Delaware & Hudson Diesel Roster (All-Time)

Published: May 4, 2026

The Delaware & Hudson, one of America’s oldest railroads, completed its shift from steam to diesel in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Long tied to Alco’s Schenectady plant on its own lines, the D&H built an almost exclusively Alco first-generation fleet. It started with Alco S-2 and S-4 switchers (3000–3050 series) for yard and local work. Road power followed with 26 RS-2s (4000–4025, 1946–1949) and more than 100 RS-3s (4026–4129, 1950–1953). These black road-switchers became the backbone of freight service on the D&H’s rugged coal routes through New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. A few RS-11s and RS-36s arrived in the early 1960s, keeping the Alco emphasis intact.

A trio of Delaware & Hudson's PA-1s (#18, #17, and #19) lead the "Susquehanna Valley Special" (Binghamton - Albany, New York) excursion near Afton, New York on September 29, 1973. Aron Blum photo.

By the mid-1960s, higher horsepower was essential for heavier trains. In 1965 the D&H bought 18 Alco C-628 “Century” six-axle units (601–618), the largest single order of the model. It briefly sampled EMD power with three SD45 demonstrators (801–803) in 1966—its only EMD road locomotives until later decades. GE entered the roster in 1967 with a dozen U30Cs (701–712), followed by U33Cs (751–762). Some U33Cs were acquired via trades with Erie Lackawanna.

The most celebrated chapter began in December 1967 when the D&H purchased four ex–Santa Fe Alco PA-1 cab units (16–19). A fifth New Haven unit supplied parts. Repainted in striking blue-and-gray “Lightning Stripe” livery, the PAs powered passenger trains such as the Laurentian and generated goodwill excursions. In 1974–75 Morrison-Knudsen rebuilt them as PA-4s with modern 2,400-hp Alco 251 V-12 engines, allowing continued service on Amtrak’s Adirondack into the late 1970s.

As Alco parts grew scarce, the D&H turned to rebuild programs. Morrison-Knudsen converted RS-3s into RS-3Ms (501–508) and reworked C-420s and C-424Ms. Two Baldwin “Sharknose” RF-16s (1205, 1216) added exotic variety after secondhand acquisition. Later GE U23Bs (301–316 and specials such as 1776) and, under changing ownership in the 1970s–80s, GP38-2s and GP39-2s rounded out the fleet.

The D&H’s roster was never huge but was remarkably eclectic—Alco, GE, EMD, and Baldwin all represented. Its early all-Alco road-switcher fleet, high-horsepower Centurys, and glamorous PAs made it a favorite with railfans. By the time Guilford Transportation took over in 1988 (later Canadian Pacific), most classic Alcos had been retired or sold, but the four PAs survive in preservation today—fitting monuments to a roster that was always a little different.

Delaware & Hudson's Alco Diesel Roster

American Locomotive Company (Alco)

PA-1/PA-4

Number	Model	Serial Number	Completion Date	Retirement	Notes
16	PA-1	76535	10/1948	Sold in 1978.	Built as AT&SF #59L; acquired in December, 1967. Rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen to "PA-4" in May, 1975. Sold to Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México in 1978. Shell acquired by Doyle McCormack in 2002 and donated to the Smithsonian. Acquired by the Museum of the American Railroad of Frisco, Texas in 2011. Currently under longterm restoration.
17	PA-1	76537	11/1948	Sold in 1978.	Built as AT&SF #60L; acquired in December, 1967. Rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen to "PA-4" in October, 1975. Sold to Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México in 1978.
18	PA-1	76541	12/1948	Sold in 1978.	Built as AT&SF #62L; acquired in December, 1967. Rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen to "PA-4" in August, 1975. Sold to Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México in 1978. Shell acquired by Doyle McCormack in 2002 and restored for more than 20 years. Sold to Genesee Valley Transportation in 2023. Restoration completed in 2025.
19	PA-1	75318	5/1947	Sold in 1978.	Built as AT&SF #54B (renumbered #66L); acquired in December, 1967. Rebuilt by Morrison-Kundsen to "PA-4" specs in February, 1975. Sold to Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México in 1978.
0783	PA-1	76325	3/1949	Scrapped in 1972.	Built as New Haven #0783; acquired 2/1968. Parts source.

SW8

Model	ACL Road Number(s)	SCL Merger Number(s)	Builder Serial Number(s)	Builder Date	Notes
SW8	50-54	10-14	15949-15953	3/1952	-
SW8	55-59	15-19	15954-15958	3/1952	-

PA-1 / PA-4 Data

	PA-1	PA-4
Engine	16-cylinder 244	12-cylinder 251F
Trucks	A-1-A	A-1-A
Truck Type	Alco/GE	Alco/GE
Fuel (gals.)	1,260	1,260
Sand (cu. ft.)	22	22
Weight (lbs.)	317,900	317,900
Horsepower	2000 hp	2400 hp
Traction Motors	GE E752E6	GE E752E6
Tractive Effort	33,000 lbs. @ 19 mph	33,000 lbs. @ 19 mph
Gearing	61:22	61:22

Facebook X Pinterest Tumblr Reddit WhatsApp Messenger