DV&S 50
Encyclopedia
Delta Valley and Southern 50 is a standard gauge
diesel-electric locomotive built by General Electric
in May, 1954, GE #32129 for the Delta Valley and Southern Railway
. It replaced a small steam locomotive. It is of the type designated as a 45-ton
, although the actual weight may be different from that. It is powered by two Cummins
HBI-600 six cylinder diesel prime movers each of which drives a generator which, in turn, drives a single electric traction motor
, one on each truck. The second axle on each truck is driven by a side rod.
The Delta Valley and Southern Railway, "DVS", in 1996 operated two miles of track from Delpro to Elkins, Arkansas
, carrying about 600 cars a year. The line originally operated over 18.1 miles of track from Delpro to Tyronza
, but was cut back in 1947. It was part of the St. Louis – San Francisco Railway (Frisco) for most of its life.
DV&S 50 was the only locomotive used on the railroad from 1954 until some time recently. The only current information available is that the Burlington Northern Santa Fe put the locomotive up for auction in Oklahoma City
on May 6, 2009. Bidding closed May 26. It is not known who the buyer, if any, was or where the locomotive is now.
The locomotive was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 2007 as Delta Valley & Southern Railway Locomotive #50.
The Arkansas Historic Preservation document calls the subject a 50 ton locomotive and then goes on to talk mostly about 44 ton locomotives, although it mentions both the 45 and the 50. A close examination of the photograph in the Arkansas document and that in the BNSF auction document makes it clear that it is a two truck locomotive, therefore not a fifty-tonner. It is also clear that it is not a 44 tonner. In addition, Lewis, an authoritative reference, calls it a 45 tonner.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
diesel-electric locomotive built by General Electric
GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. It is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine...
in May, 1954, GE #32129 for the Delta Valley and Southern Railway
Delta Valley and Southern Railway
The Delta Valley and Southern Railway is a short-line railroad headquartered in Wilson, Arkansas.DVS operates a two mile line in Arkansas near Wilson with one switch engine....
. It replaced a small steam locomotive. It is of the type designated as a 45-ton
GE 45-ton switcher
The GE 45-ton switcher is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by GE between 1940 and 1956.-Equipment:The locomotive was equipped with two Cummins diesel engines, each driving a generator which, in turn, drove one of the two traction motors, one per truck. In early models, the second axle on each...
, although the actual weight may be different from that. It is powered by two Cummins
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
HBI-600 six cylinder diesel prime movers each of which drives a generator which, in turn, drives a single electric 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 ....
, one on each truck. The second axle on each truck is driven by a side rod.
The Delta Valley and Southern Railway, "DVS", in 1996 operated two miles of track from Delpro to Elkins, Arkansas
Elkins, Arkansas
Elkins is a city in Washington County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,251 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, carrying about 600 cars a year. The line originally operated over 18.1 miles of track from Delpro to Tyronza
Tyronza, Arkansas
Tyronza is a town in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 762 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Tyronza is located at ....
, but was cut back in 1947. It was part of the St. Louis – San Francisco Railway (Frisco) for most of its life.
DV&S 50 was the only locomotive used on the railroad from 1954 until some time recently. The only current information available is that the Burlington Northern Santa Fe put the locomotive up for auction in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
on May 6, 2009. Bidding closed May 26. It is not known who the buyer, if any, was or where the locomotive is now.
The locomotive was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2007 as Delta Valley & Southern Railway Locomotive #50.
Nomenclature
General Electric made a wide variety of small diesel electric locomotives for industrial and railroad use. These included:- 44 tonGE 44-ton switcherThe GE 44-ton switcher is a 4-axle diesel locomotive built by General Electric between 1940 and 1956. It was designed for industrial and light switching duties, often replacing steam locomotives that had previously been assigned these chores...
. These were specifically designed to weigh less than 90,000 pounds and therefore could be operated by a single engineer, without a fireman, under the labor contracts of the time. They had two CaterpillarCaterpillar Inc.Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
diesels, two four wheel trucks, four traction motors, 400 horsepower, top speed of 35 mph, minimum radius of 125 feet, and were designed for use on branch lines of major railroads. - 45 ton. These were designed for light industrial use. They had two Cummins diesels, two four wheel trucks, one traction motor per truck, 300 horsepower, top speed of 20 mph, minimum radius of 50 feet, and were designed for industrial use with tight curves and clearances.
- 50 ton. These were a two axle (four wheel) configuration with a traction motor on each of the two axles. They had the same prime movers as the 45 ton, but a much lower and narrower body, designed to operate in steel mills and other very tight places at a top speed of 15 mph. The extra weight was ballast.
The Arkansas Historic Preservation document calls the subject a 50 ton locomotive and then goes on to talk mostly about 44 ton locomotives, although it mentions both the 45 and the 50. A close examination of the photograph in the Arkansas document and that in the BNSF auction document makes it clear that it is a two truck locomotive, therefore not a fifty-tonner. It is also clear that it is not a 44 tonner. In addition, Lewis, an authoritative reference, calls it a 45 tonner.