ALCO DH643

The ALCO C-643DH, also known as the Century 643DH, was a twin-engine diesel-hydraulic locomotive, the first diesel-hydraulic road switcher built in the United States. It had a C-C wheel arrangement and generated 4,300 horsepower (3,200 kW). Only three were built, all for Southern Pacific Railroad in 1964 (#9018–#9020). The Alco C-643DHs joined 21 Krauss-Maffei ML-4000 diesel-hydraulics already on the Southern Pacific's roster. They spent most of their service lives in the flat San Joaquin Valley in California.

ALCO C-643DH
Southern Pacific #9152, formerly #9020.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-hydraulic
BuilderAmerican Locomotive Company (ALCO)
Order numberS-3374
Serial numberS-3374-01 – S-3374-03
ModelDH-643
Build dateSeptember 1964
Total produced3
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
 • UICC′C′
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Length75 ft 10 in (23.11 m)
Loco weight378,000 lb (171,000 kg)
Prime moverALCO 251C, (x 2)
Engine typeV12 Four-stroke diesel, (x 2)
AspirationTurbocharger
Displacement8,016 cu in (131.36 L)
Cylinders12 (x 2)
Cylinder size9 by 10 1⁄2 inches (229 mm × 267 mm)
TransmissionVoith hydraulic
Loco brakeStraight air
Train brakesAir
Performance figures
Maximum speed77 mph (124 km/h)
Power output4,300 hp (3,200 kW)
Tractive effort95,000 lbf (422.58 kN)
Career
OperatorsSouthern Pacific Railroad
Numbers9018–9020 (later 9150–9152; final 9800-9802)
LocaleNorth America
Scrapped1973

Dissatisfaction over the poor performance of diesel-hydraulic locomotives, as well as their use of foreign-made components (the hydraulic transmission was of German Voith design), eventually led Southern Pacific to sell the 3 C-643DHs for scrap in 1973. None of the 3 examples built survived into preservation.

Original owners
RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
Southern Pacific Railroad
3
9018–9020renumbered 9150–9152
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See also

References
  • "ALCO 244 and 251 Diesel Engines". Pacific Southwest Railway Museum. Archived from the original on 13 January 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2006.
  • Kirkland, John F. (1989). The Diesel Builders, Volume Two: American Locomotive Company and Montreal Locomotive Works. Interurban Press, Glendale, CA. ISBN 0-916374-81-5.
  • Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Kalmbach Publishing Co., Milwaukee, WI. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
  • Strapac, Joseph A. (1993). Southern Pacific Historic Diesels, Volume 2: Diesel-Hydraulic Locomotives. Shade Tree Books, Bellflower, CA. ISBN 0-930742-15-X.
  • Strapac, Joseph A. (2001). Southern Pacific Historic Diesels, Volume 8: Alco Roadswitcher Locomotives. Shade Tree Books, Bellflower, CA. ISBN 0-930742-23-0.
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