DIESEL "ACRONYMS" AN EXPLANATION

    Following here is a listing by builder of the "Acronyms" used by them or by writers to classify/catalog various models. In the very early period many units were simply named for the weight of the engine or had no name.
    For information about PHASES-An Explanation?

    AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE COMPANY


    ALCO=American Locomotive Company
    MLW=Montreal Locomotive Works
    ALCO & MLW didn't use model designations, only spec numbers, such as E-1641(RS-1) or DL-440(T-6), etc.

    Authors and modelers started applying Acronyms to the various Spec numbers as follows.
    HH=High hoods
    S=Switchers, 4 axles AAR type "B" trucks, 1,2, 3 indicates models.
    RS=Roadswitcher-4 axle, 1,2, 3 indicates models.
    RSC=Road switcher-A-1-A trucks, 2, 3 indicates models.
    RSD=Roadswitcher-C-C trucks, 3, 4 , 5 indicates models.
    FA=Freight A unit, 4 axles AAR type "B" trucks, 1,2, 3 indicates models.
    FB=Freight B unit, 4 axles AAR type "B" trucks, 1,2, 3 indicates models.
    FPA=Freight Passenger A unit, 4 axles AAR type "B" trucks, 1,2, indicates models.
    FPB=Freight passenger B unit, 4 axles AAR type "B" trucks, 1,2, indicates models.
    PA=Passenger A unit, 6 axle A-1-A trucks, 1,2, 3 indicates models.
    PB=Passenger B unit, 6 axle A-1-A trucks, 1,2, 3 indicates models.

    Beginning with the Centuries these designations were applied by ALCO.
    C=Century 4 indicated 4 axle, 15 indicated 1500 HP
    C=Century 6 indicated 6 axle, 30 indicated 3000 HP
    C855=Century 8 indicated 2 sets of 4 axle trucks, 55 indicated 5500 HP
    M=MLW built Century 4 or 6 indicated axles and 30 or 36 indicated HP
    DH=Diesel Hydraulic

    BALDWIN LOCOMOTIVE WORKS


    Baldwin assigned these designations.
    BLW=Baldwin Locomotive Works
    BLW=Build'em Like Wanted (BLW built many steam and diesels to customers wishes)
    BLH=Baldwin Lima-Hamilton
    VO-1000=De La Vergne engine models, 1000 indicates HP
    DS-4-4-6=Diesel Switcher, 4 axles switcher trucks, 6 indicates 660 HP
    S-12=Switcher, 4 axle switcher trucks, 12 indicates 1200 HP.
    DRS-4-4-10=Diesel Roadswitcher, 4 axles AAR type "B" trucks, 10 indicates 1000 HP
    RS-12=Roadswitcher, 4 axles AAR type "B" trucks, 12 indicates 1200 HP
    AS-16=Roadswitcher, 4 axles AAR type "B" trucks, 16 indicates 1600 HP
    AS-416=Roadswitcher, 6 axle A-1-A trucks, 1600 HP
    AS-616=Roadswitcher, 6 axle C-C trucks, 1600 HP
    DT-6-6-20=Diesel Transfer, 6 axle C-C trucks, 2000 HP
    DR-12-8-1500/2=Diesel Road unit, 12 axle, 2 D trucks, 2-1500 HP engines These were the "Centipedes"
    DR-6-4-20=Diesel Road unit, 6 axle, 2 A-1-A trucks, 2000 HP
    These were the "Babyfaces" and in a different body designed by Raymond
    Lowey was the passenger "Shark" or "Sharknose".
    RF-16=Road Freight, 4 axles AAR type "B" trucks, 1600 HP
    These were the freight "Shark" or "Sharknose".

    ELECTRO-MOTIVE DIVISION, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION


    EMD assigned model designations(acronyms).
    EMD=Electromotive Division
    EMD=Every Model Different (assigned by WAGs)
    SC=Six hundred HP, Cast frame, these were switchers, 1, 2, etc indicate models.
    NC=Nine hundred HP, Cast frame, these were switchers, 1, 2 etc indicate models.
    SW-1=Six hundred HP, Welded frame, switcher model 1.
    NW-1=Nine hundred HP, Welded frame, switcher model 1.
    As time went on switchers used larger HP engines so the S and N with W
    lost their meaning. SW was then used for switchers in general.

