | 4/1956-6/1956 | 20 | - |
| S4 | 9098-9099 | - | - | 21023 | 81971-81972 | 6/1956 | 2 | - |
| S4 | 9100-9114 | - | - | 21055 | 81985-81999 | 2/1957-8/1957 | 15 | - |
| S2 | 9115-9144 | - | - | - | - | - | 30 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio*** |
| S2 | 9145-9149 | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | Ex-Lehigh Valley**** |
| S2 | 9160-9165, 9171-9184 | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio***** |
* A joint GE/Alco/Ingersoll-Rand project. The boxcab employed 300 horsepower and could produce 7,900 pounds of tractive effort at 10.0 mph. Its top speed was 30 mph. The trio broke down the work as follows:
- Alco carried out mechanical work at its Schenectady, New York plant.
- Ingersoll-Rand supplied the engine from its Phillipsburg, New Jersey plant, and was responsible for sales.
- General Electric installed all electrical equipment and carried out testing at its Erie, Pennsylvania plant.
** Steam-generator equipped.
*** See Table Below
B&O E9A #1455 leads eastbound train #34, comprising a single coach, at Forest Glen, Maryland on January 5, 1969. This service ran between Cumberland and Baltimore. Roger Puta photo.| Baltimore & Ohio Number | Chesapeake & Ohio Number | Serial Number | Date Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9115 | 5026 | 77165 | 10/1949 |
| 9116 | 5029 | 77798 | 10/1949 |
| 9117 | 5016 | 77141 | 10/1949 |
| 9118 | 5039 | 77807 | 11/1949 |
| 9119 | 5017 | 77142 | 10/1949 |
| 9120 | 5004 | 76783 | 6/1949 |
| 9121 | 5028 | 77797 | 10/1949 |
| 9122 | 5042 | 77811 | 11/1949 |
| 9123 | 5043 | 77812 | 11/1949 |
| 9124 | 5035 | 77803 | 11/1949 |
| 9125 | 5027 | 77796 | 10/1949 |
| 9126 | 5030 | 77799 | 10/1949 |
| 9127 | 5037 | 77806 | 10/1949 |
| 9128 | 5023 | 77148 | 10/1949 |
| 9129 | 5054 | 76899 | 1/1950 |
| 9130 | 5050 | 77944 | 1/1950 |
| 9131 | 5044 | 77813 | 11/1949 |
| 9132 | 5038 | 77807 | 10/1949 |
| 9133 | 5040 | 77809 | 11/1949 |
| 9134 | 5041 | 77810 | 11/1949 |
| 9135 | 5001 | 76771 | 5/1949 |
| 9136 | 5024 | 77149 | 10/1949 |
| 9137 | 5008 | 77133 | 9/1949 |
| 9138 | 5013 | 77138 | 10/1949 |
| 9139 | 5002 | 77165 | 10/1949 |
| 9140 | 5009 | 77134 | 9/1949 |
| 9141 | 5010 | 77135 | 9/1949 |
| 9142 | 5003 | 76782 | 6/1949 |
| 9143 | 5007 | 77132 | 9/1949 |
| 9144 | 5014 | 77139 | 10/1949 |
**** See Table Below
| Baltimore & Ohio Number | Lehigh Valley Number | Serial Number | Date Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9145 | 150 | 69952 | 8/1942 |
| 9146 | 153 | 69955 | 10/1942 |
| 9147 | 155 | 69878 | 10/1943 |
| 9148 | 161 | 70068 | 10/1949 |
| 9149 | 162 | 70069 | 11/1949 |
***** See Table Below
| Baltimore & Ohio Number | Chesapeake & Ohio Number | Serial Number | Date Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9160 | 5000 | 76770 | 5/1949 |
| 9161 | 5005 | 77130 | 9/1949 |
| 9162 | 5006 | 77131 | 9/1949 |
| 9163 | 5011 | 77136 | 10/1949 |
| 9164 | 5012 | 77137 | 10/1949 |
| 9165 | 5015 | 77140 | 10/1949 |
| 9171 | 5032 | 77801 | 11/1949 |
| 9172 | 5033 | 77802 | 11/1949 |
| 9173 | 5036 | 77805 | 10/1949 |
| 9174 | 5045 | 77827 | 12/1949 |
| 9175 | 5046 | 77828 | 12/1949 |
| 9176 | 5047 | 77941 | 12/1949 |
| 9177 | 5048 | 77942 | 12/1949 |
| 9178 | 5049 | 77943 | 1/1950 |
| 9179 | 5051 | 77945 | 1/1950 |
| 9180 | 5052 | 76897 | 1/1950 |
| 9181 | 5053 | 76898 | 1/1950 |
| 9182 | 5055 | 76900 | 1/1950 |
| 9183 | 5056 | 76901 | 1/1950 |
| 9184 | 5057 | 76902 | 1/1950 |
Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW)
| Model Type | Road Number (1st) | Road Number (2nd) | Road Number (3rd) | Baldwin Serial Number(s) | Construction Number(s) | Date Built | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DS-4-4-1000 | 376 | - | 9250 | 1005 | 74778 | 7/14/1950 | 1 | - |
| DS-4-4-1000 | 377-381 | - | 9251-9255 | 1006-1010 | 74788-74792 | 7/14/1950 | 5 | - |
| DS-4-4-1000 | 382-385 | - | 9256-9259 | 1017-1020 | 74799-74800, 74881-74882 | 8/23/1950-8/25/1950 | 4 | - |
| DS-4-4-1000 | 386-399 | - | 9260-9273 | 1029-1042 | 74937-74950 | 8/28/1950-10/13/1950 | 14 | - |
| VO-1000 | 413, 415, 421, 429 | 9221-9224 | - | 168-170, 299, 416 | 67649, 67651, 70858, 71990 | 8/26/1943-1/24/1945 | 4 | - |
| VO-1000 | 414, 416 | 9200-9201 | - | 169, 171 | 67650, 67652 | 8/27/1943, 8/30/1943 | 2 | - |
| VO-1000 | 417-420 | 9202-9205 | - | 218-221 | 70112-70115 | 11/27/1943-12/1/1943 | 4 | - |
