Baldwin RP-210
Encyclopedia
The RP-210 was a streamlined, 1000 hp locomotive built in 1956 by Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton, specifically to operate with the lightweight, all aluminum, Train-X train produced by Pullman Car Company
. This model represented Baldwin's attempted entry into the lightweight locomotive market, but only three of the low-slung units were produced: the first unit was built for the New York Central Railroad
for use with their Xplorer train, and a pair was purchased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
for their Dan'l Webster
train (New York, New York to Boston, Massachusetts).
The R's twelve-cylinder 1000 hp Maybach
MD-655 main engine was mounted rigidly to, and pivoted with, the locomotives front truck, along with the Mechydro hydraulic transmission. An auxiliary Maybach engine (turbocharged 8 cylinder MD-440 on the NYC unit, turbocharged 6 cylinder MD-330 on the New Haven locomotives) powered the locomotives accessories, and a 480 volt generator to provide head-end power for train lighting and other ancillary loads.
The 99-ton units measured 58 in 9 in (17.91 m) long by 10 in 6 in (3.2 m) wide by 11 in 0 in (3.35 m) high, and were configured in a B-2 wheel arrangement, with only the first two axles powered, and were geared for 120 mi/h.
The New Haven locomotives were dual-powered, and came equipped with third-rail
pickups and two 150 hp traction motor
s, to allow them to operate in New York's
Grand Central Terminal
.
The units were only in service from 1957 until 1960, and had several problems during their short lives, including transmission overheating, and shop forces unfamiliar with their engines and transmissions. The NYC's shop crews occasionally had to obtain metric fasteners from a local Volkswagen
dealership.
Both trains, and all three locomotives, were retired in 1960, and sold to Jones Tours, for excursion service. After a long period of storage in South Carolina, lastly at Travelers Rest
on the Greenville and Northern Railway
, the trains and locomotives were scrapped around 1970.
Pullman Company
The Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
. This model represented Baldwin's attempted entry into the lightweight locomotive market, but only three of the low-slung units were produced: the first unit was built for the New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
for use with their Xplorer train, and a pair was purchased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
for their Dan'l Webster
Dan'l Webster (train)
The Dan'l Webster was a named train of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, between New York, New York and Boston, Massachusetts. The Dan'l Webster was an attempt by the New Haven to modernize rail travel and lure people out of their cars...
train (New York, New York to Boston, Massachusetts).
The R's twelve-cylinder 1000 hp Maybach
Maybach
Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH is a German luxury car manufacturer. It was founded in 1909 by Wilhelm Maybach and his son. The company was originally a subsidiary of Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH and was itself known as Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH until 1912.Today, the ultra-luxury car brand is owned by...
MD-655 main engine was mounted rigidly to, and pivoted with, the locomotives front truck, along with the Mechydro hydraulic transmission. An auxiliary Maybach engine (turbocharged 8 cylinder MD-440 on the NYC unit, turbocharged 6 cylinder MD-330 on the New Haven locomotives) powered the locomotives accessories, and a 480 volt generator to provide head-end power for train lighting and other ancillary loads.
The 99-ton units measured 58 in 9 in (17.91 m) long by 10 in 6 in (3.2 m) wide by 11 in 0 in (3.35 m) high, and were configured in a B-2 wheel arrangement, with only the first two axles powered, and were geared for 120 mi/h.
The New Haven locomotives were dual-powered, and came equipped with third-rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
pickups and two 150 hp traction motor
Traction motor
Traction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
s, to allow them to operate in New York's
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
.
The units were only in service from 1957 until 1960, and had several problems during their short lives, including transmission overheating, and shop forces unfamiliar with their engines and transmissions. The NYC's shop crews occasionally had to obtain metric fasteners from a local Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
dealership.
Both trains, and all three locomotives, were retired in 1960, and sold to Jones Tours, for excursion service. After a long period of storage in South Carolina, lastly at Travelers Rest
Travelers Rest, South Carolina
Travelers Rest is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,099 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Greenville–Mauldin–Easley Metropolitan Statistical Area. "TR", as the city is known around the area, is just north of Greenville...
on the Greenville and Northern Railway
Greenville and Northern Railway
The Greenville and Northern Railroad was a shortline railroad formerly operating between Travelers Rest and Greenville, South Carolina, . The railroad was part of the Pinsly Railroad Company after 1957 before being purchased by RailTex in 1997...
, the trains and locomotives were scrapped around 1970.
See also
- The Roger WilliamsRoger Williams (train)-See also:*Baldwin RP-210, a lightweight train locomotive built for the New Haven's Dan'l Webster train.*Fairbanks-Morse P-12-42, a lightweight train locomotive built for the New Haven's John Quincy Adams train....
, a lightweight, high speed DMUDiesel multiple unitA diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
train, built for the New Haven.