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The DL-109

American Locomotive Company

In their never ending quest to perfect a viable passenger diesel, the American Locomotive Company developed the DL-103 through DL-109 A units and the B unit DL-110. The A units are all very similar in carbody, but the design evolved rapidly, thus receiving a new catalog number with practically each order. Of the B unit DL-110s, only 4 were built: three for the Southern Railway and one for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe.

• The experience of the Santa Fe A unit is typical. "Fast 15", as it is known, is excellent as high speed power on the flat, but when climbing stiff grades, the motors quickly overheat and other problems develop. As one observer noted: "What Alco built was a trolley car." The Santa Fe order was not repeated.

• The Southern bought several sets which are used in general pool service.

• The New York, New Haven & Hartford is the largest buyer of these A units (DL-109s in this case), with some 60 on the roster. These do double duty as passenger service by day and priority freight by night.

Although sales have proven disappointing and the earlier models have teething problems, these have to be considered one of the most successful of Alco's large A-1-A + A-1-A passenger units.