ALCO HH Series

The ALCO HH series was an early set of diesel switchers built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York between 1931 and 1940, when they were replaced by the S series: the 660 hp (490 kW) S-1 and 1,000 hp (750 kW) S-2. They were ALCO's first diesel switchers to enter true series production, and among the first land vehicles anywhere to use the revolutionary diesel-electric power transmission.
The "HH" name stood for "High Hood", a name ALCO came eventually to use in an official context, but originally an unofficial name. Model designations such as HH600 are only semi-official. Original ALCO designations were either descriptive or based on the internal order/design number.
A total of 177 of the HH series was produced; comprising one prototype and four production models of varying power outputs.
==ALCO 600 (New Haven #0900)==
The first HH series locomotive, ALCO demonstrator #600, was mechanically almost identical to later designs, but the appearance differed. The sides of the locomotive's hood sloped outward from top to bottom, and brake equipment was exposed beneath the cab. It rode on a unique pattern of trucks. After a period of demonstration on a number of railroads, the unit was sold to the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad as #0900. This number often was used to describe the locomotive, although the classification on the builder's data card was "404-OE-200". This first unit was built in July 1931.
===Diesel-electric power transmission===
The locomotive was equipped with a four-stroke McIntosh & Seymour 531 straight-6 diesel engine, powering a General Electric GT551A1 main generator. Four nose-suspended GE-287-D traction motors in the trucks were geared at a ratio of 4.25:1 to the wheels; the motors were cooled by electrically driven traction motor blowers.
==HH600==
The HH600 was nearly identical to the previous #0900 of the New Haven internally and mechanically, but it was clad in new bodywork, with a straight-sided hood and cab sides that came all the way to the frame. The HH600's were powered by 6-cylinder McIntosh & Seymour 531 engines of 600 hp (450 kW). They were built from July 1932 through May 1939; in all, 78 HH600s were constructed. The first-built units had sharp-edged front hood corners, but in 1934 ALCO employed industrial designer Otto Kuhler to clean up the appearance; he curved the corners and recessed the headlight, and all subsequent HH series units were of this style until another restyling in 1938 where the nose was further rounded. Late versions of this locomotive used the 6-cylinder 538 engine.
===Original buyers===
Railroad 	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
American Locomotive Company (prototype) 	1 	600 (1st) 	to New Haven 0900
American Locomotive Company (demonstrators) 	5 	1, 600 (2nd)	1 to ATSF 2300
American Locomotive Company (demonstrators) 	5 	601 	to Lehigh Valley Railroad 105
American Locomotive Company (demonstrators) 	5 	602 	to Boston and Maine 1102
American Locomotive Company (demonstrators) 	5 	603 	to Delaware, Lackawanna and Western 401
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 	2 	2301–2302 	
*2301 retired Feb 1, 1971 Relocated to Temple, TX
*2302 to American Grain & Cattle
Belt Railway of Chicago 	2 	302–303 	
Boston and Maine Railroad 	1 	1101 	
Central Railroad of New Jersey 	4 	1020–1023 	1021 to Houdaille Construction Materials Co.
Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad 	1 	102 	
Chicago and Illinois Western Railroad 	1 	1 	
Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad 	1 	1 	
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad 	7 	402–408 	405–406 to Erie Lackawanna as 322-323
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway 	1 	209 	
Hoboken Manufacturers Railroad 	1 	601 	
Illinois Central Railroad 	8 	9006–9013 	Scrapped 1951
Massena Terminal Railroad 	1 	7 	
Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company 	2 	101–102 	
New York Central Railroad 	6 	614–619 	
New York Central (Boston and Albany Railroad)	5 	680–684 	Renumbered 806–810
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad 	10 	0911–0920 	
Patapsco and Back Rivers Railroad 	7 	54–60 	
Peoria and Pekin Union Railway 	1 	100 	
Portland Terminal Company [Maine] 	4 	1001–1004 	
South Buffalo Railway 	6 	54–59 	
Steelton and Highspire Railroad 	1 	31 	
Universal Atlas Cement 	1 	4 	
Total 	79 	 	
==HH900==
The HH900 was a 900 hp (670 kW) version of the HH series using a turbocharged version of the McIntosh & Seymour 531 engine. Both turbocharged models (HH900 and HH1000) needed a greater cooling capacity, and this was reflected in the larger bodyside radiator space of both models, which distinguishes them from the lower-powered HH600 and HH660. The 21 HH900 units were produced between March 1937 and January 1939, after which they were supplanted by the McIntosh & Seymour 538T-engined HH1000. Several HH900s were built with the 538T engine.
===Original buyers===
Railroad 	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
American Locomotive Company (demonstrator unit) 	1 	101 	to CRI&P 730
Birmingham Southern Railroad 	8 	81–88 	
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway 	1 	402 	
Kansas City Terminal Railway 	1 	50 	
Minnesota Transfer Railway 	3 	90–92 	
Philadelphia, Bethlehem and New England Railroad	1 	207 	to South Buffalo Railway 70
Reading Company 	2 	40–41 	
Warrior River Terminal Company 	2 	50–51 	
Youngstown and Northern Railroad 	2 	211–212 	
Total 	21 	 	
==HH660==
The HH660 started production in ALCO's lineup in October 1938; 43 examples were built until April 1940. It used a naturally aspirated version of the 6-cylinder McIntosh and Seymour 538 engine, producing 660 hp (490 kW). Externally, HH660s were indistinguishable from late HH600s.
