by Allen Hazen
According to Kirkland's "The Diesel Builders, volume 2: Alco" the traction motor used on Alco Dl-10X units (this is the pre-PA, "Needlenose," passenger design) with the high-speed, 58/25, gear ratio was the GE 730. (The GE 726 motor was used on 80 mph "dual service" units of these models: over three quarters of the total production run, given that the New Haven's sixty units had this option.) On the other hand, the ATSF roster published in "Extra 2200 South" (the relevant part was in issue #130 of 2007) says that 50 and 50A, though having 58/25 gearing, had GE 726 motors.
Are there any ATSF locomotive historians out there who can cast light on this?
(I can ***imagine*** an explanation-- the two units were originally equipped with 730 motors, but this was an unusual type: I have never seen any reference to it being used on any locomotives other than the purely passenger Dl-10X. The 726 was probably more available: it was used on the majority of Dl-10X, on Alco HH-1000 switchers, and apparently on some early, 1946-built, locomotives with Alco 244 engines. So, when the motors on 50 and 50A came due for replacement, ATSF used the more available 726 motor instead of the original design. But this is speculation, and I'd be interested in any more
credible information anyone has.)
(This and related topics have been discussed, a while ago, on the Alco forum, but without conclusive answers to a number of questions.)
Are there any ATSF locomotive historians out there who can cast light on this?
(I can ***imagine*** an explanation-- the two units were originally equipped with 730 motors, but this was an unusual type: I have never seen any reference to it being used on any locomotives other than the purely passenger Dl-10X. The 726 was probably more available: it was used on the majority of Dl-10X, on Alco HH-1000 switchers, and apparently on some early, 1946-built, locomotives with Alco 244 engines. So, when the motors on 50 and 50A came due for replacement, ATSF used the more available 726 motor instead of the original design. But this is speculation, and I'd be interested in any more
credible information anyone has.)
(This and related topics have been discussed, a while ago, on the Alco forum, but without conclusive answers to a number of questions.)