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ALCO FA

ALCO FA
MetroRail 600.jpg
An ALCO FA-1 operates in LIRR commuter service during the 1970s.
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Partnership of American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and General Electric (GE); Montreal Locomotive Works
Model FA-1, FB-1, FA-2, FB-2, FPA-2, FPB-2, FCA-3, FPA-4, FPB-4
Build date January 1946 – May 1959
Total produced 1,401
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AAR B-B, A1A-A1A (FCA-3 only)
 • UIC Bo′Bo′
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length 53 ft 1 in (16.18 m)
Loco weight FA-1/FB-1, FA-2/FB-2, FPA-2/FPB-2: 243,000 lb (110,000 kg)
FPA-4/FPB-4: 255,000 lb (115,666.1 kilograms)
Fuel capacity 1,200 US gal (4,500 l; 1,000 imp gal)
Prime mover FA-1/FB-1, FA-2/FB-2, FPA-2/FPB-2: ALCO 244
FPA-4/FPB-4: ALCO 251
Engine type V-12 Four-stroke diesel
Aspiration Turbocharger
Displacement 8,016 cu in (131.36 L)
Generator DC generator
Traction motors DC traction motors GE 726 on GM&O initial order then GE 752
Cylinders 12
Cylinder size 9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Transmission Electric
Loco brake Independent air. Optional: Dynamic
Train brakes Air
Performance figures
Maximum speed 65 mph (105 km/h)
Power output Early FA-1/FB-1: 1,500 hp (1,100 kW)
Late FA-1/FB-1 & all FA-2/FB-2/FPA-2/FPB-2: 1,600 hp (1,200 kW)
FPA-4/FPB-4: 1,800 hp (1,300 kW)
Tractive effort FA-1/FB-1, FA-2/FB-2, FPA-2/FPB-2: 60,875 lbf (270.79 kN)
FPA-4/FPB-4: 63,750 lbf (283.57 kN)
Career
Locale North America, Brazil, Pakistan
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Partnership of American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and General Electric (GE); Montreal Locomotive Works
Model FA-1, FB-1, FA-2, FB-2, FPA-2, FPB-2, FCA-3, FPA-4, FPB-4
Build date January 1946 – May 1959
Total produced 1,401
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AAR B-B, A1A-A1A (FCA-3 only)
 • UIC Bo′Bo′
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length 53 ft 1 in (16.18 m)
Loco weight FA-1/FB-1, FA-2/FB-2, FPA-2/FPB-2: 243,000 lb (110,000 kg)
FPA-4/FPB-4: 255,000 lb (115,666.1 kilograms)
Fuel capacity 1,200 US gal (4,500 l; 1,000 imp gal)
Prime mover FA-1/FB-1, FA-2/FB-2, FPA-2/FPB-2: ALCO 244
FPA-4/FPB-4: ALCO 251
Engine type V-12 Four-stroke diesel
Aspiration Turbocharger
Displacement 8,016 cu in (131.36 L)
Generator DC generator
Traction motors DC traction motors GE 726 on GM&O initial order then GE 752
Cylinders 12
Cylinder size 9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Transmission Electric
Loco brake Independent air. Optional: Dynamic
Train brakes Air
Performance figures
Maximum speed 65 mph (105 km/h)
Power output Early FA-1/FB-1: 1,500 hp (1,100 kW)
Late FA-1/FB-1 & all FA-2/FB-2/FPA-2/FPB-2: 1,600 hp (1,200 kW)
FPA-4/FPB-4: 1,800 hp (1,300 kW)
Tractive effort FA-1/FB-1, FA-2/FB-2, FPA-2/FPB-2: 60,875 lbf (270.79 kN)
FPA-4/FPB-4: 63,750 lbf (283.57 kN)
Career
Locale North America, Brazil, Pakistan

The ALCO FA was a family of B-B diesel locomotives designed to haul freight trains. The locomotives were built by a partnership of ALCO and General Electric in Schenectady, New York, between January 1946 and May 1959. They were of a cab unit design, and both cab-equipped lead (A unit) FA and cabless booster (B unit) FB models were built. A dual passenger-freight version, the FPA/FPB, was also offered. It was equipped with a steam generator for heating passenger cars.

Externally, the FA and FB models looked very similar to the ALCO PA models produced in the same period. Both the FA and PA models were styled by General Electric's Ray Patten. They shared many of the same characteristics both aesthetically and mechanically. It was the locomotive's mechanical qualities (the ALCO 244 V-12 prime mover) and newer locomotive models from both General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) and General Electric (the partnership with ALCO was dissolved in 1953) that ultimately led to the retirement of the FA/FB locomotive model from revenue service. Several examples of FAs and FBs have been preserved in railroad museums, a few of them in operational status on such lines as the Grand Canyon Railway and the Napa Valley Wine Train. ALCO's designation of F marks these locomotives as being geared primarily for freight use, whereas the P designation of the PA sets indicates that they were geared for higher speeds and passenger use. However, beyond this their design was largely similar, and many railroads used FA and PA locomotives for both freight and passenger.


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