Baldwin RS-4-TC

Baldwin RS-4-TC

A preserved RS-4-TC at the Northwest Railway Museum
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works
Model RS-4-TC
Build date July 1953 January 1955
Total produced 74
Specifications
AAR wheel arr. B-B
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
Length 38 ft 11 in (11.86 m)
Height 12 ft 6.5 in (3.82 m)
Loco weight 60 short tons (54 long tons; 54 t)
Prime mover Caterpillar D397
Engine type Four-stroke diesel
Aspiration Supercharged
Generator DC generator
Traction motors DC traction motors
Cylinders V-12
Cylinder size 5 34 in × 8 in (146.1 mm × 203.2 mm)
Transmission Electric
Loco brake Straight air
Train brakes Air
Performance figures
Power output 400 hp (300 kW)
Career
Locale North America

The Baldwin RS-4-TC is a diesel-electric locomotive (switcher) built by Baldwin Locomotive Works between July 1953 and January 1955. The RS-4-TCs were powered by a supercharged twelve-cylinder diesel engine rated at 400 horsepower (298 kW), and rode on a pair of two-axle trucks in a B-B wheel arrangement. 74 of these models were built mainly for the Army while a few of them went to the Air Force.

History

The RS-4-TCs were originally built with Caterpillar D397 diesel engines. The Caterpillar D397s were chosen for their high speed and small bore and stroke for quick startup and shutdowns. There are two number systems for the RS-4-TCs, the 1200 series or the 4000 series. The locomotives in both series were the same, except the 1200s were built for domestic service and had fixed axle, standard gauge trucks while the 4000s were built for foreign service and had adjustable-gauge trucks for use on foreign narrow and wide gauge tracks. Even though the 4000s were built for foreign service, very few were actually deployed overseas, the vast majority served in the United States.

At the end of the Korean War, most RS-4-TCs were placed into storage while their World War II counterparts were sold as surplus. Today, the majority of RS-4-TCs have been sold as surplus and are currently serving tourist and shortline railroads with a few still in military service.

Name Designation

RS - Road Switching Service
4 - 4th military type
TC - Transportation Corps (as in Army Transportation Corps)

Original buyers

Railroad Quantity Road Numbers Notes
U.S. Army
66
1247-1273, 4001-4039
U.S. Air Force
8
1274-1276, 4040-4044
Totals 74

Gallery

References

External links

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