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Lima LS-1200

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A-3170
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel
BuilderLima-Hamilton Corporation
ModelA-3170 (LS-1200)
Build dateMay 1950 – August 1951
Total produced69
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AARB-B
 • UICBo′Bo′
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Wheelbase8 feet
Length47’ 10”
Loco weight250,500 lb (113.6 t)
Prime moverHamilton Engines and Machinery T89SA
Engine type4-stroke diesel
AspirationTurbocharged
Displacement6,107 cu in (100.08 L)
GeneratorWestinghouse 499A
Traction motorsWestinghouse 362D (4)
CylindersInline 8
Cylinder size9 in × 12 in (229 mm × 305 mm)
Loco brakeStraight air
Train brakesAir
Performance figures
Maximum speed60 mph (97 km/h)
Power output1,200 hp (895 kW)
Tractive effort74,508 lbf (331.4 kN)
Career
ClassCR&I- DES-15b NH- DEY-6 NKP- LS-12 WAB- D12
LocaleNorth America

The A-3170 (LS-1200) is a diesel-electric switcher locomotive built between May 1950 and August 1951, by the Lima-Hamilton Corporation of Lima, Ohio, United States. Lima's original design was the A-3080, a 1,000 hp (750 kW) switcher, which became the standard for Lima's designs. A 660 hp (490 kW) switcher (proposed specification number A-3081) had also been designed at the request of American Rolling Mill Company, but none were built. By changing fuel rack settings, the A-3080 was upgraded to the A-3170 producing 1,200 horsepower (890 kW) from a turbocharged Hamilton T89SA four-stroke, eight cylinder inline diesel engine, a Westinghouse generator and 4 Westinghouse traction motors provided the 74,508 lbf (331.43 kN) of tractive effort.

Lima-Hamilton did not assign model numbers to their models but referred to them by specification numbers. Model designations such as LS-1200 were a railfan invention. Lima-Hamilton assigned A-3170 as the specification number for this particular unit. The Southern Pacific ordered 60 locomotives but agreed to receive 84 S12s from BLH instead.

Original owners

[edit]
Owner Quantity Road Numbers
Armco Steel
3
710, E109, E110
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
24
320–329, 340–353
Erie Railroad
6
660–665, to Erie Lackawanna in 1960, same numbers
Chicago River and Indiana Railroad (New York Central Railroad)
6
8406–8411
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
10
630-639
New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (Nickel Plate Road)
4
309–312, to Norfolk and Western in 1964, same numbers
Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
6
1200–1205 (1200 ex Lima-Hamilton demonstrator 1200)
Wabash Railroad
10
401–406, 408–411, to Norfolk and Western in 1964, same numbers
69

Preservation

[edit]

Two A-3170's are preserved:

References

[edit]
  • Kirkland, John F. (November 1985). The Diesel Builders Volume 1: Fairbanks-Morse and Lima-Hamilton. Interurban Press. ISBN 0-916374-69-6.
  • Hirsimaki, Eric (1986). Lima – the History. Hundman Publishing Inc.
  • "The Yard Limit - Lima". Retrieved March 9, 2009.