SAL Baldwin Switchers

CONSIST: This page is dedicated to
SAL's Baldwin switcher roster.

THIS PAGE IS BEST VIEWED IN A MAXIMIZED WINDOW

For SAL's Baldwin light road switchers, click here.

TIMETABLE:The chart below includes some statistics about Baldwin's switcher models.

The models SAL chose to purchase are highlighted in red type on a black background.

Model	SEABOARD Road No[Qty]	Hp	Cyls	turbo?	Engine	From	To	Wheelbase ft-in	Length ft-in	Sales
demo		660	6	no	VO	1937	-	18-0	39-6	1
		900	8	no	VO	1937	-	20-10*	42-4*	3
VO660	1202 [1]	660	6	no	VO	1939	1946	22-6	45-3	142
VO1000	1400-1402 1413-1416 1492 [8]	1000	8	no	VO	1939	1946	25-6	48-10	548
DS4-4-660		660	6	no	606NA	1946	1949	22-6	45-3	139
DS4-4-1000	1417-1424 [8]	1000	8	no	608NA	1946	1948	25-6	48-10	56
DS4-4-1000	1435-1461 [27]	1000	6	yes	606SC	1948	1951	22-8	46-0	446
DS4-4-750		750	6	no	606NA	1949	1951	22-6	45-3	53
S-8		800	6	no	606NA	1950	1954	22-6	45-3	61
S-12	1462-1465 1476-1481 [10]	1200	6	yes	606A	1951	1956	22-8	46-0	451
1439-1461 renumbered SCL 51-73								*estimated
1462-1481 renumbered SCL 203-206, 217-222
Notes: B-B Trucks: AAR type A switcher standard

SPECIAL ORDERS:
Additional data found in Seaboard Motive Power by Warren L. Calloway & Paul K. Withers shows that the single VO660 number 1202 was built for SAL in February of 1941. It was repowered in 1964 with an EMD 567A engine and not retired until July 1980. The repowering resulted in a muffler and four-stack exhaust system that readily distinguishes the rebuilt unit.

The eight VO1000 models were purchased at various times between November 1941 and January 1945. These units were repowered with EMD 567 engines between 1962 and 1964 and eventually were retired during the 1980-81 timeframe. The 1492 was incorporated into the SAL roster with the merger of the Macon Dublin & Savannah subsidiary where it was originally numbered 1000. The VO1000 locomotives originally had the usual four-stack exhaust of the non-turbocharged Baldwin VO engine but they were also replaced with a muffler and four-stack exhaust when the units were repowered. The picture of SAL 1402 is typical of this group and displays the earlier paint scheme with a curved stripe that follows the lower edge of the side sill. The repowered 1413 shows an intermediate paint scheme without any side sill stripe. The longer frame of the 8-cylinder version is evidenced by extra space between the side tanks and the front truck.

The DS-4-4-1000 purchases can be classified into two groups. The eight units in the first group built with the longer non-turbocharged 8-cylinder 608NA engine were assigned SAL road numbers 1417 through 1424. These were built between June and October 1946. Those in the second group (road numbers 1435-1461) were built between February 1950 and January 1951. They all used the shorter 6-cylinder turbocharged 606SC prime mover on the shorter frame. All of the first group plus 1435-1438 were retired well ahead of the SAL/ACL merger into SCL in July 1966. The remainder (after being renumbered post-merger as SCL 51-73} were retired on various dates between 1975 and 1978.

SAL purchased its ten Baldwin S-12 switchers all in January---the first four (1462-1465) in 1952 the rest (1476-1481) in 1953. These units all had the turbocharged 6-cylinder 606A engines on the shorter frames. They displayed a single oblong stack mounted off-center on the top of the hood just ahead of the rear truck. These units all were passed into the SCL and renumbered 203-206 & 217-222. Except for the only Baldwin switcher to be wrecked (as SCL 221 in 1974) and for SCL 205 (retired in March 1970) these units were all retired in 1977 and 1978.

Apparently some of these units were very hardy and returned to the SCL after retirement in a new life as slugs including SCL 221 as slug SCL 3010 which eventually saw service as CR&IC 98 and SCL 205 (Slug SCL 3009). SCL 54 turned up at US Sugar as slug 100. While many of these units were scrapped or traded in upon retirement others were sold and resold to industrial and short line railroads continuing service well past their SAL years into the 1980s.

REPORTING MARKS:
This page compiled and © Copyright 1998 by Jim Fuhrman from information in the following sources:

The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide by Jerry Pinkepank Kalmbach Books 1973 1974 1978 & 1980.
Seaboard Motive Power by Warren L. Calloway & Paul K. Withers Withers Publishing 1988.
Model Railroader Cyclopedia-Volume 2 Diesel Locomotives compiled by Bob Hayden Kalmbach Books 1980.
The Yard Limit Web site maintained by Mark Laundry (a good reference source for switchers).

Where these sources disagreed I tried to let common sense prevail. E-MAIL me any helpful input.

Links--- to Jim's: home page to Warren's Pages: SAL Page#1 SAL Page#2 Norfolk Southern Page