| VO-1000 | 422-427 | 9206-9211 | - | 300, 320, 332-335 | 70859, 70879, 71930-71933 | 5/8/1944-7/24/1944 | 6 | - |
| VO-1000 | 428, 430-432 | 9212-9215 | - | 415, 417-419 | 71989, 71991, 71426-71427 | 1/21/1945-1/28/1945 | 4 | - |
| VO-1000 | 433-437 | 9216-9220 | - | 427-431 | 71333-71337 | 2/19/1945-2/25/1945 | 5 | - |
| DS-4-4-1000 | 438-462 | - | 9225-9249 | 707-731 | 73839-73863 | 10/27/1948-12/25/1948 | 25 | - |
| DS-4-4-1200 | 463-467 | - | 9274-9278 | 408-412 | 75961-75965 | 11/11/1953-11/20/1953 | 5 | - |
| DR-4-4-1500 (A) | 847, 849 | 4200-4201 | - | 29, 30 | 73981, 73984 | 6/1949 | 2 | Acquired 3/1955: Ex-Elgin, Joliet & Eastern #700A-701A: Nee-Demonstrators #6001A, #6001A1. |
| DR-4-4-1500 (A) | 847x, 849x | 5200-5201 | - | 18-19 | 73982-73983 | 6/1949 | 2 | Acquired 3/1955: Ex-Elgin, Joliet & Eastern #700B-701B: Nee-Demonstrators #6001B, #6001B1. |
| RF16 (A) | 851-861 (Odds), 851-861A (Odds) | 4202-4213 | - | 1-12 | 74801-74811, 74816 | 11/7/1950-11/30/1950 | 12 | - |
| RF16 (A) | 863, 863A | 4214-4215 | - | 13-14 | 74817-74818 | 12/6/1950 | 2 | - |
| RF16 (A) | 865, 865A, 867, 869, 871 | 4216-4220 | - | 107-111 | 75386-75390 | 5/24/1952-5/21/1953 | 5 | - |
| RF16 (B) | 865x, 851x, 853x-861x (Odds), 867x-871x (Odds), 867Ax-871Ax (Odds) | - | - | 40-52 | 75413-75419, 75808-75813 | 5/15/1952-5/21/1953 | 13 | - |
| AS16 | 890-898 | 6207-6216 | 2241-2249 | 120-128 | 76096-76104 | 5/6/1955-6/30/1955 | 9 | - |
| AS16 | 899 | 6206 | 2240 | 105 | 75966 | 2/25/1954 | 1 | - |
| AS16 | 900-904 | 6200-6204 | 2234-2238 | 60-64 | 75498-75502 | 5/27/1952-6/3/1952 | 5 | - |
| AS16 | 905 | 6205 | 2239 | 92 | 75420 | 3/27/1953 | 1 | - |
| AS616 | 2250 | - | - | 83 | 75175 | 8/3/1951 | 1 | Built as Chesapeake & Ohio #5555, later became C&O; #2219. |
Baltimore & Ohio E8A #1464 lays over at the Ivy City engine terminal in Washington, DC; November, 1968. Note the "Wash Me" written in the dirt/grime. This unit was formerly Chesapeake & Ohio E8A #4007. Rick Burn photo.Electro-Motive (EMC/EMD)
| Model Type | Road Number (1st) | Road Number (2nd) | Road Number (3rd) | Serial Number(s) | Order Number | Date Built | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SW | 2 | - | - | 653 | E152 | 12/1936 | 1 | Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal. Rebuilt as SW1 #199 in May, 1942. Later renumbered again as 8422. |
| E8A | 26-32 (Evens), 26A-32A (Evens) | 1446-1453 | 1446-1453 | 18675-18682 | 2061 | 10/1953 | 8 | - |
| FTA | 1A-5A Odds), 1D-5D (Odds) | 101-111 (Odds) | 4400-4405 | 1633-1638 | E470 | 8/1942-9/1942 | 6 | - |
| FTB | 1B-5B (Odds), 1C-5C (Odds) | 101x-105X (Odds), 101Ax-105Ax (Odds) | 5400-5405 | 1645-1650 | E471 | 8/1942-9/1942 | 6 | - |
| FTA | 7A-11A (Odds), 7D-11D (Odds) | 101A-111A (Odds) | 4406-4411 | 1639-1644 | E470 | 8/1943-10/1943 | 6 | - |
| FTB | 7B-11B (Odds), 7C-11C (Odds) | 107x-111x (Odds), 107Ax-111Ax (Odds) | 5406-5411 | 1651-1656 | E471 | 8/1943-10/1943 | 6 | - |
| E9A | 34-40 (Evens) | 1454-1457 | 1454-1457 | 20377-20380 | 2069 | 5/1955 | 4 | - |
| Boxcab | 50 | - | - | 532 | E127 | 8/1935 | 1 | This 1,800 horsepower boxcab was first assigned to the New York-Washington, D.C. "Royal Blue" service. It was transferred to the Alton Railroad's "Abraham Lincoln" service in April, 1936. It later became Gulf, Mobile & Ohio #1200; retired in 1956 and now preserved at the Museum Of Transportation in St. Louis. |
| EA | 51 | 1433 | 1433 | 666 | E145 | 5/1937 | 1 | Rebuilt as E8Am #1433 (order #7507) in December, 1953. |
| EB | 51x-56x | 2414-2419 | 2414-2419 | 667, 669, 768-770, 801 | E146 | 5/1937-6/1938 | 6 | Rebuilt as E8Bm's #2414-2419 (order #7507) between May, 1953 and January, 1954. |
| EA | 52 | - | - | 668 | E145 | 6/1937 | 1 | Transferred to the Alton Railroad. |
| E6A | 52 (2nd) | - | - | 1094 | E322 | 10/1940 | 1 | - |
| EA | 53-54 | 1434-1435 | 1434-1435 | 765-766 | E189 | 1/1938 | 1 | Rebuilt as E8Am #1434-1435 (order #7507) in October, 1953 and January, 1954. |
| EA | 55-56 | 1436-1437 | 1436-1437 | 770, 801 | E191 | 6/1938 | 1 | Rebuilt as E8Am #1436-1437 (order #7507) between June-August, 1953. |
| E6A | 57-59 | 1408-1410 | 1408-1410 | 1091-1093 | E322 | 9/1940 | 3 | - |
| E6B | 57x-59x | 2407-2409 | 2407-2409 | 1095-1097 | E323 | 9/1940 | 3 | - |
| E6A | 60-63 | 1411-1414 | 1411-1414 | 1328-1331 | E388 | 6/1941-7/1941 | 4 | - |
| E6B | 60x-63x | 2410-2413 | 2410-2413 | 1332-1335 | E389 | 6/1941-7/1941 | 4 | - |
