Baldwin's VO1000 and VO660

TM Terry posted:

Does anyone know the origin of Baldwin's diesel switcher designation of VO1000.

I know the "1000" stood for 1000 hp. And "660" for 660 hp.

I'm guessing the "V" stood for the De La Vergne Engine used in the switcher. Please correct if I am mistaken.

But I have no idea what the "O" is designating. Can the experts assist?

From what I can find in such books as Diesels From Eddystone:  The Story of Baldwin Diesel Locomotives, and Diesel Locomotives:  The First 50 Years, VO was the designation used by De La Vergne for this size prime mover.  After Baldwin bought De La Vergne, the continued using the VO designation until the 606 and 608 series prime movers were developed.

Stuart

I just did a little "googling" and found a little more info:

It seems that 4-cycle diesel that Baldwin used that was made by De La Vergne was a model VO. Also it seems the 660 was a 6-cylinder and the 1000 was an 8-cylinder.

Late in the 19th century I found a bit of info about De La Vergne. They made a model VA diesel. But I found no models between VA and VO.

So, it seems the "VO" in the diesel model designation of a De La Vergne engine.

Atlas is planning an O gauge run of these later this year. They have previously been done by Weaver and MTH. The Atlas model will be offered in the rare NC&StL livery!

"The Car Works" did a series of Baldwin VO switchers in brass well before weaver.    The Weaver body is nice, but it is only one body style.     The Car Works version came in various body versions.    The basic body did not change, but the sheet metal around the radiator had a number of variations including an oval shaped front opening in stead of rectangular.     Also some radiator fronts were bowed out and some flat.    The sheet metal siding along the frame in front of the cab where the steps to the walkway along the hood are located varied.    I have seen a couple of straight and nicely curved versions.      I think headlights varied also.     So you have to use photos of your prototype to figure out what your road's baldwin looked like, if you care about that kind of detail.

Talking to our mechanic who worked on the Baldwin's knew a couple answers. 

606 would be a 6 cylinder 600 HP. a 608 would be an 8 cylinder at 600HP.  Neither would be turbo charged. A the turbo and the power jumped, possibly to 1000 HP. They had one unit that had a Bosch turbo which was different. He will thumb through his Baldwin books to see if he can find difference between VA and VO. 

Jamie

You folks KNOW your engines! :-)

I found a source that stated that in 1922, De La Vergne produced it's first true diesel engine, the model VG, designed for pipeline pumping stations.

Baldwin purchased De La Vergne and Cramp-Morris Industrials (once in the ship building industry) in 1931, that was a company that built hydraulic presses and stamping equipment. But Baldwin didn't have any application in their steam locomotive business, so they made De La Vergne part of a subsidiary company, the Baldwin-Southwark Company. The De La Vergne model VO was originally designed for stationary service. It wasn't until 1935 that Baldwin began applying the De La Vergne VO's for diesel locomotive purposes.