RailsWest.com Diesel Electric Locomotives

Diesel Electric Locomotives add efficiency

By
the middle of the 1930’s a new type of locomotive was beginning to appear on American Railways.
This new locomotive used a Diesel generator to create electricity which powered axle-mounted
electric motors.

The original diesel engine was patented by its German inventor, Dr. Rudolph
Diesel, in 1892. While the engine proved more energy efficient and consumed
less fuel than than a steam engine, it took another 20 years before it
was determined how the power produced could be utilized. Various types
of transmission were developed, however, the use concept of using the
diesel generator for electric motors became the universal method on American
railroads.

First Diesel Electrics Placed is Service

The first diesel electric locomotive put into service in the United States was a switch engine
on the Central Railroad of New Jersey in 1925, built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO).
Southern Pacific purchased its first seven diesel electric locomotives from EMD, SW-1 switchers
in 1939. One of these, SP No. 1006, is preserved at Orange Empire Railway Museum.

The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy introduced it’s new stainless-steel
diesel-powered Pioneer Zephyr at the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition
in Chicago. The The Pioneer Zephyr became the first mainline diesel powered
passenger train in regular service pulling lightweight, stainless steel,
streamlined passenger cars. On May 26, 1934, the reopening day of the
Century of Progress Exposition, the sleek, silver Pioneer Zephyr set off
on the return from a trip to Denver to run 1,015.4 miles to Chicago in
13 hours, 4 minutes and 58 seconds, an average speed of 76.61 miles per
hour, breaking all long distance, nonstop railroad records.

Santa Fe’s streamlined Super Chief was the first diesel-powered, all-Pullman
sleeping-car train in America, and it eclipsed the Chief as Santa Fe’s
standard bearer. The extra-fare Super Chief made its maiden run from Dearborn
Station in Chicago on May 18, 1937, and covered the 2,225 miles to Los
Angeles in just 39 hours and 45 minutes.

It
wasn’t until 1940 that the pioneer freight diesel, model “FT,” built by Electro Motive
Division of General Motors (EMD) demonstrated that diesels could practically replace steam locomotives
in heavy-duty service.

Diesel locomotives slowly replaced steam locomotives as the manufacturing and operational efficiencies
made them cheaper to own and operate. While initial costs of diesel engines were high, steam
locomotives were custom made for specific railway routes and lines, and as such economies of
scale were difficult to achieve. Diesel locomotive parts were more conducive to mass production,
making Diesel Locomotives easier to maintain.

Diesel engines didn’t require the large amounts of fuel and water that steam locomotives did,
and demonstrated better thermal efficiency. Diesel’s theoretical studies demonstrated potential
thermal efficiencies for a compression ignition engine of 73% (compared with 6-10% for steam),
and his 1897 one-cylinder prototype operated at a remarkable 26% efficiency. By the late 1950’s,
Diesel locomotives had effectively replaced most steam engines.

On the Southern Pacific, they began using diesel electric locomotives in main line operation in 1947. The last Southern Pacific
steam locomotive was retired in 1957.

SP 1000 Photo by Otto Perry, OERM 1956 photo and text by Richard Boehle.

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