4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (
1,435 mm)
Length | 75 ft 10 in (23.11 m) |
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Loco weight | 378,000 lb (171,000 kg) |
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Prime mover | Alco 251C, (x 2) |
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Engine type | V12 Four-stroke diesel, (x 2) |
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Aspiration | Turbocharger |
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Displacement | 8,016 cu in (131.36 L) |
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Cylinders | 12 (x 2) |
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Cylinder size | 9 by 10+1⁄2 inches (229 mm × 267 mm) |
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Transmission | Voith hydraulic |
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Loco brake | Straight air |
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Train brakes | Air |
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Performance figures |
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Maximum speed | 77 mph (124 km/h) |
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Power output | 4,300 hp (3,200 kW) |
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Tractive effort | 95,000 lbf (422.58 kN) |
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|
Career |
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Operators | Southern Pacific Railroad |
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Numbers | 9018–9020 (later 9150–9152; final 9800-9802) |
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Locale | North America |
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Scrapped | 1973 |
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The ALCO C-643DH, also known as the Century 643DH, was a twin-engine diesel-hydraulic locomotive, the first diesel-hydraulic road switcher built in the United States. It had a C-C wheel arrangement and generated 4,300 horsepower (3,200 kW). Only three were built, all for Southern Pacific Railroad in 1964 (#9018–#9020). The Alco C-643DHs joined 21 Krauss-Maffei ML-4000 diesel-hydraulics already on the Southern Pacific's roster. They spent most of their service lives in the flat San Joaquin Valley in California.
Dissatisfaction over the poor performance of diesel-hydraulic locomotives, as well as their use of foreign-made components (the hydraulic transmission was of German Voith design), eventually led Southern Pacific to sell the 3 C-643DHs for scrap in 1973. None of the 3 examples built survived into preservation.
Original owners
See also
References
- "ALCO 244 and 251 Diesel Engines". Pacific Southwest Railway Museum. Archived from the original on 13 January 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2006.
- Kirkland, John F. (1989). The Diesel Builders, Volume Two: American Locomotive Company and Montreal Locomotive Works. Interurban Press, Glendale, CA. ISBN 0-916374-81-5.
- Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Kalmbach Publishing Co., Milwaukee, WI. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
- Strapac, Joseph A. (1993). Southern Pacific Historic Diesels, Volume 2: Diesel-Hydraulic Locomotives. Shade Tree Books, Bellflower, CA. ISBN 0-930742-15-X.
- Strapac, Joseph A. (2001). Southern Pacific Historic Diesels, Volume 8: Alco Roadswitcher Locomotives. Shade Tree Books, Bellflower, CA. ISBN 0-930742-23-0.
External links
- Alco Six-Axle Centuries Roster
- Southern Pacific DH-643
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