Baldwin "AS-16" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, Data Sheet

Last revised: December 29, 2024

The AS16 began a new series and designation system for Baldwin's diesel line, one which was much simpler and easier to grasp than the complicated hyphens and numbers used before.

Interestingly, this new series also found Baldwin becoming a bit more successful in the locomotive market, although it remained well behind the American Locomotive (Alco) and Electro-Motive.

Overview

Interestingly, this improvement was likely not a coincidence. With the unveiling of its Standard Line in 1950 the company released an updated prime mover with the goal of becoming a more dominant player in the market once more.

While the Baldwin's latest designs were still not of the quality cataloged by Electro-Motive they were certainly a step in the right direction and an improvement over earlier designs.

Unfortunately, with its purchase by the Westinghouse Electric Company, Baldwin's direction was steered away from locomotive manufacturing thus ending any ideas of remaining a major competitor.

Photos

Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines AS16 #6025 works freight service as it passes the station at Haddonfield, New Jersey on September 2, 1965. Roger Puta photo.

The AS16 began production in 1950 and it introduced the manufacturer's new Standard Line of diesels. "Standard" most definitely is an understatement as the new designations were easier to understand and far simpler than previous descriptions.

Taking direction from Alco and EMD, Baldwin used a plain one or two letter designation for each model followed by two or three numbers.

A Baldwin company photo of new Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy) AS16 #1578 taken in the early 1950s.

In part, this was due to its discontinuance of manufacturing steam locomotives after 1949, realizing the motive power could no longer compete in the market. Its new designations were as follows:

AS for All Service

RS for Road Switcher

RF for Road Freight

RT for Road Transfer

The system included the number of powered axles and horsepower, although the AS16 was the only Standard Line road switcher not to include the former in its designation.

For instance, the AS416 meant All Service road switcher that featured 4 powered axles and 1,600 horsepower. Utilizing Baldwin's updated 608A prime mover, the AS16 sold relatively well at least when considering the builder's diesel line as a whole.

A Western Maryland publicity photo featuring a pair of its new Baldwin AS16s, led by #176, in June, 1951.

Reception

In terms of its road switchers the AS16 was the second highest seller with 127 sold to several Class I railroads including:

Baltimore & Ohio

Erie Railroad

Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)

St. Louis Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)

International-Great Northern (Missouri Pacific)

Nickel Plate Road

Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL)

Soo Line

Reading

Western Maryland

The AS16 was produced between 1950 and 1955, after which time the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation (a formation of the Baldwin Locomotive Works and Lima-Hamilton Corporation) called it quits. As usual, all internal components were supplied by Westinghouse and once again, BLH failed to offer the AS16 with dynamic braking.

Data Sheet and Specifications

Entered Production	9/28/1950 (Missouri-Kansas-Texas #1571)
Years Produced	9/28/1950 - 2/29/1956
Baldwin Class	DRS-4-4-1600/1 SC
Engine	608A
Engine Builder	De La Vergne
Horsepower	1600
Carbody Styling	Baldwin
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)	58'
Weight	236,000 Lbs (Optional ballasting to 250,000 Lbs.)
Height (Top Of Rail To Top Of Cab)	14'
Width	10' 2"
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	Swing Bolster-Drop Side Equalizers
Truck Wheelbase	9' 10"
Wheel Size	42"
Traction Motors	370DL (4)*, Westinghouse
Traction Generator	471B**, Westinghouse
Auxiliary Generator	YG42B, Westinghouse
Gear Ratio	15:63
Tractive Effort Rating	42,800 Lbs at 10.5 MPH (15:63)
Top Speed	70 MPH

* Later upgraded to model 370DE and then 370DEZ.

** Later upgraded to model 471BZ.

The Erie Railroad and Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines acquired a group of AS16's with freight gearing (15:68). In addition, PRSL purchased a secondary allotment with passenger gearing (17:62). They are as follows:

Erie Railroad #1106-1116 = 15:68 Gearing

Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines #6022-6023 = 15:68 Gearing

Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines #6007-6016 = 17:62 Gearing

The 15:68 freight gearing offered 52,500 pounds of continuous tractive effort at 9.2 mph. Maximum speed was listed at 65 mph.

