Importer Of The Finest Brass
Railroad Models.
Available In "O", "HO", & "N"
Scales.
* * * Celebrating 30 Years Of
Excellence * * *
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ALCO-GE MODEL PA PASSENGER DIESEL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES In September 1946 the American Locomotive Company and the General Electric Company produced a diesel electric locomotive for passenger service. The new units were built with a single Model 12-244 engine, rated at 2000HP. Most passenger units built prior to this time used two engines to achieve this rating. The units were carried on two A1A-A1A trucks. These postwar ALCO units had an appearance that was unique from any other. The long wheel base trucks, flat face, grilled headlight and long nose, although not giving a sleek appearance, caused many to consider the big units the most beautiful cab units ever built. The ALCO passenger units were built in two configurations, the cab unit (classified as model PA-1) and a booster (called the PB-1). In 1950 a number of internal modifications were made to the design. A water-cooled turbocharger, new exhaust manifolds and engine re-rating caused the model to be changed to PA-2 and PB-2. Externally the units were indistinguishable from the PA-1. In 1952 the model was again changed to the PA-3 and PB-3. This change included external modifications, including the removal of a porthole behind the radiator shutters, and replacement of the original side grills with Farr grills. This latter modification removed the unique piece behind the cab and made the new models easy to spot. The early PA-1's were equipped with small number boards which were changed to a larger style about 1949. A 2400HP version of the PA was offered by ALCO after 1954, but none were built, the last PA-3 being built for the Southern in June 1953. The PA Series was purchased by sixteen railroads from coast to coast. Southern Pacific owned the most with 64, the Santa Fe second with 44. The fewest were owned by Southern Pacific Subsidiary St. Louis-Southwestern with two. Most railroads used their PA's in premier and secondary passenger service, but many roads, including the Santa Fe, Union Pacific and Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley and Erie-Lackawanna used their units also in freight service. The decline of passenger service was the downfall of the ALCO PA as passenger trails were discontinued. Most PA's were out of service by the mid-1960's, but it is significant that among the last operators were the ATSF and the SP. The ATSF sold four units to the Delaware & Hudson in 1967 which were used on the road's revitalized passenger service between Albany and Montreal. The four units became very famous as the last of their kind, and after the discontinuance of the service for which they were bought were leased out for a time, eventually being sold to a company which sent them to Mexico. There the units ran out their last miles on the F.C. del Pacifico, still painted in the D&H scheme.
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