Lima LRS-1200

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.

A-3174
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Lima-Hamilton Corporation Serial number 9423-9438 Model A-3174 (LRS-1200) Build date August 1950 – October 1950 Total produced 16 Rebuilder Electro-Motive Division Number rebuilt 2
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo′Bo′ Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Trucks AAR Type B Wheel diameter 40 in (1.016 m) Length 56 ft 3 in (17.15 m) Adhesive weight 247,500 lb (112,300 kg) Fuel capacity 800 US gal (3,000 L) Prime mover Hamilton Engines and Machinery T89SA RPM: ​  • RPM idle 275  • Maximum RPM 800 Engine type 4-stroke diesel Aspiration Turbocharged Displacement 6,107 cu in (100.08 L) Generator Westinghouse 499C Traction motors Westinghouse 362-DF (4) Cylinders Inline 8 Cylinder size 9 in × 12 in (229 mm × 305 mm) Gear ratio 68:14 Loco brake Straight air Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 60 mph (97 km/h) Power output 1,200 hp (895 kW) Tractive effort 34,000 lbf (151.24 kN)
Career Operators New York Central, Penn Central Class NYC DRSP-5am, PC LRS12sx or LERS12as Numbers NYC 5800–5815 later 6200–6215, PC 8062 & 8063 later 8398 & 8399 Disposition All scrapped

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

• Kirkland, John F. (November 1985). The Diesel Builders Volume 1: Fairbanks-Morse and Lima-Hamilton. Interurban Press. ISBN 0-916374-69-6.

• "The Yard Limit - Lima". Retrieved March 9, 2009.

• Reid, Robert H. (Ed.). (March 1 1974). Penn Central Diesel Spotter's Guide. yumpu.com. Retrieved January 1, 2023, from https://www.yumpu.com/s/9aeKaGqhvVbSHWeX

• Penn Central Motive Power Summary. The Diesel Shop. Retrieved January 1, 2023, from https://thedieselshop.us/PennCentral.HTML