 One of the six-wheel trucks completely equipped for application to the locomotive. This 2,000-hp Baldwin diesel-electric locomotive has increased the gross ton miles per train hour by 114%, and gross ton miles per train mile have been increased by 33%. When considering the numerous crossovers and many stops necessary in handling trains over this line the average train speeds attained by the diesel conclusively dem- onstrate the advantages of the six-motor locomo- tive in starting and rapidly accelerating trains to the maximum speeds desired for operations of this nature. From the operating data available during the first three months of service it appears certain, based on a conservative estimate, that the saving in fuel and maintenance costs alone will pay for the investment in this locomotive in four to five |
years. However, the actual savings will be far more than this as greater economies will be ef- fected by the very substantial reduction in trai miles which will result from the increased ton- nage per train and the increased train speeds made possible by the diesel locomotive. The management of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway Co. was one of the first to recognize the advantages of the diesel-electric locomotive in switching operations. This is evidenced by the fact that out of a total of 215 locomotives they now have 77 diesel-electric switchers in regular operation. Prior to the development of the road transfer type by Baldwin there was no diesel- electric locomotive available which satisfactorily met the requirements for heavy transfer and belt line operations such as exist on this property. The operating officials immediately recognized the possibilities of this design, and the performance in actual service has more than proved their judg- ment to be correct. There are a great many oper- ations throughout the country in helper, hump yard, transfer, and similar services for which this locomotive is ideally suited. The pioneering enter- prise of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern manage- ment in demonstrating the possibilities of this Baldwin diesel-electric locomotive has been of exceptional value. This specific application has substantially shown the benefits obtained by the use of this locomotive and has indicated what can be anticipated elsewhere. Number 100 has fitted into its job with marked success, and stands ready to provide high operating efficiency in this par- ticular type of service anywhere. |