    SW-900=Switcher, 4 axle switcher trucks, 900 Hp.
    SW-9=Switcher, 4 axle switcher trucks, 1200 Hp.
    There is no rhyme or reason to some SW designations....
    SW-1000=Switcher, 4 axle switcher trucks, 1000 Hp. The number indicates HP.
    NW-2=Switcher, 4 axle switcher trucks, 1000 Hp, 3, 5 etc indicate models.
    TR-1=Transfer unit, cow and calf, 1350 HP.
    TA=Twelve hundred HP "A" unit, 4 axle AAR"B" trucks.
    GMD-1=General Motors Diesel model 1 by GMD of Canada, 4 or 6 axle trucks, 1200 HP.
    RS-1325=Road switcher, 4 axle Flexicoil trucks, 1325 HP.
    BL-2=Branchline unit, 4 axle Blomberg trucks, 1500 HP.
    GP-7=General Purpose, 4 axle Blomberg trucks, 1500 HP, 9, 18 etc indicates change
    in HP ratings and or model.
    GP-38-2=Dash 2 version of the GP series, mainly electrical changes.
    SD-7=Special Duty, 6 axle C-C trucks, 1500 HP, 9, 18 etc indicates change
    in HP ratings and or model.
    SDP-=Special duty model equipped for passenger service.
    SDl-=Special Duty lightweight model for use on lightweight or branchline track.
    MP-15=Multi Purpose, 4 axle trucks, 1500 HP.
    DD-35=Road unit consisting of 2 3500 HP units on 2 "D" trucks.
    FT=Freight cab unit, 4 axle Blomberg trucks, Thirteen hundred HP.
    FT=Fourteen Hundred HP, Twin(drawbar connected)units
    F2A=Freight cab unit, 4 axle Blomberg trucks, 2, 3 etc indicates change in model
    and horsepower.
    FP-7=Freight unit equipped with pasenger equipment, 4 axle Blomberg trucks.
    EA=Eighteen Hundred HP, "A" unit, 6 axle A-1-A trucks, passenger service.
    E2A="A" cab type Passenger unit, 2,3, 4 etc indicate model change. HP varies.
    F-45=Cowl type Freight unit 6 axle C-C trucks, 3600 HP.
    FP-45=Cowl type Freight unit equipped with passenger equipment, 3600 HP.

    FAIRBANKS-MORSE CORPORATION


    F-M assigned these designations
    FM=Fairbanks Morse
    H-10-44=Hood(switcher)unit, 1000 Hp, 4 axle.
    H-12-44TS=Hood(switcher)passenger terminal, 1200 HP, 4 axle switcher trucks.
    H-16-44=Roadswitcher, 4 axle AAR type "B" trucks, 1600 HP.
    H-16-66=Roadswitcher, 6 axle trucks, 1600 HP, Known as "Baby Trainmasters".
    H-20-44=Hood(Roadswitcher), 4 axle AAR type "B" trucks, 2000 HP.
    H-24-66=Roadswitcher, 6 axle trucks, 2400 HP, Known as "Trainmasters".
    A-Erie="A" Passenger Cab unit built in Erie, 6 axle A-1-A trucks, 2000 HP.
    B-Erie="B" Passenger Cab unit built in Erie, 6 axle A-1-A trucks, 2000 HP.
    CFA-16-4="A" Freight cab unit, 4 axle AAR type "B" trucks, 1600 HP.
    CFB-20-4="B" Freight cab unit, 4 axle AAR type "B" trucks, 2000 HP.
    The two above were known as "C" Liners.
    CPA-16-4="A" Passenger cab unit, 4 axle AAR type "B" trucks, 1600 HP.

    GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY


    GE=General Electric
    Early units were designated by tonnage.
    44-ton=Smallest engine that could be operated by one man under the
    1937 agreement that protected firemens jobs.
    70-ton=largest loco for restricted axle loadings.
    UD-18= Universal Diesel, 4 axle AAR type "B" trucks, 1800 HP.
    U25B=Universal, B designated 4 axle AAR type "B" trucks, 2500 HP.
    U25C=Universal, C designated 6 axle C-C type trucks, 2500 HP.
    These are known as "U" Boats, subsequent models used the numbers to
    indicate Horsepower ratings, 28, 30 36 etc.
    U34CG=Universal, CG indicates cowl body, 3400 HP.
    U34CH=Universal, CH indicated head end power available for passenger service.
    U50=Universal, 2 sets of 4 axle AAR type "B" trucks joined by span bolsters,
    5000 Hp(2 2500 Hp engines).
    U50C=Universal, 6 axle C-C trucks, 5000 Hp(2-2500HP engines)
    B23-7=Dash 7 model, 4 axle Hi-AD type "B" trucks, 2250 HP, AC traction motors.
    BQ23-7=4 axle AAR type "B" trucks, "Quarters" cab, 2250 HP.
    B32-8=Dash 8 models, 4 axle Hi-AD type "B" trucks, 3150 HP, Microprocessor control.
    Dash 8-32BWH=Amtrak engine, 4 axle Hi-AD type "B" trucks, Wide Hood, 3200 HP.
    Others were Dash 8-40B, BW and BWH, these re identified as B40-8 etc.
    B40-8WH=Amtrak cowl body, 4 axle special trucks, 4000 HP.
    C30-7=Dash 7 model, 6 axle C-C trucks, 3000 HP, AC traction motors.
    C32-8=Dash 8 model, 6 axle C-C trucks, 3150 HP, Microprocessor control.
    Dash 8-40C=Dash 8 model, 6 axle C-C trucks, 4000 HP, Microprocessor control.
    Dash 8-40CW=Dash model, full Cowl body, wide cab, otherwise same as Dash 8-40C.
    AC44CW=Generator and traction motors are AC, 6 axle C-C trucks, 4400 HP.
    E25B=Electric, AC overhead/DC traction motors, 4 axle "B" trucks, 2500 HP.
    E60CH=Electric, Cowl type body, equipped with Head end power, 6000 HP.

    LIMA-HAMILTON


    All L-H units were classed by Horsepower, 750, 800, 1000, 1200 & 2500 HP.
© S.A. McCall