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FM H 12 44

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Power type
  
Diesel-electric

Model
  
H-12-44

Total produced
  
336

Builder
  
Fairbanks-Morse

Build date
  
May 1950 – March 1961

AAR wheel arr.
  
B-B

FM H-12-44

The FM H-12-44 was a yard switcher produced by Fairbanks-Morse from May, 1950–March, 1961. The units featured a 1,200-horsepower (890 kW), six-cylinder opposed piston engine prime mover, and were configured in a B-B wheel arrangement mounted atop a pair of two-axle AAR Type-A switcher trucks, with all axles powered and geared for a top speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).

A total of 303 units were built for American railroads, 30 were manufactured (between August 1951 to June 1956) by the Canadian Locomotive Company for use in Canada, and 1 unit was exported to Mexico. Initially, H-12-44s were visually indistinguishable from their predecessor model, the FM H-10-44. However, beginning in September, 1952 the Raymond Loewy design elements were removed as a cost-saving measure: cab lines were squared-off, the slanted-nose styling was discontinued, and the roof visor was eliminated. The following year, the fairing over the battery box was removed and louvers added to reduce the possibility of battery explosions. None of the units were produced between May and October 1956, after which time the carbodies were shortened by some three feet and outfitted with a deeper side skirt.

Sixteen intact examples of the H-12-44 are known to survive today, all of which are owned by railroad museums or historical societies.

One H-12-44TS, Santa Fe 543, now resides at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Preservation

Several examples of the H-12-44 model have been preserved around the US and Canada.

  • Weyerhaeuser Timber Company #1 is preserved at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington. While still being occasionally run after undergoing a full rebuild and engine overhaul. The locomotive is now ran for special events with its partner caboose White River Logging Company number 001 but is not run for regular service.
  • Former US Army #1843 is a part of the collection at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Rush, NY (south of Rochester, NY). It is in operable condition and is a key locomotive at the RGVRRM.
  • Former US Army later US Steel #1845 is currently stored at Fairless Hills, Penn. undergoing restoration. It is privately owned.
  • Former US Army #1847 is preserved at the Golden Gate Railroad Museum in Sunol, CA. It is currently operational and has been painted in "Tiger Stripe" scheme to represent Southern Pacific #1487.
  • Former US Army #1849 is preserved for static display at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles, Kentucky.
  • Former US Army #1850, #1853 and #1861 are stored out of service at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera, Alabama.
  • Former US Army #1855 owned and operated (on excursion train) by Nevada State RR Museum, Boulder City, Nevada.
  • Former US Army #1857 is preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola, California. It was used at the Sierra Army Depot at Herlong, California, located along the former Western Pacific Railroad. It is used in the museum's famous "Rent-A-Locomotive" program.
  • Former US Army unit #1860, worked at Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal. It later went to Beaufort & Morehead Railroad in North Carolina as #1860, based at the Morehead City State Ports. The North Carolina Transportation Museum acquired the locomotive in 2004 after disposition from the State Ports.
  • Former US Steel #9121 is preserved by the United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey. Restoration is underway at SMS Railroad in Bridgeport, New Jersey.

    • References

    FM H-12-44 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA