| ALCO FA and FB |
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| Specifications |
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Configuration:
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| • AAR | B-B, A1A-A1A (FCA-3 only) |
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| • UIC | Bo′Bo′ |
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| Gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
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| Length | FA-1: 51 ft 6 in (15.70 m)
FB-1: 50 ft 2 in (15.29 m)
FA-2, FPA-2, FPA-4: 53 ft 6 in (16.31 m)
FB-2, FPB-2, FPB-4: 52 ft 8 in (16.05 m) |
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| Loco weight | FA-1/FB-1, FA-2/FB-2, FPA-2/FPB-2: 243,000 lb (110,000 kg)
FPA-4/FPB-4: 255,000 lb (115,666.1 kilograms) |
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| Fuel capacity | 1,200 US gal (4,500 L; 1,000 imp gal) |
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| Prime mover | FA-1/FB-1, FA-2/FB-2, FPA-2/FPB-2: ALCO 12-244
FPA-4/FPB-4: ALCO 12-251 |
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| Engine type | V-12 Four-stroke diesel |
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| Aspiration | Turbocharger |
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| Displacement | 8,016 cu in (131.36 L) |
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| Generator | DC generator |
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| Traction motors | DC traction motors GE 726 on GM&O initial order then GE 752 |
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| Cylinders | 12 |
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| Cylinder size | 9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm) |
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| Transmission | Electric |
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| Loco brake | Independent air. Optional: Dynamic |
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| Train brakes | Air |
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| Performance figures |
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| Maximum speed | 65–92 mph (105–148 km/h) |
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| Power output | Early FA-1/FB-1: 1,500 hp (1,100 kW)
Late FA-1/FB-1 & all FA-2/FB-2/FPA-2/FPB-2: 1,600 hp (1,200 kW)
FPA-4/FPB-4: 1,800 hp (1,300 kW) |
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| Tractive effort | FA-1/FB-1, FA-2/FB-2, FPA-2/FPB-2: 60,875 lbf (270.79 kN)
FPA-4/FPB-4: 63,750 lbf (283.57 kN) |
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The ALCO FA is a family of B-B diesel locomotives designed to haul freight trains. The locomotives were built by a partnership of ALCO and General Electric in Schenectady, New York, between January 1946 and May 1959. Designed by General Electric's Ray Patten (along with their ALCO PA cousins), they were of a cab unit design; both cab-equipped lead (A unit) FA and cabless booster (B unit) FB models were built. A dual-service passenger-freight version, the FPA/FPB, was also offered. That model was equipped with a steam generator for heating passenger cars.
ALCO's designation of F marks these locomotives as being geared primarily for freight use, whereas the P designation of the PA sets indicates that they were geared for higher speeds and passenger use. However, beyond this their design was largely similar - aside from the PA/PB's both being larger A1A-A1A types with an even more striking nose - and many railroads used FA and PA locomotives for both freight and passenger service.
Several examples of FAs and FBs have been preserved. While most are now in the care of railroad museums, a few remain in operational status on such lines as the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Grand Canyon Railway and the Napa Valley Wine Train.