===Original buyers===
Railroad 	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes 	
American Locomotive Company (plant switcher) 	1 	4 	 	
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad 	1 	1900 	 	
Boston and Maine Railroad 	1 	1162 	 	
Buffalo Creek Railroad 	1 	43 	To Relco - 1966, to WNYRHS - 2000 	
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad ("Milwaukee Road")	4 	1600–1603 	Renumbered 980–983
*980-981 to Relco
*982 in Scottsdale, AZ
*983 to III Transportation then Illinois Railway Museum	
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad 	3 	409–411 	409–410 to Erie-Lackawanna Railway 324–325 	
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway 	3 	210–212 	211 to Gopher State Scrap and Metal 	
Erie Railroad 	4 	302–305 	305 to Erie-Lackawanna Railway, same number	
Green Bay and Western Railroad 	1 	101 	 	
Inland Steel 	1 	50 	 	
Louisville and Nashville Railroad 	1 	10 	 	
Maine Central Railroad 	2 	951–952 	 	
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway 	1 	D939 	To Glacier Sand & Gravel 	
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad 	10 	0921–0930 	0924 to Penn Central 9411 in 1969 	
Northern Pacific Railway 	3 	125–127 	125–126 to Walla Walla Valley Railway 770, 775;
*127 renumbered 602.
*770 to Relco 770
*to Port of Longview 770 Longview, Wa	
Southern Pacific Company 	3 	1001–1003 	 	
Tennessee Central Railway 	1 	50 	 	
Wabash Railroad 	2 	100, 150 	 	
Total 	43 	 	 	
==HH1000==
The HH1000 replaced the HH900, with the new McIntosh and Seymour 538T engine, turbocharged to produce 1000 hp (750 kW), a 100 hp (75 kW) increase from the previous model. They were produced between May 1939 and December 1940; 34 were built. M&STL D539 was the only HH1000 built with the 531T engine.
===Original buyers===
Railroad 	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
American Locomotive Company (demonstrator unit) 	1 	1000 	
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 	12 	2310–2321 	
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad 	1 	600 	
Birmingham Southern Railroad 	1 	89 	
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad ("Milwaukee Road")	1 	1671 	
Manufacturers Railway 	3 	202–203 	
Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company 	4 	103–106 	
Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway 	1 	D-539 	Renumbered 92; to Chicago and North Western Railway
Missouri Pacific Railroad 	1 	9102 	
Newburgh and South Shore Railway 	2 	1–2 	
Oliver Iron Mining Company 	7 	900–906 	
Total 	34 	 	
==Specifications==
Overall length 	45 ft 2.75 in 	13.79 m
Between bolster centers:	21 ft 3 in 	6.48 m
Truck wheelbase: 	8 ft 0 in 	2.44 m
Width over grabirons: 	9 ft 10 in 	3.00 m
Height above rails: 	14 ft 3 in 	4.34 m
Wheel diameter: 	40 in 	1.02 m
Fuel capacity: 	 	
Engine (HH600): 	McIntosh & Seymour 531 	McIntosh & Seymour 531
Power (HH600): 	600 hp 	450 kW
Engine (HH900): 	McIntosh & Seymour 531T (turbocharged)	McIntosh & Seymour 531T (turbocharged)
Power (HH900): 	900 hp 	670 kW
Engine (HH660): 	McIntosh & Seymour 538 	McIntosh & Seymour 538
Power (HH660): 	660 hp 	500 kW
Engine (HH1000): 	McIntosh & Seymour 538T (turbocharged)	McIntosh & Seymour 538T (turbocharged)
Power (HH1000): 	1000 hp 	750 kW
Main generator: 	 	
Traction motors: 	 	
Standard gearing: 	 	
Weight: 	 	
==Surviving units==
A few HH series switchers still survive in revenue service, and more are in museums. Working HH locomotives include an HH660 at Gopher Scrap in Mankato, Minnesota, one owned by the Western New York Railway Historical Society, and one from the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad owned by Genesee Valley Transportation Company at Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Among the preserved locomotives are an HH600, four HH660s and an HH1000. Birmingham Southern #82, the sole surviving HH900, is on static display at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera, Alabama.
==See also==
*List of ALCO diesel locomotives
==Gallery==
File:Northern Pacific 125.jpg
File:Oim 900 02.jpg
==Additional information==
*Data sheets: HH-600 2006-10-01, HH-660 2006-10-01
*Komaneski, John. ALCO HH600 Roster. Retrieved March 27, 2005. States information originally from Extra 2200 South.
*Komaneski, John. ALCO HH660 Roster. Retrieved March 27, 2005. States information originally from Extra 2200 South.
*Komaneski, John. ALCO HH900 and HH1000 Roster. Retrieved March 27, 2005. States information originally from Extra 2200 South.
*Laundry, Mark. Alco High Hood Models. Retrieved March 29, 2005.
*Steinbrenner, Richard (2003) The American Locomotive Company A Centennial Remembrance. Chapter VI subchapter "ALCO's First Production Diesels".
*Sweetland, David. (2004) Santa Fe's Alco Switcher Fleet. Diesel Era Vol. 15 No. 6, November/December 2004, pp. 10–31. Withers Publishing, Halifax, Pennsylvania.
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