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ALCO FA and FB
An ALCO FA-2 of the Long Island Rail Road in May 1976
Type and origin
Power type
Diesel-electric
Builder
Partnership of American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and General Electric (GE); Montreal Locomotive Works
Many preserved, some under restoration, rest scrapped.
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. Designed by General Electric's Ray Patten (along with their ALCO PA cousins), they were of a cab unit design; 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.
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 - aside from the PA/PB's both being larger A1A-A1A types with an even more striking nose - and many railroads used FA and PA locomotives for both freight and passenger service.
Several examples of FAs and FBs have been preserved. While most are now in the care of railroad museums, a few remain in operational status on such lines as the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Grand Canyon Railway and the Napa Valley Wine Train.
The ALCOFA 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...
The American Locomotive Company (often shortened to ALCO, ALCo or Alco) was an American manufacturer that operated from 1901 to 1969, initially specializing...
Company (ALCO) and General Electric (GE) between June, 1946 and December, 1953. Designed by General Electric's Ray Patten (along with their ALCOFA cousins)...
Look up FA, fa, or fa' in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. FA, Fa or fa may refer to: Fa of Xia, King of China 1747–1728 BC Fa Ngum (1316–1393), founder...
Many railroads traded in AlcoFA units and EMD F-units for GP35s, reusing the trucks and traction motors. Examples with Alco trucks include those owned...
ALCO 244 was a diesel prime mover built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO). An evolution of the earlier 241 diesel engine, it powered ALCO's first...
the early 1990s, the Grand Canyon Railway purchased a fleet of 1950s-era ALCOFA Diesel-electric locomotives, featuring an iconic "snub nose" design. The...
The ALCO 251 is a 4-stroke diesel engine that was developed by the American Locomotive Company to replace its 244 and 539 engines. The 251 was developed...
stock railroad footage. A major number of scenes take place around CRI&P AlcoFA unit No. 153 painted as the fictitious Central National; however, the interiors...
The American Locomotive Company (ALCO), based in Schenectady, New York, United States produced a wide range of diesel-electric locomotives from its opening...
engineer's control stand left intact. Locomotives converted included AlcoFA-1s and FA-2s, EMD F7s, and one F9. One individual power pack was further converted...
operation in 2007, the line has removed its historic steam locomotives and ALCOFA diesels from service in favor of their modern EMD F40FH diesels. Although...
the Atlantic Fresh Aire, the first album in the Fresh Aire album series ALCOFA-1, a diesel-electric locomotive Formula Acceleration 1, a formula racing...
service diesel locomotive as direct competition to such models as the ALCOFA and PA and EMD FT and E-unit. Assembly of the 2,000 horsepower (1.49 MW)...
service during and after the era of LVRR passenger service. A pair of ALCOFA-2 FB-2 car body diesel-electric locomotives were also purchased to augment...
stand left intact. Locomotives converted included AlcoFA-1s and FA-2s, EMD F7s, and one F9. One FA was further converted into a power car for the C1...
trackage, since they felt that their steam locomotives, as well as their Alcofa units, gave the environment more visible smoke. Not only that, but the...
The ALCO Century 628 was a six-axle, 2,750 hp (2,051 kW) diesel-electric locomotive. A total of 186 C628s were built between December 1963 and December...
The ALCO Century 415 is a diesel-electric locomotive of B-B wheel arrangement produced by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) as part of their Century...
part of the deal, the Soo Line traded in 21 of its 22-strong fleet of AlcoFA-1 locomotives; it would have traded in 20 of them, but decided to rebuild...
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