The Big 5 of Diesel Locomotives

Like the automotive world, the diesel locomotive industry has been dominated by a handful of primary manufacturers for nearly a century. Their Big 5 consists of EMD, General Electric, Alco, Baldwin, and Fairbanks Morse and each one has a story to tell. From the book Vintage & Modern Diesel Locomotives is a quick sample of some of the brilliant color and historical photos of locomotives from the 5 manufacturers, each one of which gets its own chapter. Happy trainspotting!

The Alco S2 shows up once again handling daily chores on the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville, switching out corn syrup tank cars at Lakeville, New York, in May 2007. The S2 was built from 1940 to 1950, with Alco turning out more than 1,500 of these highly versatile engines. With its straight-six power plant and 1,000-horsepower four-stroke engine, these units sat on Alco’s own Blunt-designed trucks. Surprisingly, many survivors of the S2 are still at work around the country in both tourist line and static displays.

These fine FP9A units from the Conway Scenic in New Hampshire lost their glory after being transferred to Pan Am and dressed out in the now-standard Southern blue. In the trade, Conway Scenic received a GP35 and a GP38, useful for their tourist/ freight operations. On this particular day in Massachusetts, we chased the train from Ayer to the large curve at Millers Falls, Massachusetts, to its entry on the east side of the Hoosac Tunnel as it travels over the Deerfield River.

At the DeWitt yard in Syracuse, New York, this New York Central Baldwin Sharknose RF16 sneaks under the hump for its next mainline assignment. These units were the center of attention simply because of their unique cab and body design. Under the hood, 1,600-horsepower engines powered the 160 locomotives produced in North America. According to many, these engines helped to push Baldwin ahead in the locomotive business by distancing the company from previous models that were plagued by mechanical problems. Kalmbach Library

Some Milwaukee Road F-M “Erie Built” locomotives were painted in a scheme similar to that of the Union Pacific, as shown here. Locomotive 12-A is waiting for its next assignment at the Western Avenue yard in Chicago on July 17, 1958. Richard Jay Solomon

In Montana’s Glacier National Park, BNSF can put on an impressive display of trains. One C44-9W rides past river rafters, and yet another C44-9W appears along the highway.

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Learn all about the companies that built diesel locomotives and the American railway system through Stanley W. Trzoniec’s breathtaking photography and thorough research.

Over eight decades after their invention, diesel locomotives are still the backbone of the American railroad system. Five principal companies have built diesel locomotives–EMD, General Electric, Alco, Baldwin, and Fairbanks Morse–and the most popular vintage and modern types of all five are covered in painstaking detail in Vintage & Modern Diesel Locomotives. From General Electric 44-Tonners to Alco RS5s, all of the most important models are included. Stanley W. Trzoniec’s stunning photography gives these behemoths of the modern age their due in beautiful full-color images.

Enthusiasts of diesel locomotives will not want to be without Vintage & Modern Diesel Locomotives in their collection.