| E7A | 64, 64A, 66, 66A | 1415-1418 | 1415-1418 | 1673-1676 | E472 | 2/1945 | 4 | - |
| E7A | 68-80 (Evens), 68A-80A (Evens) | 1419-1432 | 1419-1432 | 2897-2910 | E642 | 9/1945-10/1945 | 14 | - |
| F3A | 82-88 (Evens), 82A-86A (Evens) | 1400-1406 | 4637-4643 | 4072-4078 | E757 | 7/1947 | 7 | Steam-generator equipped. |
| F3B | 82x-82Ax, 84x-84Ax | 2400-2403 | 5520-5523 | 4080-4083 | E757 | 7/1947 | 4 | - |
| F3B | 86x,86Ax, 88x | 2404-2406 | 5524-5526 | 4135-4137 | E757 | 7/1947 | 3 | - |
| E8A | 90, 90A, 92, 92A | 1438-1441 | 1463 (See Notes) | 10231-10234 | 2015 | 9/1950 | 4 | #92/#1440 was later renumbered as 1463. |
| E8A | 94, 94A, 96, 96A | 1442-1445 | 1442-1445 | 12712-12715 | 6162 | 9/1950-10/1950 | 4 | - |
| F3A | 113-151 (Odds), 113A-151A (Odds) | 4420-4459 | - | 5089-5128 | E865 | 4/1948-5/1948 | 40 | - |
| F3A | 153-151 (Odds), 153A-171A (Odds) | - | 4460-4479 | 5089-5128 | E940 | 11/1948-1/1949 | 20 | - |
| F7B | 153x-171x (Odds) | 5420-5429 | 5420-5429 | 12283-12292 | 3069 | 9/1950 | 10 | - |
| F7A | 180-192 (Evens), 180A-192A (Evens) | 4480-4493 | 4480-4493 | 7554-7567 | E1079 | 8/1949-10/1949 | 14 | - |
| F7B | 180x-184x (Evens), 180Ax-184Ax (Evens) | 5430-5435 | 5430-5435 | 7568-7573 | E1079 | 8/1949-9/1949 | 6 | - |
| F7B | 186x-192x (Evens), 186Ax-192Ax (Evens) | 5436-5443 | 5436-5443 | 8743-8750 | E1079 | 9/1949 | 8 | - |
| SW1 | 200-215 | - | 8400-8415 | 1098-1113 | E324 | 8/1940-9/1940 | 16 | - |
| SW1 | 217, 216, 218-221 | - | 8416-8421 | 1601-1606 | E462 | 5/1940-8/1940 | 6 | Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal |
| F7A | 231-237, 239-243 (Odds), 239A-243A (Odds) | 4494-4503 | 4494-4503 | 10221-10230 | 8/1950 | 10 | - | |
| F7B | 231x-237x (Odds) | 5444-5447 | 5444-5447 | 11709-11712 | 3034 | 8/1950 | 4 | - |
| F7A | 245-245A, 247-247A | 4504-4507 | 4504-4507 | 11705-11708 | 8/1950 | 4 | - | |
| F7A | 249-263 (Odds), 249A-263A (Odds) | 4508-4523 | 4508-4523 | 12259-12274 | 3064 | 9/1950-10/1950 | 16 | - |
| F7B | 249x-263x (Odds) | - | 5448-5455 | 12275-12282 | 3064 | 9/1950-10/1950 | 8 | - |
| F7A | 265-279 (Odds), 265A-279A (Odds) | 4524-4539 | 4524-4539 | 12626-12641 | 6161 | 10/1950-12/1950 | 16 | - |
| F7B | 265-279x (Odds) | 5456-5463 | 5456-5463 | 12674-12681 | 6161 | 11/1950-12/1950 | 8 | - |
| F7A | 281-297 (Odds), 281A-297A (Odds), 361-361A | 4540-4559 | 4540-4559 | 12642-12661 | 6207 | 1/1951-2/1951 | 20 | - |
| F7B | 281x-297x (Odds), 361x | 5464-5473 | 5464-5473 | 12682-12691 | 6207 | 1/1951-2/1951 | 10 | - |
| F7A | 363-363A, 365-365A | 4560-4563 | 4560-4563 | 12662-12665 | 6161 | 1/1951-2/1951 | 4 | - |
| F7B | 363x-363Ax, 365x-365Ax | 5474-5477 | 5474-5477 | 12692-12695 | 6161 | 12/1950-1/1951 | 4 | - |
| F7A | 367-374 | 4564-4571 | 4564-4571 | 12666-12673 | 6161 | 12/1950-1/1951 | 8 | - |
| F7B | 367x-374x (Odds), 367Ax-374Ax (Odds) | 5478-5493 | 5478-5493 | 12696-12711 | 6161 | 12/1950-1/1951 | 16 | - |
| NW2 | 400-408 | - | 9500-9508 | 1114-1122 | E325 | 10/1940-11/1940 | 9 | - |
| NW2 | 409-411 | - | 9509-9511 | 1729-1731 | E463 | 1/1943 | 3 | Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal |
| NW2 | 550-559 | - | 9542-9551 | 6673-6682 | E1086 | 9/1948-11/1948 | 10 | - |
| NW2 | 560-589 | - | 9512-9541 | 6683-6712 | E1022 | 1/1949-5/1949 | 30 | - |
| SW9 | 590-597 | - | 9600-9607 | 15886-15893 | 6366 | 2/1952-4/1952 | 8 | Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal |
| SW9 | 598-603 | - | 9608-9613 | 19308-19313 | 4258 | 12/1953 | 6 | - |
| SW900 | 625-653 | - | 9400-9428 | 20384-20412 | 4301 | 5/1955-7/1955 | 29 | - |
| GP7 | 720-731 | 6413-6424 | 5613-5624 | 18694-18705 | 5301 | 9/1953 | 12 | - |
| GP7 | 740-746 | 3400-3406 | 6693-6699 | 18687-18693 | 5302 | 10/1953 | 7 | - |
| GP9 | 747-752 | 3417-3412 | 6600-6605 | 20417-20422 | 5388 | 4/1955 | 6 | - |
| GP9 | 675-690 | - | 6425-6440 | 20429-20444 | 5393 | 4/1955-5/1955 | 16 | - |
| GP9 | 691-696 | - | 6441-6446 | 20423-20428 | 5392 | 4/1955 | 6 | - |
| SD7 | 760 | 7400 | 1826 | 17410 | 6457 | 3/1952 | 1 | Ex-Demonstrator #991 |
| SD7 | 761-764 | 7401-7404 | 1827-1830 | 18683-18686 | 5303 | 11/1953 | 4 | - |
| SD9 | 765-766 | 7405-7406 | 1831-1832 | 20121-20122 | 5376 | 12/1954 | 2 | - |
| SD9 | 772 | 7412 | 1838 | 20123 | 5388 | 12/1954 | 1 | - |
| SD9 | 767-771 | 7407-7411 | 1833-1837 | 20124-20128 | 5376 | 12/1954 | 5 | - |
