Builders' portrait of a Fairbanks-Morse FM H-15-44 locomotive. This is one of 5 built for Central of Georgia Railway in June, 1949.
(Fairbanks-Morse Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
FAIRBANKS-MORSE FM H-15-44
The Fairbanks-Morse FM H-15-44 was a diesel locomotive manufactured by Fairbanks-Morse from September 1947 to June 1950. The locomotive was powered by a 1,500-horsepower (1,100 kW), eight-cylinder opposed piston engine as its prime mover, and was configured in a B-B wheel arrangement mounted atop a pair of two-axle AAR Type-B road trucks with all axles powered. The H-15-44 featured an offset cab design that provided space for an optional steam generator in the short hood, making the model versatile enough to work in passenger service as well as freight duty.
Raymond Loewy heavily influenced the look of the unit, which emphasized sloping lines and accented such features as the radiator shutters and headlight mounting, as is found on CNJR No. 1501 and KCS No. 40. The cab-side window assembly incorporated "half moon"-shaped inoperable panes which resulted in an overall oblong shape. The platform (underframe) was shared with F-M's 2,000-horsepower (1,500 kW) end cab road switcher, the FM H-20-44, as was the carbody to some extent. The platform and carbody was also utilized by the H-15-44's successor, the FM H-16-44.
Only 35 units were built for American railroads and none exist today.
Original buyers
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-Morse (demonstrators) | 1 | 1500 | to Central Railroad of New Jersey 1500 |
| Fairbanks-Morse (demonstrators) | 1 | 1503 | Up-rated to 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) and sold Long Island Rail Road #1503 |
| Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad | 1 | 200 | |
| Central of Georgia Railway | 5 | 101–105 | |
| Central Railroad of New Jersey | 13 | 1501–1513 | |
| Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway (“Monon”) | 2 | 36–37 | Renumbered 45–46 |
| Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad | 2 | 400–401 | Re-engined by Electro-Motive Division |
| Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | 3 | 150–152 | |
| Kansas City Southern Railway ("Louisiana and Arkansas Railway") | 2 | 40–41 | |
| Union Pacific | 5 | DS1325–DS1329 | Fitted with steam generator; DS prefix dropped in 1955 |
| Total | 35 |
Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builder: Fairbanks-Morse
Model: H-15-44
Build date: September 1947–June 1950
Total produced: 35
Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR B-B
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Length: 51 ft 0 in (15.54 m)
Locomotive weight: 250,000 lb (113.4 t)
Prime mover: FM 38D-8 1/8
Engine type: Two-stroke diesel
Aspiration: Roots blower
Displacement: 8,295 cu in (135.93 dm3)
Cylinders: 8 (Opposed piston)
Cylinder size: 8.125 in × 10 in (206 mm × 254 mm)
Transmission: DC generator, DC traction motors
Locomotive brake: Straight air
Train brakes: Air
Performance figures
Maximum speed: 65 mph (105 km/h)
Power output: 1,500 hp (1.12 MW)
Tractive effort: 42,125 lbf (187.4 kN)
Career
Locale: North America
Disposition: All scrapped