Lima LRS-1200 explained

A-3174
Powertype:Diesel-electric
Builder:Lima-Hamilton Corporation
Serialnumber:9423-9438
Buildmodel:A-3174 (LRS-1200)
Builddate:August 1950 – October 1950
Totalproduction:16
Rebuilder:Electro-Motive Division
Numberrebuilt:2
Aarwheels:B-B
Uicclass:Bo′Bo′
Trucks:AAR Type B
Wheeldiameter:403NaN3
Length:56’ 3”
Weightondrivers:247500 lbs
Fuelcap:800 US Gallons
Primemover:Hamilton Engines and Machinery T89SA
Rpmrange Idle:275
Rpmrange Max:800
Enginetype:4-stroke diesel
Aspiration:Turbocharged
Cylindercount:Inline 8
Cylindersize:9x
Displacement:6107cuin
Generator:Westinghouse 499C
Tractionmotors:Westinghouse 362-DF (4)
Gear Ratio:68:14
Maxspeed:600NaN0
Poweroutput:12000NaN0
Tractiveeffort:340002NaN2
Locobrakes:Straight air
Trainbrakes:Air
Operator:New York Central, Penn Central
Operatorclass:NYC DRSP-5am, PC LRS12sx or LERS12as
Fleetnumbers:NYC 5800–5815 later 6200–6215, PC 8062 & 8063 later 8398 & 8399
Disposition:All scrapped

The A-3174 (LRS-1200) was a model of 1,200 hp (895 kW) B-B diesel locomotive built by Lima-Hamilton in 1950. All sixteen units were built for the New York Central. A second order of 17 was outstanding at the time of Lima-Hamilton's merger with the Baldwin Locomotive Works, but owing to insufficient time to build the locomotives before the locomotive production ceased at Lima, NYC agreed to receive RS-12s from BLH, they were built at Eddystone, PA.

Lima-Hamilton never assigned a model number to their models, but instead referred to them by specification numbers. Model designations such as LRS-1200 were a railfan invention. Lima-Hamilton assigned A-3174 as the specification number for this particular model.

Most of these locomotives were retired in the mid-1960's, although two remained in service into the Penn Central era. The surviving units, 8062 and 8063, were rebuilt to replace their original Lima prime movers with EMD V12 567C engines, like those in SW1200s and E8's. They were renumbered 8398-8399 in 1972 to make way for the new GP38-2's PC ordered, which were to be numbered 7940-8162. PC 8399 was retired in November 1974, and PC 8398 was retired in February 1975. No LRS-1200s survive today.

References