| SD9 | 773-774 | 7413-7414 | 1839-1840 | 20451-20452 | 5395 | 4/1955 | 2 | - |
| GP7 | 910-922 | 6400-6412 | 5600-5612 | 17499-17511 | 6294 | 1/1953 | 13 | - |
| F7A | 929-945 (Odds) | 4572-4580 | 4572-4580 | 15905-15913 | 3122 | 1/1952 | 9 | - |
| F7B | 929x-945x (Odds) | 5494-5502 | 5494-5502 | 15923-15931 | 3122 | 1/1952 | 9 | - |
| F7A | 929A-945A (Odds) | 4581-4589 | 4581-4589 | 15914-15922 | 3122 | 1/1952 | 9 | - |
| F7A | 947-961 (Odds), 947A-961A (Odds) | 4590-4605 | 4590-4605 | 16642-16657 | 3146 | 8/1952 | 16 | - |
| F7B | 947x-961x (Odds) | 5503-5510 | 5503-5510 | 16671-16678 | 3146 | 8/1952 | 8 | - |
| F7A | 963-975 (Odds), 963A-973A (Odds) | 4606-4618 | 4606-4618 | 16658-16670 | 3154 | 8/1952 | 13 | - |
| F7A | 977-993 (Odds), 977A-993A (Odds) | 4619-4636 | 4619-4636 | 17512-17529 | 6467 | 1/1953 | 18 | - |
| F7B | 977x-993x (Odds) | 5511-5519 | 5511-5519 | 17530-17538 | 6467 | 1/1953 | 9 | - |
| E8A | 1440 (2nd) | - | - | 14765 | 2015 | 8/1951 | 1 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #4006. |
| E8A | 1460-1462 | - | - | 14760, 14770, 14776 | 2040 | 8/1951-12/1951 | 3 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #4001, #4011, #4017. |
| E8A | 1464-1467 | - | - | 14766, 14768, 14771-14772 | 2040 | 8/1951-11/1951 | 4 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #4007, #4009, #4012-4013. |
| GP9 | 3413-3418 | 6606-6611 | - | 22255-22260 | 5490 | 8/1956-10/1956 | 6 | - |
| GP9 | 3419-3425 | 6612-6618 | - | 22418-22424 | 5490 | 10/1956 | 7 | - |
| GP35 | 3500-3519 | - | - | 29090-29109 | 7716 | 3/1964-4/1964 | 20 | - |
| GP35 | 3540-3559 | - | - | 29372-29391 | 7736 | 7/1964-9/1964 | 20 | - |
| GP35 | 3581 | - | - | 31262 | 7863 | 12/1965 | 1 | - |
| GP40 | 3684-3699 | - | - | 32644-32659 | 7943 | 11/1966 | 15 | - |
| GP40 | 3700-3739 | - | - | 34823-34862 | 7158 | 2/1969-4/1969 | 40 | - |
| GP40 | 3740-3764 | - | - | 36721-36745 | 7275 | 12/1970-1/1971 | 25 | - |
| GP40 | 3765-3777 | - | - | 37189-37201 | 7301 | 2/1971-3/1971 | 13 | - |
| GP40 | 3778-3779 | - | - | 37202-37203 | 7317 | 3/1971 | 2 | - |
| GP38 | 3800-3849 | - | - | 33318-33367 | 7060 | 10/1967-11/1967 | 50 | - |
| GP38 | 3837 (2nd) | - | - | 33335 | 8085 | 7/1971 | 50 | - |
| GP40 | 4000-4054 | - | - | 38480-38534 | 7340 | 8/1971-10/1971 | 55 | - |
| GP40 | 4055-4064 | - | - | 38535-38544 | 7356 | 11/1971 | 10 | - |
| GP40-2 | 4100-4162, 1977 (1st), 4164 ("GM50") | - | - | 7365-1 thru 7365-65 | 7365 | 8/1972-11/1972 | 65 | #1977 celebrated the B&O;'s 150th anniversary while "GM50" marked Electro-Motive's 50 years of building locomotives. |
| GP40-2 | 4185-4246 | - | - | 74695-1 thru 74695-62 | 74695 | 4/1975-7/1975 | 62 | - |
| GP40-2 | 4247-4256 | - | - | 767034-1 thru 767034-10 | 767034 | 2/1977 | 10 | - |
| GP40-2 | 4287-4307 | - | - | 776091-1 thru 776091-21 | 777051 | 1/1978-2/1978 | 21 | - |
| GP40-2 | 4308-4311 | - | - | 777051-1 thru 777051-4 | 777051 | 3/1978 | 4 | - |
| GP40-2 | 4322-4351 | - | - | 787227-1 thru 787227-30 | 787227 | 2/1979-3/1979 | 30 | - |
| FTA | 4412-4413 | - | - | 3128-3129 | E654 | 5/1945 | 2 | Ex-New York, Ontario & Western #806-807. |
| GP40-2 | 4422-4447 | - | - | 807014-1 thru 807014-26 | 807014 | 5/1981-6/1981 | 26 | - |
| F7A | 4644-4647 | - | - | 11809-11812 | 6118 | 6/1950 | 4 | Ex-Bessemer & Lake Erie #701A-704A. |
| F7A | 4648-4651 | - | - | 13678-13681 | 3085 | 2/1951-3/1951 | 4 | Ex-Bessemer & Lake Erie #708A-711A. |
| F7A | 4652-4654 | - | - | 11813-11815 | 6118 | 6/1950 | 3 | Ex-Bessemer & Lake Erie #705A-707A. |
| GP38 | 4800-4819 | - | - | 36676-36695 | 8085 | 8/1970-12/1970 | 20 | - |
| NW2 | 5061-5064 | - | - | 10382-10385 | 6023 | 9/1949 | 4 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #5061-5064. |
| NW2 | 5069 | - | - | 10370 | 6021 | 6/1949 | 1 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #5069. |
| NW2 | 5074, 5076, 5079 | - | - | 10375, 10377, 10380 | 6021 | 6/1949-8/1949 | 3 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio 5074, 5076, 5079. |
| SW7 | 5215 | - | - | 10274 | 6075 | 1/1950 | 1 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #5215. |
| FTB | 5412-5413 | - | - | 3136-3137 | E654 | 5/1945 | 2 | Ex-New York, Ontario & Western #806B-807B. |
| F7B | 5527-5533 | - | - | 11816-11822 | 6118 | 2/1951 | 7 | Ex-Bessemer & Lake Erie #701B-707B. |
| F7B | 5534-5537 | - | - | 13685-13688 | 3085 | 3/1951 | 4 | Ex-Bessemer & Lake Erie #708B-711B. |
