ALCO HH series

The ALCO HH series was an early set of diesel switcher locomotives built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York between 1931 and 1940, when they were replaced by the S series: the 660 hp (490 kW) S-1 and 1,000 hp (750 kW) S-2. They were ALCO's first diesel switchers to enter true series production, and among the first land vehicles anywhere to use the revolutionary diesel-electric power transmission.

ALCO HH series
Portland Terminal Company HH600 #1004, photographed at Portland, Maine in 1968.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderALCO
Total producedHH600: 79
HH660: 43
HH900: 21
HH1000: 34
Specifications
Configuration:
  AARB-B
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Wheel diameter40 in (1,016 mm)
Length45 ft 2+34 in (13.79 m)
Prime moverAlco HH600/900: McIntosh & Seymour 531;
HH660/1000: McIntosh & Seymour 538
Engine typeInline-6 Four stroke diesel
AspirationHH600/660: Naturally aspirated
HH900/1000: Turbocharged
Displacement9,572 cu in (156.86 L)
Cylinders6
Cylinder size12.5 in × 13 in (318 mm × 330 mm)
Performance figures
Power output600 hp (447 kW),
660 hp (492 kW),
900 hp (671 kW), or
1,000 hp (746 kW)

The "HH" name stood for "High Hood", a name ALCO came eventually to use in an official context, but originally an unofficial name. Model designations such as HH600 are only semi-official. Original ALCO designations were either descriptive or based on the internal order/design number.

A total of 177 of the HH series was produced; comprising one prototype and four production models of varying power outputs.

ALCO 600 (New Haven #0900)

The first HH series locomotive, ALCO demonstrator #600, was mechanically almost identical to later designs, but the appearance differed. The sides of the locomotive's hood sloped outward from top to bottom, and brake equipment was exposed beneath the cab. It rode on a unique pattern of trucks. After a period of demonstration on a number of railroads, the unit was sold to the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad as #0900. This number often was used to describe the locomotive, although the classification on the builder's data card was "404-OE-200". This first unit was built in July 1931.

Diesel-electric power transmission

The locomotive was equipped with a four-stroke McIntosh & Seymour 531 straight-6 diesel engine, powering a General Electric GT551A1 main generator. Four nose-suspended GE-287-D traction motors in the trucks were geared at a ratio of 4.25:1 to the wheels; the motors were cooled by electrically driven traction motor blowers.[1]

The New Haven's Alco 600 in 1933.
6-cylinder McIntosh & Seymour engine on a flat car
Buffalo Creek #43 HH660 owned and operated by the WNYRHS. 2018 photo.

HH600

The HH600 was nearly identical to the previous #0900 of the New Haven internally and mechanically, but it was clad in new bodywork, with a straight-sided hood and cab sides that came all the way to the frame. The HH600's were powered by 6-cylinder McIntosh & Seymour 531 engines of 600 hp (450 kW). They were built from July 1932 through May 1939; in all, 78 HH600s were constructed. The first-built units had sharp-edged front hood corners, but in 1934 ALCO employed industrial designer Otto Kuhler to clean up the appearance; he curved the corners and recessed the headlight, and all subsequent HH series units were of this style until another restyling in 1938 where the nose was further rounded. Late versions of this locomotive used the 6-cylinder 538 engine.

Original buyers

RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
American Locomotive Company (prototype)1600 (1st)to New Haven 0900
American Locomotive Company (demonstrators)51, 600 (2nd)1 to ATSF 2300
601to Lehigh Valley Railroad 105
602to Boston and Maine 1102
603to Delaware, Lackawanna and Western 401
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway22301–2302
  • 2301 retired Feb 1, 1971 Relocated to Temple, TX
  • 2302 to American Grain & Cattle
Belt Railway of Chicago2302–303
Boston and Maine Railroad11101
Central Railroad of New Jersey41020–10231021 to Houdaille Construction Materials Co.
Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad1102
Chicago and Illinois Western Railroad11
Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad11
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad7402–408405–406 to Erie Lackawanna as 322-323
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway1209
Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad1601
Illinois Central Railroad89006–9013Scrapped 1951
Massena Terminal Railroad17
Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company2101–102
New York Central Railroad6614–619
New York Central (Boston and Albany Railroad)5680–684Renumbered 806–810
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad100911–0920
Patapsco and Back Rivers Railroad754–60
Peoria and Pekin Union Railway1100
Portland Terminal Company [Maine]41001–1004
South Buffalo Railway654–59
Steelton and Highspire Railroad131
Universal Atlas Cement14
Total79

HH900

The HH900 was a 900 hp (670 kW) version of the HH series using a turbocharged version of the McIntosh & Seymour 531 engine. Both turbocharged models (HH900 and HH1000) needed a greater cooling capacity, and this was reflected in the larger bodyside radiator space of both models, which distinguishes them from the lower-powered HH600 and HH660. The 21 HH900 units were produced between March 1937 and January 1939, after which they were supplanted by the McIntosh & Seymour 538T-engined HH1000. Several HH900s were built with the 538T engine.