The 17:62 passenger gearing offered 42,400 pounds of continuous tractive effort at 11.4 mph. Maximum speed was listed at 80 mph.

Production Roster

Total Built = 127

Owner	Road Number	Baldwin Serial Number	Construction Number	Completion Date
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1571	1	74891	9/28/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1572	2	74892	9/28/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1573	3	74893	9/29/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1574	4	74894	10/3/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1575	5	74895	9/29/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1576	6	74896	10/3/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1577	7	74897	10/4/1950
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1578	8	74898	10/4/1950
Western Maryland	173	9	74899	5/31/1951
Western Maryland	174	10	74900	5/31/1951
Western Maryland	175	11	74901	6/22/1951
Western Maryland	176	12	74902	6/22/1951
Erie Railroad	1106	13	74903	5/3/1951
Erie Railroad	1107	14	74904	5/3/1951
Erie Railroad	1108	15	74905	5/3/1951
Erie Railroad	1109	16	74981	7/10/1951
Erie Railroad	1110	17	74982	7/30/1951
Erie Railroad	1140	18	74983	7/31/1951
Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Line)	379	19	74984	8/27/1951
Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie (Soo Line)	380	20	74985	8/27/1951
Erie Railroad	1111	21	74986	11/30/1951
Erie Railroad	1112	22	74987	11/30/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas	1585	23	75341	11/14/1953
Reading Railroad	530	25	75151	7/24/1951
Reading Railroad	531	26	75152	8/1/1952
Reading Railroad	532	27	75153	8/28/1951
Reading Railroad	533	28	75154	8/31/1951
Reading Railroad	534	29	75155	9/1/1951
Reading Railroad	535	30	75156	9/2/1951
Reading Railroad	560	31	75157	9/24/1951
Reading Railroad	561	32	75158	9/25/1951
Reading Railroad	562	33	75159	9/27/1951
Reading Railroad	563	34	75160	8/30/1951
International-Great Northern (Missouri Pacific)	4195	35	75161	11/29/1951
International-Great Northern (Missouri Pacific)	4196	36	75162	11/29/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1586	37	75342	1/14/1953
Reading Railroad	536	38	75317	9/5/1951
Reading Railroad	537	39	75318	9/30/1951
Reading Railroad	538	40	75319	10/30/1951
Reading Railroad	539	41	75320	10/31/1951
Reading Railroad	540	42	75321	11/1/1951
Reading Railroad	541	43	75322	11/7/1951
Reading Railroad	542	44	75323	11/9/1951
Reading Railroad	543	45	75324	11/12/1951
Reading Railroad	544	46	75325	11/14/1951
Reading Railroad	545	47	75326	11/14/1951
Reading Railroad	546	48	75327	11/15/1951
Reading Railroad	547	49	75328	11/16/1951
Reading Railroad	548	50	75329	11/20/1951
Reading Railroad	549	51	75330	11/21/1951
Reading Railroad	550	52	75331	11/23/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1787	53	75694	1/20/1953
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1579	54	75431	10/23/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1580	55	75432	10/23/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1581	56	75433	10/25/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1582	56	75433	10/25/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1583	57	75434	10/25/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1584	58	75435	10/27/1951
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1585	59	75436	10/26/1951
Baltimore & Ohio	900	60	75498	5/27/1952
Baltimore & Ohio	901	61	75499	5/27/1952
Baltimore & Ohio	902	62	75500	5/29/1952
Baltimore & Ohio	903	63	75501	5/29/1952
Baltimore & Ohio	904	64	75502	6/3/1952
Erie Railroad	1113	65	75516	3/25/1952
Erie Railroad	1114	66	75517	3/27/1952
Erie Railroad	1115	67	75518	3/25/1952
Erie Railroad	1116	68	75519	3/27/1952
Erie Railroad	1117	69	75538	1/29/1952
Erie Railroad	1118	70	75539	1/29/1952
Erie Railroad	1119	71	75540	1/31/1952
Erie Railroad	1120	72	75541	1/31/1952
Reading Railroad	576	73	75591	6/21/1952
Reading Railroad	577	74	75592	6/21/1952
Reading Railroad	578	75	75593	6/25/1952
Reading Railroad	579	76	75594	6/25/1952