| F7B | 5540 | - | - | 16026 | 3097 | 2/1952 | 1 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #7519. |
| GP7 | 6405 (2nd) | - | - | 17504 | 8030 | 12/1953 | 1 | - |
| GP9 | 6447-6500 | - | - | 22191-22244 | 5477 | 8/1956-10/1956 | 54 | - |
| GP9 | 6498 (2nd) | - | - | 23624 | 8045 | 5/1957 | 1 | - |
| GP9 | 6501-6510 | - | - | 22245-22254 | 5489 | 10/1956 | 10 | - |
| GP9 | 6511-6562 | - | - | 22985-23036 | 5519 | 5/1957-7/1957 | 52 | - |
| GP9 | 6563-6570 | - | - | 23037-23044 | 5543 | 7/1957 | 8 | - |
| GP9 | 6571 | - | - | 23641 | 8046 | 5/1957 | 1 | - |
| GP9 | 6572-6598 | - | - | 24356-24382 | 5568 | 1/1958-2/1958 | 27 | - |
| GP9 | 6599 | - | - | 27086 | 7615 | 1/1962 | 1 | - |
| GP9 | 6650-6658 | - | - | 22101-22109 | 5473 | 6/1956-7/1956 | 9 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #6100-6108. |
| GP9 | 6659-6661 | - | - | 22017-22019 | 5467 | 9/1956 | 3 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #6109-6111. |
| GP9 | 6662-6683 | - | - | 22021-22042 | 5467 | 9/1956 | 22 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #6113-6134. |
| GP30 | 6900-6927 | - | - | 27617-27644 | 7628 | 10/1962-11/1962 | 28 | - |
| GP30 | 6928-6976 | - | - | 27645-27693 | 7631 | 11/1962-1/1963 | 49 | - |
| SD35 | 7400-7419 | - | - | 29408-29427 | 7738 | 7/1964-10/1964 | 20 | - |
| SD35 | 7437-7440 | - | - | 30706-30709 | 7828 | 9/1965 | 4 | - |
| SD40 | 7482-7494 (See Notes) | 7591-7594 (See Notes) | - | 33161-33173 | 7998 | 5/1967 | 13 | Among this group, #7482-7490 were transferred to the Jersey Central while #7591-7594 were renumbered as #7591-7594. |
| SD40 | 7497-7500 | 7597-7599 (See Notes) | - | 34775-34778 | 7159 | 4/1969 | 4 | #7497-#7499 were renumbered as #7597-7599 while #7500 maintained its original number. |
| SD40-2 | 7600-7619 | - | - | 767033-1 thru 767033-20 | 767033 | 1/1977-2/1977 | 20 | - |
| SD20-2 | 7700-7704 | - | - | 29413, 29409, 29414, 29412 | 7738 | 2/1979-3/1979 | 5 | Ex-Baltimore & Ohio SD35's #7405, #7401, #7406, and #7404; de-rated to 2000 horsepower. |
| TR3A (Cow) | 9552, 9555 | - | - | 10253, 10256 | 6018 | 7/1949, 10/1949 | 2 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #9552 and #9555; built as C&O; #6500A and #6501A. |
| TR3B (Calf) | 9554, 9556 | - | - | 10254-10255 | 6018 | 7/1949 | 2 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #9554 and #9556; built as C&O; #6500B and #6500C. |
| TR3B (Calf) | 9553, 9557 | - | - | 10257-10258 | 6018 | 10/1949 | 2 | Ex-Chesapeake & Ohio #9553 and #9557; built as C&O; #6500B and #6500C. |
| SW1200 | 9614-9621 | - | - | 23360-23367 | 4393 | 5/1957 | 8 | - |
Baltimore & Ohio F7A #4579 (wearing the short-lived "Sunburst" livery) and F7B #5460 layover at Western Maryland's Hagerstown Yard (Maryland) in September, 1964. Roger Puta photo.Fairbanks-Morse (FM)
| Model Type | Road Number (1st) | Road Number (2nd) | Road Number (3rd) | Construction Number(s) | Contract Number(s) | Date Built | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H12-44 | 196-197 | - | 9720-9721 | 12L774-12L775 | LD157 | 9/1953 | 2 | - |
| H10-44 | 300-309 | - | 9700-9709 | 10L86-10L95 | LD151 | 11/1948-12/1948 | 10 | - |
| H12-44 | 310-319 | - | 9710-9719 | 12L392-12L401 | LD103 | 2/1951 | 10 | - |
| H16-44 | 906-907 | 6700-6701 | - | 16L697-16L598 | LD144 | 12/1952 | 2 | Leased to the CNJ in November, 1967 and numbered 18-19. Returned to the B&O; the following year, both were to be renumbered as 9735-9736. However, the units were retired and scrapped in January, 1970 prior to this last renumbering. |
| H16-44 | 925-926 | 6702-6703 | 9737-9738 | 16L961-16L962 | LD178 | 4/1955 | 2 | - |
| H16-44 | 927 | 6704 | 9739 | 16L969 | LD178 | 4/1955 | 1 | - |
| H16-44 | 6705-6709 | 9740-9743 | - | 16L1144-16L1148 | LD211 | 3/1957 | 5 | #6709 was wrecked prior to its renumbering, which would have been 9744. |
| H12-44 | 9722-9726 | - | - | 12L1089-12L1093 | LD213 | 4/1957 | 5 | - |
General Electric (GE)
| Model Type | Road Number (1st) | Road Number (2nd) | Road Number (3rd) | Serial Number(s) | Date Built | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44-Ton | 19-20 | 8801-8802 | 8300-8301 | 30470-30471 | 9/1950-10/1950 | 2 | - |
| 65-Ton | 194 | 8810 | - | 18072 | 12/1943 | 1 | - |
| 80-Ton | 198 | 8820 | - | 18011 | 9/1943 | 1 | - |
Lima-Hamilton Locomotives
Lima never gave model names to its diesel line.
