Fairbanks-Morse Locomotive Photos

H12-44

The H12-44 was a 1200 horsepower switcher produced by Fairbanks-Morse. All FM locomotives had opposed-piston engines, which were fairly common in marine use, but unusual for railroad locomotives. Both the PRR and NYC contributed H12-44s to Penn Central, and they wore PC road numbers 8303-8342 (1st).

Here, ex-NYC H12-44 8316 is pondering its fate in the Altoona deadline on August 28, 1969. At first glance, this engine looks like a typical NYC engine....but look under the cab number for remnants of an "green C" PC emblem that someone has applied! This was one of the earlier-styled H12-44s, which had a noticeable overhang over the rear of the cab and a curved fairing over the battery boxes. Photo by Gary Stuebben. (69 K)

H16-44

The H16-44 was a 1600 horsepower version of the H12-44. All three PC predecessor roads contributed H16-44s, with the NYC units in the 5100-5112 number series, the New Haven units numbered 5160-5174, and the lone PRR unit numbered 5158 (see below).

PC 5158 was the sole ex-PRR H16-44 on the Penn Central roster, and it was unique in that it was the only ex-PRR or ex-NYC H16-44 to wear PC paint, and it was the only known PC locomotive to carry slanted numbers on its cab. It is seen at Chicago, IL, on Nov 9, 1969. PRR and NYC H16-44s had the earlier Raymond Loewy styled carbodies, with different radiators and walkways from the later H16-44s. Photo by William Raia, from the collection of Gary Stuebben. (101 K)

Former New Haven 1601, now PC 5161, is seen in full PC paint in the company of a caboose on May 23, 1969, at Hammond, IN. Most of the PC Fairbanks-Morse fleet tended to be kept in the Chicago area. All of the New Haven's H16-44s had the later, boxy carbodies, similar to the FM Trainmasters. Photo by William Raia, from the collection of Gary Stuebben. (94 K)

Looking derilect, PC 5166 waits for the scrapper in a deadline with another H16-44, the 5174, at Chicago, IL, on May 10, 1970. Photo by William Raia, from the collection of Gary Stuebben. (105 K)

In better times, the 5170 waits between assignments at Chicago, IL, on August 10, 1969. Photo by William Raia, from the collection of Gary Stuebben. (100 K)