ALCO Century 855

ALCO C855

UP 61, an ALCO C855

Type and origin
Power type	Diesel-electric
Builder	American Locomotive Company (ALCO)
Serial number	84730–84731 (A units), 84732 (B unit)
Model	DL855, DL856
Total produced	3 (two A units, one B unit)

Specifications
Gauge	4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm)
Length	86 ft (26.21 m)
Loco weight	551,400 pounds (250,111 kg)
Fuel capacity	6,000 US gal (5,000 imp gal; 23,000 L)
Prime mover	Dual Alco 251C
Engine type	Dual V16 diesel
Alternator	AC alternator
Traction motors	DC traction motors
Cylinders	32 (2 x 16)
Transmission	Electric

Performance figures
Power output	5,500 hp (4,101 kW)

Career
Operators	Union Pacific Railroad
Numbers	60–61, 60B
Locale	North America
Delivered	July, 1964
Disposition	All scrapped

Stats given in this table pertain to cab unit

The ALCO Century 855 was ALCO's most powerful diesel-electric locomotive and, at the time, the most powerful diesel locomotive ever built. Powered by a pair of 16 cylinder ALCO 251C diesel engines, and rated at 5,500 hp (4,101 kW), it was ALCO's answer to the EMD DD35 and the GE U50. The C855 rode on four two-axle trucks, grouped in pairs linked by span bolsters, giving a wheel arrangement of B+B-B+B. The trucks and bolsters were similar to those under UP's earlier turbine locomotives. Only two A units and one B unit were built, all for Union Pacific Railroad, which had also requested double-engined locomotives from EMD and GE in order to replace the turbines, which had become uneconomical to operate. Union Pacific also wished to reduce the number of locomotives needed on a consist, to keep in line with their allowable gross weight limit. By consolidating several locomotives into one or two, this allowed them to lower the axle load on the rails, but to stay within the limits placed by the company. They spent their lives in the general freight pool at North Platte, however poor performance led to their early retirement and eventual scrapping by February 1972.

UP 60B, the only C855B built.

Diesel-electric locomotives built by ALCO

Switchers	ALCO 300 ALCO 600 HH600 HH660 HH900 HH1000 S-1 S-2 S-3 S-4 DL420 S-5 S-6 T-6 SB-8/SSB-9

RS, RSC and RSD series	RS-1 RS-2 RS-3 RS-11 RS-27 RS-32 RS-36 RSC-1 RSC-2 RSC-3 RSD-1 MRS-1 RSD-4 RSD-5 RSD-7 RSD-12 RSD-15

Cab units	Rebel power car DL-103b DL-105 DL-107 DL-108 DL-109 DL-110 DL-202 DL-203 FA FB PA PB

Century series	C415 C420 C424 C425 C430 C628 C630 C636 C855

Diesel-hydraulics	DH643

Export locomotives	DL560C RSD-39

Unproduced locomotives	C428 C620 C624 C636F C636P C650DH

List of ALCO diesel Locomotives

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ALCO Century 855

See also