| Model Type | Road Number (1st) | Road Number (2nd) | Road Number (3rd) | Construction Number(s) | Order Number(s) | Date Built | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 Horsepower Switcher | 330-331 | - | 9366-9367 | 9347-9348 | 1212-3 thru 1212-4 | 12/1949-1/1950 | 2 | - |
| 1,000 Horsepower Switcher | 332-337 | - | 9381-9386 | 9347-9348 | 1212-5 thru 1212-10 | 1/1950-2/1950 | 6 | - |
| 1,000 Horsepower Switcher | 338-339 | - | 9374-9375 | 9392-9393 | 1214-1 thru 1214-2 | 3/1950 | 2 | - |
| 1,200 Horsepower Switcher | 320-327 | 9376-9383 | - | 9468-9475 | 1219-12-19 | 12/1950 | 8 | - |
| 1,200 Horsepower Switcher | 328-329 | 9384-9385 | - | 9476-9477 | 1219-20-21 | 1/1951 | 2 | - |
| 1,200 Horsepower Switcher | 340-343 | 9386-9389 | - | 9478-9481 | 1219-22-25 | 1/1951 | 4 | - |
| 1,200 Horsepower Switcher | 344-352 | 9390-9398 | - | 9482-9490 | 1219-26-34 | 2/1951 | 9 | - |
| 1,200 Horsepower Switcher | 353 | 9399 | - | 9491 | 1219-35 | 3/1951 | 1 | - |
Plymouth Locomotive Works
| Model Type | Road Number (1st) | Road Number (2nd) | Road Number (3rd) | Date Built | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-Ton | 25 | 8900 | - | 1/1926 | 1 | - |
Sources
- Kirkland, John F. Diesel Builders, The: Volume One, Fairbanks-Morse And Lima-Hamilton. Glendale: Interurban Press, 1985.
- Kirkland, John F. Diesel Builders, The: Volume Two, American Locomotive Company And Montreal Locomotive Works. Glendale: Interurban Press, 1989.
- Kirkland, John F. Diesel Builders, The: Volume Three, Baldwin Locomotive Works. Pasadena: Interurban Press, 1994.
- Liljestrand, Robert A. and Sweetland, David R. Baltimore & Ohio Diesel Locomotives: Volume 1, Switchers & Road Switchers.
- Mainey, David. Baltimore & Ohio Steam In Color. Scotch Plains: Morning Sun Books, 2001.
- Reynolds, Kirk and Oroszi, David. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 2000.
- Schafer, Mike. Classic American Railroads. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 1996.
- Solomon, Brian. Electro-Motive E-Units and F-Units: The Illustrated History of North America's Favorite Locomotives. Minneapolis: Voyageur Press, 2011.
Baltimore & Ohio E6A #62 leads a heavyweight passenger consist westbound over Sand Patch Grade in Pennsylvania during a fall morning in the 1950s. American-Rails.com collection.In 1958 the B&O had completed dieselization when its final steam locomotives entered retirement. Interestingly, this was also a period when the railroad was struggling financially.
It acquired its first GP30's in 1962 but it wasn't until the C&O's takeover a year later and subsequent cash infusion this acquisition provided that the railroad acquired the new power needed to meet increasing traffic demands.
Its final new power included a fleet of twenty SD50's, rated at 3,600 horsepower, delivered in the Chessie System livery in 1984. By this time CSX Corporation had already been created and the railroad formally disappeared into the new railroad in 1987.
Recent Articles
-
Kansas Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 07, 26 11:39 PM
2026 Kansas Christmas trains—Abilene & Smoky Valley Cowtown Santa Express Nov. 20–Dec. 23, from $35. -
Iowa Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 07, 26 11:29 PM
2026 Iowa Christmas trains—Midwest Central North Pole Express in Mt. Pleasant Dec. 5–20, $35. Boone Santa Express: confirm 2026. Not Polar Express. -
Arkansas Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 07, 26 11:20 PM
2026 Arkansas Christmas trains—Arkansas & Missouri Holiday Express Pajama Train from Springdale to Johnson, about one hour. Coach from $25/$17.50 listed. Not Polar Express. -
Michigan Central Railroad: Map, History, Timetables
Sep 06, 26 11:13 PM
Michigan Central Railroad—Detroit & St. Joseph 1832, Boston capital 1846, Chicago 1852, Canada Southern, Detroit River Tunnel, Michigan Central Station. Map, 1893 Official Guide, what still runs. -
Alabama Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 06, 26 11:03 PM
2026 Alabama Christmas trains—Heart of Dixie North Pole Express in Calera (Nov. 13–Dec. 20) and North Alabama Santa Train / North Star Limited at Chase. Not Polar Express. -
D&H RF-16s 1205 & 1216: Heritage, Specs & Where They Ran
Sep 06, 26 10:47 PM
Delaware & Hudson Baldwin RF-16 Sharks 1205 and 1216—ex-NYC 3805/3816, last two survivors. Specs, Colonie overhaul, where they ran, Castolite/Michigan Northern/E&LS storage. -
Great Railroad Strike Of 1877: Martinsburg, Pittsburgh & Elsewhere
Sep 06, 26 10:35 PM
Great Railroad Strike of 1877—B&O wage cut July 16 at Camden Junction and Martinsburg, Baltimore and Pittsburgh shootings, Reading, Chicago viaduct, St. Louis general strike. First national industrial… -
Railroads In The 1870s: Panic, Strike, Mileage, Steel & Air Brakes
Sep 06, 26 08:44 AM
U.S. railroads 1870–1880—52,922 to ~93,200 miles. Panic of 1873, Crédit Mobilier, Granger laws, Westinghouse automatic brake 1872, Ashtabula 1876, Great Strike 1877. Decade frame, not the West encyclo… -
Arizona Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 06, 26 08:29 AM
2026 Arizona Christmas trains—Verde Canyon Magical Christmas Journey in Clarkdale, Nov. 27–Dec. 24, one hour, from $60/$40. Polar is Grand Canyon Railway in Williams. -
