Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railway Diesel Locomotive Roster

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Diesel Locomotive Roster of the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Railway

Electro-Motive Division (EMD)

  • SW1: 2 locomotives.
    • 1 acquired from predecessor Pere Marquette Railway.
    • Another was purchased from the B&OCT.
  • NW2: 35 locomotives.
    • This includes 14 units inherited from the Pere Marquette Railway in 1947.
  • NW5: 1 locomotive.
    • Originally owned by the Fort Street Union Depot.
  • BL2: 10 locomotives.
    • These were ordered by the Pere Marquette before its merger and were delivered in C&O paint in 1948.
  • E7A: 22 locomotives.
    • Includes 8 units from Pere Marquette.
  • E8A: 32 locomotives.
    • The C&O inherited some of its E8s from the Pere Marquette.
  • FP7A: 16 locomotives.
    • Primarily used for passenger service, often in conjunction with E-units.
  • SW7: 26 locomotives.
    • Part of a large switcher fleet purchased by C&O.
  • SW9: 29 locomotives.
    • Includes 5 units from Canadian National’s Grand Trunk Western affiliate.
  • GP7: 185 locomotives.
    • C&O was a major user of this versatile road switcher model.
  • GP9: 363 locomotives.
    • The C&O was one of EMD’s biggest customers for the GP9, using them widely across the system.
  • SD18: 30 locomotives.
    • A group of road freight units used for heavy hauling.
  • GP30: 48 locomotives.
    • Includes 16 units with a modified “high short hood” and freight pilot, purchased for coal-hauling service.
  • GP35: 53 locomotives.
    • This included some units that replaced wrecked GP30s.
  • SD35: 23 locomotives.
    • Six-axle road freight locomotives.
  • GP38: 60 locomotives.
    • The C&O had a large fleet of second-generation EMD power.
  • GP39: 20 locomotives.
    • A less common model, but a reliable part of the roster.
  • SD40: 62 locomotives.
    • Formed a substantial part of the C&O’s heavy freight fleet.
  • GP40: 45 locomotives.
    • A common sight across the system for many years.
  • GP40-2: 80 locomotives.
    • A large group of these reliable units were acquired in two batches.
  • GP15T: 25 locomotives.
    • A later model acquired for switching and local freight service.
  • SD50: 42 locomotives.
    • The C&O received these modern high-horsepower units in the mid-1980s. 

American Locomotive Company (ALCO)

  • S2: 58 locomotives.
    • Older switcher units, several were later rebuilt into slugs.
  • RS-2: 2 locomotives.
    • An early road switcher design.
  • RSD-5: 26 locomotives.
    • Freight units with a C-C truck arrangement for better traction.
  • S-4: 14 locomotives.
    • A later, more powerful switcher than the S2.
  • RS-1: 2 locomotives.
    • An early road switcher design.
  • RS-3: 2 locomotives.
    • An upgraded version of the RS-1.
  • RSD-12: 10 locomotives.
    • Another six-axle road switcher.
  • RSD-15: 12 locomotives.
    • Referred to as “Alligators” due to their long, low noses.
  • C-630: 4 locomotives.
    • Powerful six-axle freight units, a late-generation ALCO. 

General Electric (GE)

  • 44-ton: 2 locomotives.
    • One was from the Pere Marquette.
  • 70-ton: 2 locomotives.
    • These early switchers were also acquired from the Pere Marquette.
  • U25B: 38 locomotives.
    • Part of the first generation of GE’s “U-boats,” an early competitor to EMD.
  • U30B: 35 locomotives.
    • A later version of the U-boat, providing 3,000 horsepower.
  • U30C: 13 locomotives.
    • The six-axle version of the U30B.
  • B30-7: 64 locomotives.
    • A large fleet of these modern, four-axle units were added to the roster in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 

Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW)

  • DRS-6-6-1500: 3 locomotives.
    • Road switchers with a three-axle truck design.
  • AS-616: 43 locomotives.
    • The C&O was one of Baldwin’s largest customers for this powerful road switcher. 

C&O locomotive slugs

  • Locomotive slugs: 11 units.
    • These are booster units built from the frames of retired ALCO and Baldwin units.

For More Information – Sources and Resources

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