Conceptual locomotive

[lionkingcmsl]

jfox and I have had numerous discussions on how rail history would have turned out if the SJ&W had, indeed, been real. I envision the SJ&W to be on equal footing with the Pennsy; and the two railroads battling it out between the east coast and the mid-west. The SJ&W's headquarters would've right across the river, in Camden, NJ, from the Pennsy's HQ, in Philly.

One of those discussions turned to the American Locomotive Company, aka ALCo. I had always maintained that the SJ&W would have manufactured their own crankshafts to replace the ones in the 244-16 engines, to mitigate engine failures. In the same way the UP showed EMD how to turbo charge the 567, the SJ&W would've shown ALCo how to improve the 244's reliability. It was thought just as UP supported EMD in the lean years the SJ&W could have supported ALCo.

We discussed how ALCo might have continued the PA line to the present day and now would be offering a PA-9, with a 5000 hp 251-16 K series prime mover. It was also thought they could have replaced the traditional car body frame, with its truss work, with something like a frame off of a Century series, as was done with the Cowl units from EMD. I thought they would offer the traditional PA styling in a monocoque carbody.

To that end I present a conceptual version of a PA-9:


You will note that the steam generator hatch is missing; it is equipped with an HEP alternator. It is in the current SJ&W "New Image" scheme with FRA mandated retro-reflective safety stripe along the frame.