Wisconsin Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 06, 26 12:37 AM
2026 Wisconsin Christmas trains—Mid-Continent Santa Express Nov. 28–Dec. 6, East Troy Christmas trolleys Nov. 27–Dec. 20. Polar is Green Bay (sold out). -
Railroads In The 1860s: Civil War, Pacific Railroad, Mileage & Steel
Sep 06, 26 12:32 AM
U.S. railroads 1860–1870—~30,600 to 52,922 miles. Civil War as the decade’s center, Pacific Railway Acts and Promontory, Vanderbilt’s NYC, Pullman Pioneer, Bessemer rail, Westinghouse 1869. Decade fra… -
Railroads In The 1850s: Mileage, Land Grants, Trunk Lines & the West
Sep 06, 26 12:20 AM
U.S. railroads 1850–1860—9,021 to ~30,600 miles, Illinois Central land grant, NYC 1853, Erie to Dunkirk, PRR/B&O to the Ohio, Minot’s 1851 train order, Rock Island bridge. Facts and lithographs. N… -
Highball: Railroad Ball Signals, Slang & Meaning
Sep 05, 26 09:27 PM
Highball in railroading—ball signals (ball at the masthead meant proceed), Whitefield N.H. survivor, radio and hand-signal slang. -
CB&Q 4-6-4 3001: History, Specs & Ottumwa Display
Sep 05, 26 09:14 PM
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy class S-4 Hudson 3001—Baldwin 1930, c/n 61446. Fast passenger 4-6-4, August 31, 1958 Barstow fan trip, donated to Ottumwa 1959. Complete specifications. -
Railroads In The 1800s (1840s): History, Photos, Timeline
Sep 05, 26 11:29 AM
U.S. railroads 1840–1850—2,808 to 9,021 miles, T-rail and wooden ties, Pennsylvania Railroad charter 1846, 4-4-0 American type, Morse telegraph on the B&O. Facts and photos. Not the whole 19th century… -
New York Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 05, 26 11:24 AM
2026 New York Christmas trains—Arcade & Attica North Pole Express, Adirondack Christmas Train and Thendara Santa Train, Delaware & Ulster Santa’s Silver Sleigh. Polar is Medina, North Fork, Ut… -
Railroads In The 1820s/1830s: Firsts, Mileage & Founding Era
Sep 05, 26 10:54 AM
U.S. railroads 1820s–1830s—Granite Railway 1826, B&O common carrier, Stourbridge Lion, Tom Thumb, Best Friend, 2,808 miles by 1840. Firsts, facts, photos. -
Railroad History (USA): Timeline, Facts & How the Network Was Built
Sep 05, 26 12:50 AM
Full U.S. railroad history hub—origins and inventors, Golden Age peak mileage, Civil War and transcontinental, streamliners, ICC regulation, Penn Central and Conrail, Staggers Act, PSR, and today’s Cl… -
Grif Teller: Biography, PRR Calendar Art & Legacy
Sep 05, 26 12:39 AM
Griffith Harold “Grif” Teller (1899–1993)—Osborne Company artist who painted 27 of 33 Pennsylvania Railroad wall calendars, 1928–42 and 1947–58. Biography, titles, four paintings. -
O. Winston Link: Biography, N&W Night Photos & Sound Recordings
Sep 05, 26 12:21 AM
O. Winston Link (1914–2001)—Brooklyn engineer-photographer who documented Norfolk & Western’s last steam, 1955–60, at night, with sound. Hotshot Eastbound, LPs, Roanoke museum. Biography. -
Poughkeepsie Bridge: Railroad History, 1974 Fire & Walkway
Sep 05, 26 12:04 AM
Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge—first train Dec. 29, 1888, Maybrook freight gateway, May 8, 1974 fire, Walkway Over the Hudson Oct. 3, 2009. Not a New England landmark. Specs, photos. -
C&O/Chessie 18742: Huntington's Battery Shop Switcher
Sep 04, 26 11:20 PM
C&O/Chessie/CSX 18742: GE 1917 15-ton battery shop switcher at Huntington, W.Va. One locomotive, not a fleet. Newport News E-6, X-5000, Chessie paint. -
Central New England Railway: Map, Poughkeepsie Bridge Route & History
Sep 04, 26 10:43 PM
Central New England Railway—Connecticut Western, Hartford & Connecticut Western, Poughkeepsie Bridge, Reading’s PR&NE, New Haven control 1904, merger 1927. Map, 1891 timetable, what still runs. -
The Erie War (1868): Vanderbilt, Gould, Drew & Fisk
Sep 04, 26 10:26 PM
The Erie War of 1868—Cornelius Vanderbilt vs. Daniel Drew, Jay Gould, and Jim Fisk for the Erie Railway. Convertible bonds, Jersey City, Albany bribery, July 1868 settlement. Not Black Friday. -
New York & New England Railroad: Map, Ghost Train, History
Sep 04, 26 05:33 PM
New York & New England Railroad—Boston, Hartford & Erie, inland Boston–Hudson main, Beacon car float, White Train / Ghost Train, 1893 bankruptcy, New Haven lease 1898. Map and 1893 timetables. -
Railroad Glossary: Terms, Slang, Definitions & Meanings
Sep 04, 26 05:17 PM
American railroad glossary—highball, FRED, Class I, trackage rights, and operations slang—plus a directory of specialized glossaries and term articles on American-Rails.com. -
Indiana Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 04, 26 05:08 PM
2026 Indiana Christmas trains—Nickel Plate Express Reindeer Express in Noblesville (from Nov. 14). Whitewater Valley is not running due to severe flooding. -
Georgia Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 04, 26 02:26 PM
This article highlights those organizations offering Christmas-themed train rides in Georgia. -
Illinois Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 04, 26 02:14 PM
2026 Illinois Christmas trains—IRM Happy Holiday Railway in Union (Nov. 27–Dec. 21) and Fox River Santa’s Trolley Express in South Elgin. Polar is Monticello. -
4-8-4 "Northern" Steam Locomotives: History & Survivors
Sep 04, 26 01:54 PM
4-8-4 Northern history—Northern Pacific’s 1926 Class A, Super Power dual-service steam, railroad nicknames, surviving U.S. examples, and which Northerns still run in 2026. -
