Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) Diesel and Electric Locomotives

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Diesel and Electric Locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)

The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) operated a massive and technologically diverse fleet of locomotives, including a wide array of diesels and an impressive electric-powered fleet for its electrified mainline services. This roster details the locomotives acquired by the PRR up until its 1968 merger with the New York Central to form Penn Central.

Below is a diesel locomotive roster for the Pennsylvania Railroad, organized by manufacturer and then by model. This roster includes the number of units that PRR owned/owns for each model. For further details, there are numerous websites, books, and archived reference materials that include more information on each locomotive.

Paint and numbering schemes

Paint schemes

The PRR used distinct paint schemes for its rolling stock, which evolved over time.

  • Freight: The standard freight livery was Dark Green Locomotive Enamel (DGLE), also known as “Brunswick Green.” This was most often accompanied by gold or yellow lettering and pinstripes. In the railroad’s later years, a simplified DGLE scheme featured a single yellow stripe and yellow lettering.
  • Passenger: Early passenger diesels and electrics also used DGLE. A move to a Tuscan red scheme with five buff (light tan) stripes occurred in 1952. By 1956, this was simplified to a single broad buff stripe. For the high-speed Congressional trains, the GG1s received a special silver scheme.
  • Switchers: Most switchers were painted in DGLE, but some used in major passenger terminals were painted Tuscan red. 

Numbering system

The PRR’s classification system differed for electric and diesel locomotives. 

Electric locomotives

  • Used a classification system similar to steam locomotives.
  • The class was designated by a letter, determined by the wheel arrangement (e.g., ‘GG’ for 4-6-0+0-6-4). 

Diesel locomotives

  • The numbering and classification were more complex, with the first letter of the class representing the builder.
    • A — American Locomotive Company (ALCO)
    • B — Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW)
    • E — Electro-Motive Division (EMD)
    • F — Fairbanks-Morse (FM)
    • G — General Electric (GE)
    • L — Lima-Hamilton Corporation (LH) 

PRR locomotive roster: Diesel

Electro-Motive Division (EMD)

  • SW (1 unit): Acquired in 1937, this was the PRR’s first diesel locomotive.
  • SW1 (15 units): Noted for its short hood and single exhaust stack, the SW1 was an early, reliable EMD switcher.
  • SW7 (32 units): With 1,200 horsepower, the SW7 was a powerful and popular switcher, and was an upgrade from the NW2.
  • SW8 (33 units): Built from 1951, the SW8 was a medium-horsepower switcher. The PRR’s units were part of a larger purchase that included locomotives for the U.S. Army.
  • SW9 (60 units): A common and versatile switcher, the SW9 was a reliable workhorse for many railroads.
  • SW1200 (38 units): A simple and robust design, the SW1200 became a long-standing workhorse, with many still operating on shortlines today.
  • TR4 (15 units): The TR4 was a transfer locomotive set designed for yard and terminal service.
  • NW2 (25 units): The NW2 was a widely used and reliable 1,000-horsepower switcher from EMD.
  • GP7 (43 units): The GP7 introduced the “Geep” era of versatile, low-cost, multi-purpose road switchers, displacing older steam power.
  • GP9 (155 units): A continuation of the successful GP7, the GP9 was a classic workhorse road switcher.
  • GP30 (52 units): The GP30 featured a distinctive car body and was an early second-generation diesel.
  • GP35 (87 units): Despite being successful, the GP35 had issues with its electrical system that caused wheelslip problems.
  • SD7 (24 units): The SD7 was a powerful six-axle locomotive, essentially a larger, six-axle version of the GP7.
  • SD9 (58 units): The SD9 continued the six-axle, high-tractive effort theme, popular for heavy hauling.
  • F3 (75 A-units, 20 B-units): A highly successful and iconic EMD freight unit.
  • F7 (174 A-units, 105 B-units): The F7 was an extremely popular freight locomotive, an improved version of the F3.
  • E7 (60 A-units, 18 B-units): A fast and reliable EMD passenger locomotive.
  • E8 (60 A-units, 13 B-units): An improved version of the E7, featuring more horsepower and reliable traction motors.
  • E9 (20 A-units): The final evolution of EMD’s E-unit passenger locomotives, considered among the finest ever built. 

Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) and Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (BLH)

  • DS4-4-660 (45 units): A common 660-horsepower switcher.
  • DS4-4-750 (16 units): An updated version of the 660.
  • S-8 (10 units): A reliable, 800-horsepower switcher.
  • VO-1000 (114 units): A popular 1,000-horsepower Baldwin switcher.
  • DS4-4-1000 (25 units): A later 1,000-horsepower switcher.
  • S-12 (45 units): An upgraded 1,200-horsepower switcher.
  • RS-4-TC (14 units): A 1,000-horsepower road switcher model.
  • AS-16 (14 units): A 1,600-horsepower road switcher.
  • AS-616 (25 units): The final 1,600-horsepower road switcher produced by Baldwin.
  • DR-4-4-1500 “Babyface” (14 A-units, 11 B-units): Early Baldwin freight units with a distinctive, rounded “Babyface” cab.
  • DR-4-4-1500 “Sharknose” (18 A-units, 17 B-units): Named for their distinctive nose design, these were similar units to the “Babyface” but with an updated look.
  • RF-16 “Sharknose” (50 A-units, 4 B-units): These were an upgraded, more powerful version of the “Sharknose.”
  • DR-12-8-1500/2 “Centipede” (24 units): These were large, complex, and notoriously unreliable locomotives, particularly noted for maintenance problems.
  • DR-6-4-2000 (2 A-units): Early, powerful passenger units.
  • DR-6-4-2000 “Sharknose” (3 A-units, 3 B-units): Sharknose-style passenger units. 

American Locomotive Company (ALCO)

  • S-1 (2 units): A small, early ALCO switcher.
  • S-2 (25 units): A common 1,000-horsepower ALCO switcher.
  • S-4 (45 units): The S-4 was an upgraded version of the S-2.
  • RS-1 (3 units): The RS-1 pioneered the road switcher concept, combining road and switching capabilities.
  • RS-3 (76 units): A highly successful and popular ALCO road switcher.
  • RS-11 (15 units): A later generation road switcher from ALCO.
  • RS-27 (15 units): ALCO’s first model to use an AC traction alternator.
  • C424 (1 unit): A century series locomotive, the C424 featured a four-motor truck and was used for general freight.
  • C425 (31 units): A versatile four-axle unit from ALCO.
  • FA1 (4 units): A freight unit.
  • FB1 (2 units): A cabless booster unit.
  • FA2 (2 units): An updated version of the FA1.
  • FB2 (2 units): An updated booster unit.
  • DL640 (12 units): A unique, six-motor road switcher design. 

Fairbanks-Morse (FM)

  • H-10-44 (66 units): An FM switcher known for its distinctive opposed-piston engine.
  • H-12-44 (42 units): A slightly more powerful version of the H-10-44.
  • H-16-44 (18 units): A road switcher model.
  • H-24-66 “Train Master” (15 units): A very powerful, six-axle locomotive, considered one of the early “super-power” diesels.
  • “Erie-Built” (8 A-units, 4 B-units): A unique passenger unit from FM.
  • CFA-16-4 (6 units): FM freight units. 

Lima-Hamilton Corporation (LH)

  • L-H 1200 hp (12 units): Switchers built before the merger with Baldwin.
  • L-H 1000 hp (10 units): Smaller switchers. 

General Electric (GE)

  • 44-ton (8 units): A small industrial switcher for light-duty work.
  • 70-ton (2 units): Slightly larger industrial switchers.
  • U25B (14 units): The first of GE’s highly successful “Universal” series, these proved reliable workhorses and marked GE’s return as a major road diesel supplier. 

PRR locomotive roster: Electric

Pennsylvania Railroad (Altoona Shops)

  • Class P5/P5a/P5a modified (92 units): These were originally built for passenger service but later repurposed for heavy freight after the introduction of the GG1s.
  • Class GG1 (139 units): One of the most famous locomotives in the world, the GG1 was a highly successful and powerful streamlined passenger and freight unit.
  • Class DD2 (1 prototype): A 1938 experimental mixed-traffic unit, similar in appearance to the GG1 but with a different wheel arrangement.
  • Class FF1 “Big Liz” (1 prototype): A powerful but ultimately unsuccessful 1917 experimental freight locomotive.
  • Class L6/L6a (3 units): Heavy freight locomotives that were superseded by the P5 class. 

General Electric (GE)

  • Class B1 (28 units): Small, boxy, and reliable switchers for yard and terminal work.
  • Class FF2 (7 units): Used, four-motor boxcab locomotives bought from the Great Northern Railway.
  • Class E44 (60 units): GE-built “Rectifier” locomotives for heavy freight service, later upgraded to E44a. 

Westinghouse / Baldwin-Westinghouse

  • Class P5a “boxcab” (22 units): The initial P5 design, later modified with a more modern carbody.
  • Class DD1 (33 units, 66 total): Paired 4-4-0 units for third-rail service into Penn Station in New York City. 

Other builders

  • Fairbanks-Morse (FM) / Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (BLH): The FM-built but BLH-branded EP5, sometimes referred to as the “Little Joe,” was an experimental electric locomotive that was not a commercial success for the PRR. 

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 collective railroad history data points on this website are verified across multiple sources.

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