Reading Railroad	580	77	75595	6/30/1952
Reading Railroad	581	78	75596	6/30/1952
Reading Railroad	582	79	75597	7/11/1952
Reading Railroad	583	80	75598	7/11/1952
Reading Railroad	584	81	75599	7/18/1952
Reading Railroad	585	82	75600	7/17/1952
Reading Railroad	586	83	75715	7/18/1952
Reading Railroad	587	84	75716	7/24/1952
Reading Railroad	588	85	75717	7/22/1952
Reading Railroad	589	86	75718	7/24/1952
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)	1788	87	75695	1/21/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6007	88	75804	3/19/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6708	89	75805	3/19/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6709	90	75806	3/23/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6710	91	75807	3/26/1953
Baltimore & Ohio	905	92	75420	3/27/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6011	93	75850	3/31/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6012	94	75851	3/31/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6013	95	75852	4/16/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6014	96	75853	4/23/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6015	97	75854	4/16/1953
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6016	98	75855	4/23/1953
Reading Railroad	551	99	75926	10/5/1954
Reading Railroad	552	100	75927	10/8/1953
Reading Railroad	553	101	75928	10/26/1953
Reading Railroad	554	102	75929	11/3/1953
New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate)	320	103	75943	11/4/1953
New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate)	321	104	75944	11/4/1953
Baltimore & Ohio	899	105	75966	2/25/1954
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6024	106	75975	2/16/1956
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6025	107	75976	2/16/1956
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6026	108	75977	2/29/1956
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6027	109	75978	2/29/1956
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6022	110	75979	12/30/1955
Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines	6023	111	75980	12/30/1955
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)	4326	112	76004	6/30/1954
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)	4327	113	76005	6/30/1954
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)	4328	114	76006	7/15/1954
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)	4329	115	76007	7/15/1954
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)	4330	116	76008	7/23/1954
St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico (Missouri Pacific)	4331	117	76009	7/23/1954
New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate)	322	118	76028	6/15/1954
New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate)	323	119	76029	6/18/1954
Baltimore & Ohio	890	120	76096	5/6/1955
Baltimore & Ohio	891	121	76097	5/23/1955
Baltimore & Ohio	892	122	76098	5/24/1955
Baltimore & Ohio	893	123	76099	5/25/1955
Baltimore & Ohio	894	124	76100	5/27/1955
Baltimore & Ohio	895	125	76101	6/16/1955
Baltimore & Ohio	896	126	76102	6/22/1955
Baltimore & Ohio	897	127	76103	6/27/1955
Baltimore & Ohio	898	128	76104	6/30/1955

Serial number 24 remained vacant.

Sources

Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.

Kirkland, John F. Diesel Builders, The: Volume Three, Baldwin Locomotive Works. Pasadena: Interurban Press, 1994.

Pinkepank, Jerry A. Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1967.

Solomon, Brian. Baldwin Locomotives. Minneapolis: Voyageur Press, 2009.

Western Maryland AS-16 #173 was captured here by Roger Puta in the Hagerstown Yard during September of 1964. Note the Baltimore & Ohio F7's in the background.

Why the company elected to preclude this option has always remained a mystery considering the benefits it offered, particularly in heavy freight/drag service on stiff grades, and the fact that both the RS3 and GP7 offered the feature. Unfortunately, none of the AS16s manufactured are known to be preserved or in operation.

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