Lima LS-1000
Encyclopedia
The LS-1000 is a diesel-electric switching
locomotive built between May 1949 and April 1950, by Lima Locomotive Works
of Lima, Ohio
, U.S.A.. The LS-1000 is a 1,000 hp
(750 kW) switcher, which became the standard for Lima's designs. By changing fuel rack settings, the LS-1000 was upgraded to the LS-1200
, producing 1,200 horsepower (890 kW) from the same turbocharged
Hamilton T-89-SA four-stroke, eight cylinder
inline diesel engine
, a Westinghouse
generator and 4 Westinghouse traction motor
s provided the 74,508 lbf
(331.43 kN) of tractive effort
.
Lima-Hamilton never assigned a model number to their models but referred to them by specification numbers. Model designations such as LS-1000 were a railfan
invention. Lima-Hamilton assigned A-3080 as the specification number for this particular unit.
. One proposal
was from Fairbanks-Morse
, since the five-year contract with General Electric
to build road locomotives for Fairbanks-Morse would run out in 1949, and GE had no interest in renewing the contract since they were working with the American Locomotive Company
(ALCO), and already had designs of their own for the road diesel
market. Although all the details of the Fairbanks-Morse proposal are not known, it appears to have offered little more than a contract to assemble locomotives and that Fairbanks-Morse wanted a manufacturing facility, not a partner.
At the time, Lima was also conducting discussions with the General Machinery Corporation. One of the companies making up General Machinery Corporation was Hamilton Press and Machinery Company. One of Hamilton's products was a diesel engine for marine and stationary generator applications. On July 30, 1947, Lima Locomotive Works and General Machinery Corporation merged to form the Lima-Hamilton Corporation. Almost immediately there were differences in goals between management.
The General Machinery Corporation management wanted to terminate steam locomotive
production, while the Lima management was still committed to the development of a 4-8-6
super steam locomotive, nicknamed "double-bubble" for its unique firebox, designed with poppet valve
s, to be a true competitor in the diesel market, the design of which began in 1929. By April 1949, the design was shelved, and Lima finished its final steam locomotives a month later. Chief Mechanical Officer Bert Townsend resigned
in protest
of the decision to scrap the plans to build steam locomotives.
The LS-1000's similarity to the ALCO 1000 hp
switcher may be more than a coincidence. Former ALCO engineer
F. J. Geittman was hired by General Machinery Corporation prior to the merger with Lima to oversee their diesel locomotive project. His job was to develop a new prime mover
, as the current Hamilton diesel engine
was not suited for locomotive
applications.
Hamilton engineers proved to be worthy counterparts to their Lima brethren. They realized from the start that high power-to-weight ratio
s yield no advantages for locomotives, since locomotives are traditionally weighted with ballast to obtain optimal adhesion
. This allowed them to incorporate heavier crankshaft
s, bearing
s, connecting rod
s and other parts. Whereas the competition was experiencing road failures with their engines because they followed traditional design methods and used lightweight components.
In 1951 Lima-Hamilton merged with Baldwin Locomotive Works
forming Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton. Baldwin's primary interest was Lima's shovel and crane business which was expected to do well with the upcoming highway building boom. Lima-Hamilton's locomotive business was discontinued after the merger. Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton's locomotive fortunes declined as the rush by railroads to replace steam power subsided. B-L-H exited the new locomotive market in 1956.
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
locomotive built between May 1949 and April 1950, by Lima Locomotive Works
Lima Locomotive Works
Lima Locomotive Works was an American firm that manufactured railroad locomotives from the 1870s through the 1950s. The company took the most distinctive part of its name from its main shops location in Lima, Ohio. The shops were located between the Baltimore & Ohio's Cincinnati-Toledo main line...
of Lima, Ohio
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
, U.S.A.. The LS-1000 is a 1,000 hp
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
(750 kW) switcher, which became the standard for Lima's designs. By changing fuel rack settings, the LS-1000 was upgraded to the LS-1200
Lima LS-1200
The LS-1200 is a diesel-electric switching locomotive built between May 1950 and August 1951, by Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio, U.S.A.. Lima's original design was the LS-1000, a 1,000 hp switcher, which became the standard for Lima's designs. A 660 hp switcher had also been designed,...
, producing 1,200 horsepower (890 kW) from the same turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
Hamilton T-89-SA four-stroke, eight cylinder
Cylinder (engine)
A cylinder is the central working part of a reciprocating engine or pump, the space in which a piston travels. Multiple cylinders are commonly arranged side by side in a bank, or engine block, which is typically cast from aluminum or cast iron before receiving precision machine work...
inline diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
, a Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
generator and 4 Westinghouse 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 provided the 74,508 lbf
Pound-force
The pound force is a unit of force in some systems of measurement including English engineering units and British gravitational units.- Definitions :...
(331.43 kN) of tractive effort
Tractive effort
As used in mechanical engineering, the term tractive force is the pulling or pushing force exerted by a vehicle on another vehicle or object. The term tractive effort is synonymous with tractive force, and is often used in railway engineering to describe the pulling or pushing capability of a...
.
Lima-Hamilton never assigned a model number to their models but referred to them by specification numbers. Model designations such as LS-1000 were a railfan
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
invention. Lima-Hamilton assigned A-3080 as the specification number for this particular unit.
History
In 1946 Lima's Class 1 market prospects were bleak unless it could enter the diesel-electric locomotive field quickly, but they couldn’t afford a full-scale development program. Lima was viewed as an attractive potential partner by other firms eager to enter the marketMarket
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
. One proposal
Proposal (business)
A business proposal is a written offer from a seller to a prospective buyer.Business proposals are often a key step in the complex sales process—i.e., whenever a buyer considers more than price in a purchase.-Overview:...
was from Fairbanks-Morse
Fairbanks-Morse
Fairbanks Morse and Company was a manufacturing company in the late 19th and early 20th century. Originally a weighing scale manufacturer, it later diversified into pumps, engines, windmills, locomotives and industrial supplies until it was merged in 1958...
