ALCO 244

The ALCO 244 was a diesel prime mover built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO). An evolution of the earlier 241 diesel engine, it powered ALCO's first generation of production road locomotives.

In early 1944, with the 241 engine undergoing testing, design work began on the 244; later that year, ALCO management appropriated the program separate funding, and subsequently chose to commit to bringing the 244 to production as soon as possible, dropping plans to use the 241 in commercial service.[1] Initially, major differences between the 241 and 244 included an engine block modified for mass production, redesigned connecting rods, and redesigned main bearings.[2] Based on testing of the 241, General Electric redesigned their turbocharger used on the engine.[2] In August 1945, the first completed engines were released for testing.[2] The first 12-cylinder 244 engines destined for commercial service in the FA freight locomotives were completed in January 1946, followed rapidly by the first 16-cylinder versions for the PA passenger locomotives.[2] In mid-1946, the cast iron crankshafts used in the initial run of engines were replaced with a new forged steel crankshaft.[2]

Due to the speed with which the 244 was moved from design to production, engines failed in service with high frequency in 1946 and 1947. Despite the redesign of crankshafts, the new forged versions continued to fail, particularly in the 12-cylinder engines; this problem was traced to metallurgical flaws in components from a supplier.[3] Flaws in welding main bearing saddles to the engine block resulted in about 600 blocks replaced, while both the saddles and bearings themselves required redesign and replacement.[3] GE air-cooled RD-1 turbocharger assemblies also required repeated redesign of both manifolds and turbines.[3] BY early 1948, ALCO had spent $4.3 million on field repairs and modifications of 244 engines.[4] In 1950, the first engines with upgrades new from the factory, dubbed the 244D, were installed in locomotives, beginning with the RS-3.[5] In 1953, the RD-1 turbochargers were replaced with GE water-cooled RD-3 models, followed the next year by ALCO-designed and built turbos.[6]

In 1949, in the midst of continued failures of 244 engines, ALCO engineers began work on a clean-sheet diesel engine.[7] After an extended testing period, in 1956 the company introduced a new line of locomotives powered by the new engine, named the 251, marking the end of 244 production.[8]

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Steinbrenner, page 226
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Steinbrenner, page 245
  3. 1 2 3 Steinbrenner, page 283
  4. ↑ Steinbrenner, page 284
  5. ↑ Steinbrenner, page 288
  6. ↑ Steinbrenner, page 299
  7. ↑ Steinbrenner, page 351
  8. ↑ Steinbrenner, page 354

Bibliography

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