Talk:ALCO DL-202

Untitled
There is a photo in Steinbrenner's book on page of a DL203 demonstrator dated January 31, 1945. Steinbrenner notes that the two A units were completed in January 1945 and put on test outside the ALCO research laboratory at Schenectady. This stationary testing went on for some time before the units were released for road test on the Delaware & Hudson on September 8, 1945. See The American Locomotive Company A Centennial Remembrance pages 221-230 for the story of the development of the 241 engine and the Black Maria Demonstrators (DL203). --SSW9389 13:23, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

As conceived the Black Maria was originally ALCO specification DL202-1 and DL203-1 for the A and B units equipped with the eight cylinder 539 engine. As built the units were ALCO DL202-2 and DL203-2 with the 12 cylinder 241 engines. Reference is from Rolf Stumpf's page at http://alcoworld.railfan.net/arf.htm and from Steinbrenner on page 179 there is reference to the eight cylinder 539 engine producing 1300 horsepower. --SSW9389 (talk) 17:35, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

The Diesel Shop specifications referenced in this article conflicts with http://www.thedieselshop.us/ALCOdemo.HTML page on ALCO Demonstrators which uses the same Diesel Locomotive (DL) Specification used on Rolf Stumpf's page here http://alcoworld.railfan.net/specindx.htm --SSW9389 (talk) 17:57, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

It would appear that our references disagree as to the specification # the cab unit was built to. (at least they agree as to the booster...sigh...) I don't have access to Steinbrenners book, does it list a specific spec # for the cab, as built? ...and does his book list any further refs?
 * Kirkland's book lists it as DL203-1, (and lists ALCO HS as a ref)
 * "The Diesel Shop" website lists it as both DL203-1, (on a page listing both Kirkland and Steinbrenner as refs)
 * and DL202-2 (on a page with Steinbrenner and ALCO HS as a ref)
 * "Alcoworld" website lists it as DL202-2 (with "ALCO collections" as a ref)

Does anyone have access to the ALCO HS production lists?

A photo caption I found while looking for further refs covers this situation to a T.."these locomotives have long ranked high among the most rumored, least factually known pieces of American rail history"... Wuhwuzdat (talk) 23:17, 20 March 2009 (UTC)


 * This may be the time for one of those some sources state... disclaimers in the article, until such time as we can determine which references are accurate. Wuhwuzdat (talk) 02:24, 21 March 2009 (UTC)

Suspect that delay between build date of the Black Maria units and road test date was due to inadequate turbocharger. The 12V-241 engines were equipped with the air cooled GE RD-1 turbocharger which GE was redesigning for application to diesel engines. This GE research effected both the Alco 241 and Alco 244 engines. --SSW9389 13:50, 16 April 2013 (UTC)

Alco had received an order for 80 freight units in 1941 from the GM&O RR. This GM&O order was used to try and convince the War Production Board to let Alco build freight diesels. At the time of the GM&O order Alco did not have an diesel engine capable of competing with EMD's FT. The 241 engine program and the Black Maria demonstrators were Alco's attempt to develop a freight diesel to compete with EMD.--SSW9389 08:42, 4 June 2013 (UTC)