, since the five-year contract with General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
to build road locomotives for Fairbanks-Morse would run out in 1949, and GE had no interest in renewing the contract since they were working with the American Locomotive Company
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
(ALCO), and already had designs of their own for the road diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
market. Although all the details of the Fairbanks-Morse proposal are not known, it appears to have offered little more than a contract to assemble locomotives and that Fairbanks-Morse wanted a manufacturing facility, not a partner.
At the time, Lima was also conducting discussions with the General Machinery Corporation. One of the companies making up General Machinery Corporation was Hamilton Press and Machinery Company. One of Hamilton's products was a diesel engine for marine and stationary generator applications. On July 30, 1947, Lima Locomotive Works and General Machinery Corporation merged to form the Lima-Hamilton Corporation. Almost immediately there were differences in goals between management.
The General Machinery Corporation management wanted to terminate steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
production, while the Lima management was still committed to the development of a 4-8-6
4-8-6
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, a 4-8-6 locomotive would have had four leading wheels, eight coupled driving wheels and six trailing wheels.Other equivalent classifications are:...
super steam locomotive, nicknamed "double-bubble" for its unique firebox, designed with poppet valve
Poppet valve
A poppet valve is a valve consisting of a hole, usually round or oval, and a tapered plug, usually a disk shape on the end of a shaft also called a valve stem. The shaft guides the plug portion by sliding through a valve guide...
s, to be a true competitor in the diesel market, the design of which began in 1929. By April 1949, the design was shelved, and Lima finished its final steam locomotives a month later. Chief Mechanical Officer Bert Townsend resigned
Resignation
A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
in protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
of the decision to scrap the plans to build steam locomotives.
The LS-1000's similarity to the ALCO 1000 hp
ALCO HH series
The ALCO HH series were an early series of switcher diesel-electric locomotives built by the American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York between 1931 and 1940, when they were replaced by the S series; the S-1 and S-2...
switcher may be more than a coincidence. Former ALCO engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
F. J. Geittman was hired by General Machinery Corporation prior to the merger with Lima to oversee their diesel locomotive project. His job was to develop a new prime mover
Prime mover (locomotive)
In engineering, a prime mover is an engine that converts fuel to useful work. In locomotives, the prime mover is thus the source of power for its propulsion. The term is generally used when discussing any locomotive powered by an internal combustion engine...
, as the current Hamilton diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
was not suited for locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
applications.
Hamilton engineers proved to be worthy counterparts to their Lima brethren. They realized from the start that high power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
s yield no advantages for locomotives, since locomotives are traditionally weighted with ballast to obtain optimal adhesion
Adhesion
Adhesion is any attraction process between dissimilar molecular species that can potentially bring them in close contact. By contrast, cohesion takes place between similar molecules....
. This allowed them to incorporate heavier crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
s, bearing
Bearing (mechanical)
A bearing is a device to allow constrained relative motion between two or more parts, typically rotation or linear movement. Bearings may be classified broadly according to the motions they allow and according to their principle of operation as well as by the directions of applied loads they can...
s, connecting rod
Connecting rod
In a reciprocating piston engine, the connecting rod or conrod connects the piston to the crank or crankshaft. Together with the crank, they form a simple mechanism that converts linear motion into rotating motion....
s and other parts. Whereas the competition was experiencing road failures with their engines because they followed traditional design methods and used lightweight components.
In 1951 Lima-Hamilton merged with Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
forming Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton. Baldwin's primary interest was Lima's shovel and crane business which was expected to do well with the upcoming highway building boom. Lima-Hamilton's locomotive business was discontinued after the merger. Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton's locomotive fortunes declined as the rush by railroads to replace steam power subsided. B-L-H exited the new locomotive market in 1956.
Original owners
| Owner | Quantity | Road numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Armco Steel AK Steel Holding AK Steel Corporation is an American steel company whose predecessor, Armco, was founded in 1899 in Middletown, Ohio. Today, the company's corporate headquarters is situated in West Chester, Ohio, after having moved from Middletown, Ohio, in August 2007.- Products :AK Steel's main products are... |
707 (ex-Lima-Hamilton demonstrator 1001), 708, 709 | |
| Baltimore & Ohio Railroad | 330–339 | |
| Erie Railroad Erie Railroad The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie... |
650–659 | |
| 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... |
8400–8405 | |
| New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad The New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad , abbreviated NYC&St.L, was a railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. Commonly referred to as the Nickel Plate Road, the railroad served a large area, including trackage in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois... (Nickel Plate Road) |
305–308 | |
| Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway The Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway is a short-line railroad that operates of track from Mapleton, Illinois, through Peoria across Illinois to Logansport, Indiana, and includes a branch line between Logansport to Winamac, Indiana... |
300 (ex Lima-Hamilton demonstrator 1000), 301, 302 | |
| Wabash Railroad Wabash Railroad The Wabash Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. It served a large area, including trackage in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Ontario. Its primary connections included Chicago, Illinois, Kansas City, Missouri, Detroit,... |
400, 407 (ex Lima-Hamilton demonstrators 1002 and 1003) | |
| 38 | ||
Preservation
The last extant LS1000, former ARMCO Steel 709, is operated by the Whitewater Valley RailroadWhitewater Valley Railroad
The Whitewater Valley Railroad is a heritage railroad in Indiana.The railroad is dedicated to the preservation and presentation of a 1970s era of branch line railroading. It is now operated by vintage diesel switchers during most of the year. Steam operations occur on or around labor day each year...