For those of you who may not be aware. The
Flickr Train Group is holding a
Building Challenge for the Baldwin AS616
Diesel Locomotive. So I thought I’d take a break from my usual steam
shenanigans an build an entry.
Pennsylvania RR #8971 Baldwin AS616
Baldwin Locomotive Works built 12 of the AS616 diesels for the Pennsylvania RR
between 1951 and 1954. They used Baldwins eight cylinder
608sc engine
and were rated at 1,600 horsepower. Two of the Baldwins were delivered with
steam generators for use in passenger service.
I modeled the PRR version of the AS616 because I’m a Pennsy fan (It was one of
the RR’s running into my home town of York Pennsylvania) and the Pennsy ran
their early diesels (including the AS616’s) long hood forward instead of the
usual short hood forward that most other RR’s used. The long hood forward
practice stems from a nasty grade crossing accident in the 1930s. After which
the Pennsy decided it would be safer if the crew cab was moved farther back
instead of directly in front of the locomotive to better protect the crew. This
influenced the center cab design of the GG1’s, the redesign of some P5’s and the
Pennsy’s early practice of running diesels with the long hood leading.
I chose to model #8971 because she was one of the two PRR engines built with a
boiler for steam heat in passenger service. Unlike her sisters which were
freight service only. This gives me the option to pull a passenger consist as
well as freight for added variety. I tend to like odd diesels and a Baldwin
AS616 running long hood forward and pulling a passenger train would be certainly
be different.
(...) Cale, Wow! You continue to amaze me with your ability to not only make great looking lego diesels, but then you squeeze a realistic looking engine under the hood. Very nice. Benn (16 years ago, 22-Feb-09, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