Railroad Stations & Depots: History, Architecture & Famous Terminals
Sep 04, 26 10:29 AM
American railroad stations—depot vs terminal, B&O’s 1830 Ellicott City, ~80,000 buildings at peak, Penn Station’s 1963 demolition, Grand Central saved. Directory of famous terminals on American-Ra… -
Colorado Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 04, 26 10:07 AM
2026 Colorado Christmas trains—Georgetown Loop Santa’s Rocky Mountain Adventure and Lighted Forest (Nov. 6–Dec. 24), Royal Gorge Santa Express (Nov. 19–Dec. 30). Polar is Durango and Golden. -
Railroads By State: History, Maps & Firsts
Sep 04, 26 09:53 AM
All 50 U.S. state railroad histories—firsts, 1916 peak of 254,037 miles, today’s ~140,000-mile freight network. Directory of state guides from Alabama to Wyoming. -
Logging Railroads In The USA: History, States & Last Lines
Sep 04, 26 09:25 AM
American logging railroads—private woods roads and tap lines, Shay/Climax/Heisler, last U.S. line (Simpson 2015), last in North America (Englewood 2017). State guides as they are written. -
Chicago, West Pullman & Southern Railroad: History & Diesel Roster
Sep 03, 26 11:46 PM
CWP&S, International Harvester’s South Side switching road between Wisconsin Steel and the West Pullman plants. Complete diesel roster, known steam, 1900–1996. Became Chicago Rail Link. -
Washington Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 03, 26 11:28 PM
2026 Washington Christmas trains—Mt. Rainier Christmas with the Clauses in Elbe (Nov. 21–Dec. 23), plus Snoqualmie Santa Train and Chelatchie Prairie tree trains. Polar is Chehalis. -
Utah Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 03, 26 11:26 PM
2026 Utah Christmas trains—Heber Valley Railroad North Pole Express in Heber City, Nov. 19–Dec. 30, ~90 minutes. Coach from $70 adult. Not Polar Express. -
Tennessee Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 03, 26 11:25 PM
2026 Tennessee Christmas trains—TVRM North Pole Limited in Chattanooga, TCRM Santa Express in Nashville, Three Rivers Rambler Christmas Lantern Express in Knoxville. Not Polar Express. -
Nevada Chirstmas Train Rides: A Complete Guide
Sep 03, 26 11:24 PM
Nevada is historically important as part of the western leg of the Transcontinental Railroad. Today, a handful of museums and heritage railroads can be found in the state and a few host Christmas-them… -
Railroad Museums In The USA (2026): State Guides & Collections
Sep 03, 26 10:25 PM
U.S. railroad museums—what they are vs tourist railroads, preservation history (R&LHS, NRHS, IRM, Steamtown), state guides, and destination collections. Confirm hours on each museum’s site. -
Narrow Gauge Railroads (USA): History, Mileage & Lines
Sep 03, 26 02:39 PM
American narrow-gauge railroads—3-foot fever, Hilton’s 11,699 miles in 1885, Denver & Rio Grande, Maine two-footers, survivors you can still ride. History and a growing company list. -
Railroads In The 1900s (1900–1910): Facts, Statistics, History
Sep 03, 26 10:05 AM
U.S. railroads 1900–1910—ICC miles 193,346 to 240,293, Elkins/Hepburn/Mann-Elkins, interurbans, 20th Century Limited, Penn Station, last transcontinentals. Facts and statistics. -
Michigan Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 03, 26 12:12 AM
2026 Michigan Christmas trains—SRI North Pole Express on Pere Marquette 1225 (Owosso), Coopersville Santa Train, Huckleberry Railroad Holiday Magic, Little River Christmas Express. Not Polar Express. -
Transcontinental Railroad: Maps, Facts, Completion
Sep 03, 26 12:12 AM
First transcontinental railroad—Pacific Railway Acts 1862/1864, Central Pacific and Union Pacific, Chinese labor, ten-mile day, Promontory Summit May 10, 1869. Maps, facts, Golden Spike National Histo… -
PRR B1 Electric Switchers: History, Specs & Roster
Sep 02, 26 11:41 PM
Pennsylvania Railroad class B1 electric switchers—Altoona/Juniata 0-6-0 (C) boxcabs, 1926–1935. BB1/BB2 pairs, 5684–5697 singles, LIRR B3 sisters, specs, complete roster. 5690 at Strasburg. -
Florida Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 02, 26 11:17 PM
2026 Florida Christmas trains—Florida Railroad Museum North Pole Express in Parrish (Nov. 27–Dec. 22). No licensed Polar Express in Florida. Miami Polar is closed. -
North Carolina Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 02, 26 01:40 PM
2026 North Carolina Christmas trains—Tweetsie Christmas (Nov. 27–Dec. 30), Bonsal Santa Express, Aberdeen Carolina Christmas Train. Polar is Bryson City and Spencer. -
New Orleans & Northeastern Railroad: Map, Route & History
Sep 02, 26 01:30 PM
New Orleans & Northeastern Railroad—William Hardy, Erlanger capital, 196 miles Meridian–New Orleans, Lake Pontchartrain trestle, Queen & Crescent Route. Southern 1916, AGS 1969, Norfolk Southern t… -
New Hampshire Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 02, 26 01:25 PM
2026 New Hampshire Christmas trains—Conway Scenic Santa’s Holiday Express (from Nov. 28, Coach $27/$21) and Lincoln Santa Express. Not Polar Express. -
Minnesota Christmas Train Rides (2026): A Complete Guide
Sep 02, 26 12:18 PM
2026 Minnesota Christmas trains—Duluth Christmas City Express, Friends of the 261 North Pole Express (Dec. 4–13), Minneapolis Holly Trolley. Not Polar Express.
