B&O Alco FA-2's

Good looking units...too bad the 244 V12 was the kiss of death...especially in a low maintenance environment.

I miss the B&O and I miss seeing any first generation ALCO.

ALCO didn't help itself by rushing the 244 to product, but after all of the costly warranty repairs and updates{sometimes referred to as a "250"}, the 244V12 wasn't a bad engine. Look how long roads like the D&H and SP&S had them around. Owners that knew how to maintain them got the most out of them.  

{ I am always going to defend them, because I like them...    }.

Ralph,

Thanks for posting!! You have found another FA-2 fan!!

I wanted to ask why MTH FA's have grey trucks?  I repainted mine black like your first photo.

Scott

@56f100 - they started scrapping them in the 1960's - which was about the same time that all the RRs were dumping their 1940's era stuff. Although the B&O FA-2's were built circa 1950 the FA design came out in 1946 (I believe).   

@skroencke - I agree about the truck color. If you notice in the 2nd photo the trucks appear grey but I'm pretty sure that's just road grime since the manufacturer's photo (1st photo) shows them being nice and black.

Well, good for you, Henry.  You have figured it out.  Alco-GE diesel-electric locomotives were good locomotives.  Quirky, yes, but, after teething problems with the 244 engine were addressed, they did a day's work and there was not a lot of trouble with them on roads which gave them good care.  My Home Road was one of those railroads.

I am always amused by self-proclaimed Alco experts who had no experience with early Alco-GE's.  Their only source of information comes from having read bad things about them from other misinformed sources, and so the bad reputation perpetuates itself.

Hi, I have that 2nd picture of the 2 FA's pulling those 2 coal trains and there is quite a lot of info printed on the back of it.  It states that those 2 trains are actually going down grade beside the Potomac River near the station of Sir John's Run.  The consist on the left was destined for Washington or Baltimore.  The train on the right was to proceed 15 miles farther to Cherry Run and then to Western Maryland track and into Hagerstown, Maryland.  This pic was taken in West Virginia only 6 miles farther to Hancock.  Yep, that's what it states from the B&O Railroad Company.

Rick

 What's the difference between the C&O and B&O ? Completely different railroad? Did they run in the same states?  I was looking at my first rule book and along with a number of Canadian roads the  Chesapeake & Ohio, New York  Central ,and TH&B used the same rule book.(1962)

The info on that photo's location is quite incorrect, as is the person that claims copyright.

The location is Orleans Road,WV, which is the east end of the Magnolia Cutoff, this is over 15 miles west of Hancock.
This a color version of a early 1950s publicity pose by the B&O and my copy from a calendar plainly states B&ORR photo. A B&W version appears on pg. 112 of "East End;B&Os Neck of the Bottle"; by Jeff Hollis and Charles Roberts. The Barnard, Roberts, and Co. series of titles on the B&O and PRR are vital to anyone wanting a thorough understanding of Eastern RRing. A colorized version of a 1940s steam-era publicity pose also appears on pg.199 of the same book. 
This location did not lose its B&O classic signals until 2011, but remains, IMO, an excellent spot to do trainwatching with 2 grade xings within a short distance.

All images by Warren W. Jenkins; 2011

Read the front page carefully, and I believe you will find that that Canadian rule book only applied to the parts of Chesapeake & Ohio and New York Central System that operated in Canada. Both NYC and C&O had lines from Buffalo to Detroit via Canada.

Ralph,

One thing I did forget to mention, the original paint scheme that the FA-2's and other B&O diesels is one of the most attractive schemes ever! IMHO. It just seemed to suite all of the first generation diesels the B&O purchased. 

+1..on the Alco 244V12 engine.  If you spent the time and $, they would perform OK. We had RS3s running on EL right up to CR...and in a few cases, beyond.  The V16 version was more demanding, or so I'm told. Each small incremental improvement made a difference to those who cared. PRR bought five big RSD7s for dual service at the end of '55, and they knew beyond doubt what they were getting. Must have been a measurable improvement in the 244V16 between the "B" and the "H" models. Their next order for big Alcos was RSD15s with the 251V16...and a whole new learning curve.

You may be correct but this is what it says... The rules herein govern the operation of the following railways , and all previous rules and instructions inconsistent therewith.

The Chesapeake and Ohio railway company     M.I. Dunn  vice President.

 The New York Central Railroad company J.F. NASH.. vice president operations. There are others .

Interesting.

Ralph M, I agree with you that the original scheme was the most attractive that the B&O fielded, whether on ALCo or EMD.  It was very handsome, IMHO, and maybe even the equal of the ATSF Warbonnet - it just lacked flashy enough colors to attract the same level of attention, maybe.

Borden Tunnel, it plainly states on the back of that photo "Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company".  Sooooo, maybe it's your info that is incorrect.  Thank you.

Rick

Yes  it was also my last rule book with train orders. My latest rule book  didn't mention the American Roads.  (1990)

1. I only stated the location was wrong.
2. No argument from me about it being a B&O RR photo, however the person who claimed copyright on the posted copy cannot do so since he was not the original photographer.

3. Although the caption with my copy of the photo in question is the same as yours, I recognized it as incorrect due to a. being a native of that region b. actually having been to that particular location on several occasions.

4. If a pic (and correct caption) is worth a thousand words, than here is the B&W version from the book I referenced.
Soooo, if you still feel that I am in error, I would be happy to refer this photo to the B&O Historical Society of which I am a member.
As a amateur historian, I try to deal in facts, not assumptions and conjecture, of which there is already plenty of on this forum.