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This Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 locomotive
was part of a group of locomotives built in 1953 for the
United States Army at a cost of $224,700 each. It is a 1200
horsepower 120 ton yard switcher. In 1944, Fairbanks-Morse
entered the United States railroad locomotive market trading
on their excellent reputation in diesel power plants for
marine applications. Their locomotives used an unorthodox
opposed-piston design engine. During the next nineteen years,
F-M achieved limited acceptance and rated a distant fourth
place in market share during a period when all major American
railroads were replacing their steam locomotives with diesels.
F-M left the locomotive market in 1963.
This locomotive was used most recently at the
Seneca Army depot in Romulus, New York where it handled 30
to 100 cars per week on 42 miles of track at the base. In
1993, it was declared surplus by the Army, and a group of
Rochester Chapter NRHS members
purchased the unit for the Chapter through the Federal Property
Assistance program. It arrived at the museum in May 1993.
It is in operating condition and is used year round at the
museum as the locomotive uses antifreeze and has a block
heater for winter use.
Many of the 1843's sister locomotives have
been saved and are preserved in other museums throughout
the country including the other Seneca Army depot engine
#1844 at the National
Transportation Museum in Kirkwood,
MO.
- Built January 1953
- Fairbanks-Morse Beloit, Wisconsin
- Builder's number 12L667
- 1200 horsepower
- 6 cylinder opposed piston engine
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