ALCO FA

The ALCO FA was a family of B-B diesel locomotives designed to haul freight trains, built by a partnership of ALCO and General Electric at Schenectady, New York, between January 1946 and May 1959. Designed by General Electric engineer Ray Patten together with the ALCO PA, they were cab units, with cab-equipped lead A units called FA and cabless booster B units called FB, and a dual-service FPA and FPB version carried a steam generator for heating passenger cars. Three models were offered: the 1,500 horsepower FA-1 and FB-1, the 1,600 horsepower FA-2 and FB-2, and the 1,800 horsepower FPA-4 and FPB-4 with the ALCO 251 V12 engine, built by Montreal Locomotive Works. Almost 800 FA units were built, and some 20 units of various designations survive today, several in excursion service.