Diesel of the Day 7/6: Alco PA
13Today’s diesel is arguably one of the most beautiful ever built: the Alco PA. 297 were built between 1946 and 1953, and only five survive today, with one operational and a second being restored to operation. The PA was a fast passenger diesel with clean lines and aggressive styling. They look like they’re doing 100 MPH even when standing still. The PA was powered by Alco’s 16-244D 2,250 horsepower four-stroke turbocharged engine, though this engine would prove to be the undoing of the company. It was unreliable and used in most of Alco’s locomotives at one time, and the much more reliable 251 engine was not ready fast enough to save their reputation and business. The PA did sell fairly well, though, and made every train it graced the front of look distinguished. It’s very sad that more weren’t saved from the scrapper’s torch. Today’s photo depicts nearly new Santa Fe PA number 51 heading up the Super Chief train in Chicago in 1946.
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Ohh…ahh…and it’s turbocharged!
@therealjrn Alco’s designs almost always were, but it took EMD until the early 60s to catch on
Turbocharging not only increases a locomotive’s horsepower, it also improves fuel economy and operation at high altitudes with thinner air, like on mountainous railroads.
/giphy i like trains
Restored it looks good, too.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4976545
@Euniceandrich Ah yes, the (so far) only fully restored PA. This unit was (and honestly still should be!) a Santa Fe unit just like the one shown above, but the owner decided instead to restore it as the diesel that gave his father, a former Nickel Plate Railroad employee, his first cab ride, which I can’t fault him for. It’s a gorgeous diesel.