Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway Diesel Roster

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Diesel Locomotive Roster for the NC&StL Railway

Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway

Below is a diesel locomotive roster for the Nashville Chattanooga & St Louis Railway (NC&StL), organized by manufacturer and then by model. This roster includes the number of units that NC&StL owned for each model. For further details, there are numerous websites, books, and archived reference materials that include more information on each locomotive.

This roster covers the diesel fleet of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway (NC&StL) before its 1957 merger with the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N). The NC&StL was an early adopter of diesel power, beginning its transition away from steam after World War II.

Electro-Motive Division (EMD)

  • SW1: 1 locomotive. The NC&StL received this compact switcher during World War II.
  • NW2: 5 locomotives. This popular model was a staple of yard switching and was acquired during World War II.
  • SW7: 10 locomotives. A more powerful switcher model acquired for heavier industrial and yard duty in 1950.
  • SW9: 5 locomotives. An upgraded switcher model, acquired later in 1951.
  • GP7: 37 locomotives. The NC&StL rostered a substantial fleet of these versatile road switchers, acquired in the early 1950s. The first six units were equipped with switcher trucks that crews disliked. Five later units had steam generators for passenger service.
  • F3A: 9 locomotives. Part of a large order of F-units to fully dieselize the road, arriving in 1948–1949.
  • F3B: 12 locomotives. Cabless booster units for the F3A locomotives.
  • F7A: 23 locomotives. Acquired between 1949 and 1951 as part of the massive dieselization effort.
  • F7B: 8 locomotives. Cabless booster units for the F7A locomotives. 

American Locomotive Company (ALCO)

  • S1: 4 locomotives. The NC&StL’s first diesel locomotives, arriving between 1941 and 1946.
  • S2: 7 locomotives. Acquired during World War II, complementing the S1 fleet. 

Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW)

  • VO-660m: 1 locomotive. This switcher was re-engined with a new EMD prime mover.
  • VO-1000: 4 locomotives. Another early switcher acquisition, received during the war. Some were later re-engined.
  • VO-1000m: 3 locomotives. These were re-engined versions of the VO-1000. 

General Electric (GE)

  • 44-tonner: 4 locomotives. Small, light-duty switchers purchased in 1950 for work in smaller yards and industrial settings. 

For More Information – Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the history and operation of the Appalachian Railroads. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Appalachian-Railroads.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

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