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3/28/2024
 
 
 
 
 
Owner: Wabash
Model:Alco FA2Built As:AA 55A (FA2)
Serial Number:78480Order No:20586
Frame Number:prime mover # 11670Built:12/1950
Notes:ex-AA 55A
Other locos with this serial:  AA 55A(FA2) WAB 821(FA2)
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WAB 821
Title:  WAB 821
Description:  WAB 821
Photo Date:  1/2/1965  Upload Date: 12/1/2023 6:39:09 PM
Location:  Council Bluffs, IA
Author:  John Beach
Categories:  Roster,Action
Locomotives:  WAB 821(FA2)
Views:  47   Comments: 0
Wabash FA-2 821
Title:  Wabash FA-2 821
Description:  Wabash FA-2 821, Council Bluffs, Iowa, January 2, 1965, photo by Lou Schmitz, Chuck Zeiler collection. This locomotive was built December 9, 1950 (c/n 78480), delivered to the Ann Arbor as 55A, sold to Wabash October 6, 1963, traded to Alco September 1965 for new power.

Alco re-designed the FA-1/FB-1 in 1950 to have a dual purpose (freight or passenger) carbody locomotive to compete with EMD's F-7/FP-7. The components used in the FA-2/FB-2 (DL-212/DL-213) were essentially the same as the FA-1/FB-1 in its final specification (DL-208C/DL-209C), including the 1600 hp Model 244D prime mover, GT581 main generator and GE 752 traction motors. The carbody was lengthened by two feet to make room for a steam generator at the rear, and in order to make room, the radiator assembly had to be moved forward and shortened. The radiator fan drive was shortened, and the air compressor was repositioned. Under the frame, there was only room for the fuel and water tanks, so the air reservoir tanks were relocated inside the carbody, and positioned vertically along side the steam generator. The batteries were relocated inside the carbody, and in the case of the A unit, they were placed beneath the cab floor, accessed by a louvered door. In the first production FA-2's this caused a restriction in airflow between the nose-mounted traction motor blower and the traction motors on the front truck. With great difficulty, this blower was moved into the engine room immediately behind the electrical equipment compartments. The carbody vent openings were covered with fine screen (chicken wire) on the intitial production units, but later production units incorporated Farr-Aire grills, which were superior in keeping rain and snow out of the engine room.

Photo Date:  1/2/1965  Upload Date: 2/22/2011 12:27:41 PM
Location:  Council Bluffs, IA
Author:  Lou Schmitz
Categories:  Roster
Locomotives:  WAB 821(FA2)
Views:  2899   Comments: 0


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