Lima LS-1200

The LS-1200 is a diesel-electric switching locomotive built between May 1950 and August 1951, by Lima Locomotive Works of Lima, Ohio, United States. Lima's original design was the LS-1000, a 1,000 hp (750 kW) switcher, which became the standard for Lima's designs. A 660 hp (490 kW) switcher had also been designed, but none were built. By changing fuel rack settings, the LS-1000 was upgraded to the LS-1200, producing 1,200 horsepower (890 kW) from a turbocharged Hamilton T-89-SA four-stroke, eight cylinder inline diesel engine, a Westinghouse generator and 4 Westinghouse traction motors provided the 74,508 lbf (331.43 kN) of tractive effort.

LS-1200
Type and origin Power type Diesel Builder Lima Locomotive Works Model A-3170 (LS-1200) Build date May 1950 – August 1951 Total produced 69
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo′Bo′ Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Wheelbase 8 feet Loco weight 250,500 lb (113.6 t) Prime mover Hamilton T-89-SA Engine type 4-stroke diesel Aspiration Turbocharged Displacement 6,107 cu in (100.08 l) Cylinders Inline 8 Cylinder size 9 in × 12 in (229 mm × 305 mm) Transmission DC generator, DC traction motors Loco brake Straight air Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 60 mph (97 km/h) Power output 1,200 hp (895 kW) Tractive effort 74,508 lbf (331.4 kN)
Career Locale North America

Lima-Hamilton did not assign model numbers to their models but referred to them by specification numbers. Model designations such as LS-1200 were a railfan invention. Lima-Hamilton assigned A-3170 as the specification number for this particular unit.

Original owners

Owner	Quantity	Road Numbers
Armco Steel	3	710, E109, E110
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad	24	320–329, 340–353
Erie Railroad	6	660–665
Chicago River and Indiana Railroad (New York Central Railroad)	6	8406–8411
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad	10	630–639
New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (Nickel Plate Road)	4	309–312
Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis	6	1200–1205
Wabash Railroad	10	401–406, 408–411
	69

Preservation

Two LS1200 are preserved:

• ARMCO Steel E-110, the final locomotive produced by Lima- Hamilton, at the Illinois Railway Museum.
• Baltimore and Ohio 320, at the Whitewater Valley Railroad.

References

• Kirkland, John F. (November 1985). The Diesel Builders Volume 1: Fairbanks-Morse and Lima-Hamilton. Interurban Press. ISBN 0-916374-69-6.
• Hirsimaki, Eric (1986). Lima – the History. Hundman Publishing Inc.
• "The Yard Limit - Lima". Retrieved March 9, 2009.