ALCO 539T
Encyclopedia
The Alco 539T was a diesel
prime mover
(locomotive engine) built by the American Locomotive Company
. This engine was also used as a stationary powerplant, used in pipeline pumping stations, tugboats and dredges. It has a straight six, four-stroke design in a cast block which produced from 810 hp. The engine has a bore (cylinder diameter) of 12.5 inches (318 mm), and a stroke of 13 inches (330 mm). The 539 engine was built at Alco's Auburn, New York
engine plant and later starting in September 1949 in Canada. The 539T was equipped with the Buchi turbocharger
being made under license by the Elliott Manufacturing Company of Jeanette, Pennsylvania. The first 539T engines were used in S-2 switchers and DL-105 passenger locomotives built in September 1940. Alco locomotives using this engine include the S-2, S-4, RS-1
, RSC-1
, RSD-1
, DL-105, DL-107, DL-108, DL-109, and DL-110
. MLW locomotives using this engine include the S-2, S-4, S-7, S-12, RS-1, and RSC-13.
An eight cylinder inline version of the 539T was developed by Alco. This diesel engine developed from 1080 hp. It was never used in a locomotive, but had been planned to be used in an early version of the “Black Maria” DL-202/DL-203 in response to EMD's FT locomotive. The 8-539T was used in stationary and marine applications.
The 539 engine was developed in response to the perceived drawback that Alco's line of diesel switchers had a restricted field of vision because of the high hood
. Both Baldwin
and EMC were offering diesel switchers with a lower engine hood that the trainmen could see over. The 539 engine was developed from the 538 engine, both had the same cylinder dimensions. The engine base of the 538 was flat and rode on a flat underframe. The change that the 539 offered was to lower the base of the engine into the frame. This was done with revised mounting lugs and a modified oil pan. The modified 538 became known as the 539 and the change allowed the engine hood to be lowered two feet three inches.
A very similar engine developed for the United States Navy
was the 540T. This engine used a welded block. The welded construction was required because the specified shock tolerance requirements prohibit the use of cast blocks. The Navy 540 was used in Patrol Boats, Mine Sweepers, Mine Layers, and Tug Boats.
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
prime mover
Prime mover (locomotive)
In engineering, a prime mover is an engine that converts fuel to useful work. In locomotives, the prime mover is thus the source of power for its propulsion. The term is generally used when discussing any locomotive powered by an internal combustion engine...
(locomotive engine) built by the American Locomotive Company
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
. This engine was also used as a stationary powerplant, used in pipeline pumping stations, tugboats and dredges. It has a straight six, four-stroke design in a cast block which produced from 810 hp. The engine has a bore (cylinder diameter) of 12.5 inches (318 mm), and a stroke of 13 inches (330 mm). The 539 engine was built at Alco's Auburn, New York
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
engine plant and later starting in September 1949 in Canada. The 539T was equipped with the Buchi turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
being made under license by the Elliott Manufacturing Company of Jeanette, Pennsylvania. The first 539T engines were used in S-2 switchers and DL-105 passenger locomotives built in September 1940. Alco locomotives using this engine include the S-2, S-4, RS-1
ALCO RS-1
The ALCO RS-1 was a 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by Alco-GE between 1941 and 1953 and the American Locomotive Company from 1953 to 1960. This model has the distinction of having the longest production run of any diesel locomotive for the North American market.The carbody configuration of...
, RSC-1
ALCO RSC-1
The ALCO RSC-1 was a diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type rated at , that rode on three-axle trucks, having an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement....
, RSD-1
ALCO RSD-1
The ALCO RSD-1 was a diesel-electric locomotive built by American Locomotive Company . This model was a road switcher type rated at and rode on three-axle trucks, having a C-C wheel arrangement...
, DL-105, DL-107, DL-108, DL-109, and DL-110
ALCO DL-109
The ALCO DL-109 is one of six models of A1A-A1A diesel locomotives built to haul passenger trains by the American Locomotive Company between December, 1939 and April, 1945...
. MLW locomotives using this engine include the S-2, S-4, S-7, S-12, RS-1, and RSC-13.
An eight cylinder inline version of the 539T was developed by Alco. This diesel engine developed from 1080 hp. It was never used in a locomotive, but had been planned to be used in an early version of the “Black Maria” DL-202/DL-203 in response to EMD's FT locomotive. The 8-539T was used in stationary and marine applications.
The 539 engine was developed in response to the perceived drawback that Alco's line of diesel switchers had a restricted field of vision because of the high hood
ALCO HH series
The ALCO HH series were an early series of switcher diesel-electric locomotives built by the American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York between 1931 and 1940, when they were replaced by the S series; the S-1 and S-2...
. Both Baldwin
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
and EMC were offering diesel switchers with a lower engine hood that the trainmen could see over. The 539 engine was developed from the 538 engine, both had the same cylinder dimensions. The engine base of the 538 was flat and rode on a flat underframe. The change that the 539 offered was to lower the base of the engine into the frame. This was done with revised mounting lugs and a modified oil pan. The modified 538 became known as the 539 and the change allowed the engine hood to be lowered two feet three inches.
A very similar engine developed for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
was the 540T. This engine used a welded block. The welded construction was required because the specified shock tolerance requirements prohibit the use of cast blocks. The Navy 540 was used in Patrol Boats, Mine Sweepers, Mine Layers, and Tug Boats.