Original buyers


RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
American Locomotive Company (demonstrator unit)1101to CRI&P 730
Birmingham Southern Railroad881–88
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway1402
Kansas City Terminal Railway150
Minnesota Transfer Railway390–92
Philadelphia, Bethlehem and New England Railroad1207to South Buffalo Railway 70
Reading Company240–41
Warrior River Terminal Company250–51
Youngstown and Northern Railroad2211–212
Total21

HH660

The HH660 started production in ALCO's lineup in October 1938; 43 examples were built until April 1940. It used a naturally aspirated version of the 6-cylinder McIntosh and Seymour 538 engine, producing 660 hp (490 kW). Externally, HH660s were indistinguishable from late HH600s.

Original buyers


RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
American Locomotive Company (plant switcher)14
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad11900
Boston and Maine Railroad11162
Buffalo Creek Railroad143To Relco - 1966, to WNYRHS - 2000
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (“Milwaukee Road”)41600–1603Renumbered 980–983
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad3409–411409–410 to Erie-Lackawanna Railway 324–325
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway3210–212211 to Gopher State Scrap and Metal
Erie Railroad4302–305305 to Erie-Lackawanna Railway, same number
Green Bay and Western Railroad1101
Inland Steel150
Louisville and Nashville Railroad110
Maine Central Railroad2951–952
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway1D939To Glacier Sand & Gravel
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad100921–09300924 to Penn Central 9411 in 1969
Northern Pacific Railway3125–127125–126 to Walla Walla Valley Railway 770, 775;
Southern Pacific Company31001–1003
Tennessee Central Railway150
Wabash Railroad2100, 150
Total43

HH1000

The HH1000 replaced the HH900, with the new McIntosh and Seymour 538T engine, turbocharged to produce 1000 hp (750 kW), a 100 hp (75 kW) increase from the previous model. They were produced between May 1939 and December 1940; 34 were built. M&STL D539 was the only HH1000 built with the 531T engine.

Original buyers


RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
American Locomotive Company (demonstrator unit)11000
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway122310–2321
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad1600
Birmingham Southern Railroad189
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (“Milwaukee Road”)11671
Manufacturers Railway3202–203
Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company4103–106
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway1D-539Renumbered 92; to Chicago and North Western Railway
Missouri Pacific Railroad19102
Newburgh and South Shore Railway21–2
Oliver Iron Mining Company7900–906
Total34

Specifications

Overall length 45 ft 2.75 in 13.79 m
Between bolster centers: 21 ft 3 in 6.48 m
Truck wheelbase: 8 ft 0 in 2.44 m
Width over grabirons: 9 ft 10 in 3.00 m
Height above rails: 14 ft 3 in 4.34 m
Wheel diameter: 40 in 1.02 m
Fuel capacity:
Engine (HH600): McIntosh & Seymour 531
Power (HH600): 600 hp 450 kW
Engine (HH900): McIntosh & Seymour 531T (turbocharged)
Power (HH900): 900 hp 670 kW
Engine (HH660): McIntosh & Seymour 538
Power (HH660): 660 hp 500 kW
Engine (HH1000): McIntosh & Seymour 538T (turbocharged)
Power (HH1000): 1000 hp 750 kW
Main generator:
Traction motors:
Standard gearing:
Weight:

Surviving units

A few HH series switchers still survive in revenue service, and more are in museums. Working HH locomotives include an HH660 at Gopher Scrap in Mankato, Minnesota, one owned by the Western New York Railway Historical Society, and one from the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad owned by Genesee Valley Transportation Company at Scranton, Pennsylvania.[2]

Among the preserved locomotives are an HH600, four HH660s and an HH1000. Birmingham Southern #82, the sole surviving HH900, is on static display at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera, Alabama.

See also

References

  1. "ALCO 600 build sheet".
  2. Hartley, Scott A. (December 2020). "Not just any old Alco". Trains. Kalmbach.

Additional information

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