FM H-15-44
Encyclopedia
The FM H-15-44 was a road switcher
manufactured by Fairbanks-Morse
from September 1947 to June 1950. The locomotive was powered by a 1500 hp, eight-cylinder opposed piston engine
as its prime mover
, and was configured in a B-B wheel arrangement mounted atop a pair of two-axle AAR
Type-B road trucks
with all axles powered. The H-15-44 featured an offset cab design that provided space for an optional steam generator in the short hood, making the model versatile enough to work in passenger service as well as freight duty.
Raymond Loewy
heavily influenced the look of the unit, which emphasized sloping lines and accented such features as the radiator shutters and headlight mounting, as is found on CNJR #1501 and KCS #40. The cab-side window assembly incorporated "half moon"-shaped inoperable panes which resulted in an overall oblong shape. The platform (underframe) was shared with F-M's 2000 hp end cab road switcher, the FM H-20-44
, as was the carbody to some extent. The platform and carbody was also utilized by the H-15-44's successor, the FM H-16-44
.
Only 35 units were built for American
railroads. No H-15-44 is thought to exist today.
Road switcher
A road switcher is a type of railroad locomotive used for delivering or picking up cars outside of a railroad yard. Since the road switcher must work some distance away from a yard, it needs to be able to operate at road speeds, it must also have high-visibility while it is switching, and it must...
manufactured by Fairbanks-Morse
Fairbanks-Morse
Fairbanks Morse and Company was a manufacturing company in the late 19th and early 20th century. Originally a weighing scale manufacturer, it later diversified into pumps, engines, windmills, locomotives and industrial supplies until it was merged in 1958...
from September 1947 to June 1950. The locomotive was powered by a 1500 hp, eight-cylinder opposed piston engine
Opposed piston engine
An opposed-piston engine is a reciprocating internal combustion engine in which each cylinder has a piston at both ends, and no cylinder head.-Configurations:...
as its 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...
, and was configured in a B-B wheel arrangement mounted atop a pair of two-axle AAR
Association of American Railroads
The Association of American Railroads is an industry trade group representing primarily the major freight railroads of North America . Amtrak and some regional commuter railroads are also members...
Type-B road trucks
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
with all axles powered. The H-15-44 featured an offset cab design that provided space for an optional steam generator in the short hood, making the model versatile enough to work in passenger service as well as freight duty.
Raymond Loewy
Raymond Loewy
Raymond Loewy was an industrial designer, and the first to be featured on the cover of Time Magazine, on October 31, 1949. Born in France, he spent most of his professional career in the United States...
heavily influenced the look of the unit, which emphasized sloping lines and accented such features as the radiator shutters and headlight mounting, as is found on CNJR #1501 and KCS #40. The cab-side window assembly incorporated "half moon"-shaped inoperable panes which resulted in an overall oblong shape. The platform (underframe) was shared with F-M's 2000 hp end cab road switcher, the FM H-20-44
FM H-20-44
The FM H-20-44 was an multiple unit-capable end cab road switcher manufactured by Fairbanks-Morse from June 1947 – March 1954, and represented the company's first foray into the road switcher market. The , ten-cylinder opposed piston engine locomotive was referred to by F-M's engineering...
, as was the carbody to some extent. The platform and carbody was also utilized by the H-15-44's successor, the FM H-16-44
FM H-16-44
The FM H-16-44 was a road switcher produced by Fairbanks-Morse from April 1950 – February 1963. The locomotive shared an identical platform and carbody with the predecessor Model FM H-15-44 , and were equipped with the same eight-cylinder opposed piston engine that had been...
.
Only 35 units were built for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
railroads. No H-15-44 is thought to exist today.
Original buyers
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-Morse Fairbanks-Morse Fairbanks Morse and Company was a manufacturing company in the late 19th and early 20th century. Originally a weighing scale manufacturer, it later diversified into pumps, engines, windmills, locomotives and industrial supplies until it was merged in 1958... (demonstrators) |
to Central Railroad of New Jersey 1500 | ||
| Up-rated to 1600 hp and sold Long Island Rail Road Long Island Rail Road The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US... #1503 |
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| Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad The Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad was a railroad that existed between 1907 and 1982, running from Mogadore west to Delphos, Ohio, United States. It began as the Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railway, a short line connecting Mogadore to Akron... |
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| Central of Georgia Railway | |
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| Central Railroad of New Jersey Central Railroad of New Jersey The Central Railroad of New Jersey , commonly known as the Jersey Central Lines or CNJ, was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s, lasting until 1976 when it was absorbed into Conrail with the other bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States... |
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| Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway (“Monon Monon Railroad The Monon Railroad , also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway from 1897–1956, operated almost entirely within the state of Indiana... ”) |
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Renumbered 45–46 | |
| Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was also known as the Rock Island Line, or, in its final years, The Rock.-Incorporation:... |
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Re-engined by Electro-Motive Division |
| Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad , often shortened to Rio Grande or D&RGW, formerly the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, is a defunct U.S. railroad company. The railroad started as a narrow gauge line running south from Denver, Colorado in 1870; however, served mainly as a transcontinental... |
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| Kansas City Southern Railway Kansas City Southern Railway The Kansas City Southern Railway , owned by Kansas City Southern Industries, is the smallest and second-oldest Class I railroad company still in operation. KCS was founded in 1887 and is currently operating in a region consisting of ten central U.S. states... |
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| Union Pacific | |
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Fitted with steam generator Steam generator (railroad) Steam generator is the term used to describe a type of boiler used to produce steam for climate control and potable water heating in railroad passenger cars... ; DS prefix dropped in 1955 |
| Total | |