Family Lines System (Railroad) Diesel Locomotive Roster

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Diesel Locomotive Roster for the Family Lines System

Family Lines System

Below is a diesel locomotive roster for Family Lines System, organized by manufacturer and then by model. This roster includes the number of units that the Family Lines operated by each model. For further details, there are numerous websites, books, and archived reference materials that include more information on each locomotive.

The Family Lines System was a marketing umbrella under which a collection of railroads operated with common ownership from 1972 to 1982. It was not an operating railroad itself, and all locomotives remained on the roster of their respective railroad owners.

Members of the Family Lines System

The primary members of the Family Lines were:

  • Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL)
  • Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N)
  • Clinchfield Railroad (CRR)
  • Atlanta and West Point Railroad (A&WP)
  • Georgia Railroad (GA)
  • Western Railway of Alabama (WRA), which together with the A&WP formed the “West Point Route.” 

Paint and numbering

  • Paint: A unified scheme was adopted for locomotives, consisting of a gray body with a red nose and yellow sill striping. The “Family Lines” name and logo were prominently displayed on the sides.
  • Numbering: Each locomotive retained its original owning railroad’s reporting marks (SCL, L&N, CRR, A&WP, GA, or WRA). This allowed each railroad to maintain its separate accounting and identity while projecting a unified image to customers. 

Electro-Motive Division (EMD)

  • SW7/SW9: ~100 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL, L&N, and other predecessors.
    • Comments: A fleet of older EMD switchers used for yard and local service.
  • MP15DC/MP15AC: ~40 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: Some units from predecessors; many acquired new.
    • Purchased by: SCL and L&N (during the Family Lines era).
    • Comments: Modern switchers purchased during the Family Lines era.
  • GP7/GP9: >300 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL, L&N, and other predecessors.
    • Comments: A large fleet of first-generation EMD road switchers, comprising a major portion of the combined roster.
  • GP16: 149 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL.
    • Comments: A rebuild program by the SCL from older GP7/GP9 units, these served on lighter lines.
  • GP38AC/GP38-2: >150 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL and L&N.
    • Purchased by: SCL, L&N, and CRR (during the Family Lines era).
    • Comments: A large, reliable fleet of second-generation EMD road switchers.
  • GP40/GP40-2: >150 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL, L&N, and other predecessors.
    • Purchased by: SCL and L&N (during the Family Lines era).
    • Comments: Standard high-horsepower units for fast freight trains, with many GP40-2s purchased during the Family Lines era.
  • SD35: 35 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL and L&N.
    • Comments: Heavy-haul, six-axle freight units.
  • SD40/SD40-2: >200 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL, L&N, and CRR.
    • Purchased by: SCL, L&N, and CRR (during the Family Lines era).
    • Comments: A major portion of the combined heavy freight fleet, with many SD40-2s purchased new.
  • SD45/SD45-2: ~60 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL and CRR.
    • Comments: High-horsepower, six-axle units, primarily from the SCL. 

General Electric (GE)

  • U18B: 15 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL.
    • Comments: Lighter-weight units for local freights.
  • U25B/U30B/U33B/U36B: >100 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL and L&N.
    • Comments: GE “U-boat” models from the predecessor fleets.
  • B23-7: 73 locomotives.
    • Purchased by: SCL and L&N (during the Family Lines era).
    • Comments: Reliable, four-axle units purchased in 1978 and 1980. The SCL received 19 units, while the L&N received 15.
  • BQ23-7: 10 locomotives.
    • Purchased by: SCL (during the Family Lines era).
    • Comments: A unique variant with an elongated cab, built only for the SCL.
  • C30-7: >150 locomotives.
    • Purchased by: SCL and L&N (during the Family Lines era).
    • Comments: Six-axle, high-horsepower freight units. The SCL acquired 71 units, while the L&N acquired 44.
  • C36-7: ~50 locomotives.
    • Purchased by: L&N (during the Family Lines era).
    • Comments: A later, more powerful six-axle GE unit. 

American Locomotive Company (ALCO)

  • C420/C628: ~45 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL, ACL, and L&N.
    • Comments: Older ALCO road switchers and powerful six-axle units from the predecessor fleets. 

Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW)

  • S-12/AS-616: >100 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL, ACL, and predecessors.
    • Comments: Baldwin switchers and road switchers from the predecessor fleets. 

Fairbanks-Morse (FM)

  • H16-44: 15 locomotives.
    • Inherited from: SCL, ACL, and predecessors.
    • Comments: Remnants of the FM “Hood” road switcher fleet. 

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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