FM H-20-44

The FM H-20-44 was a diesel locomotive manufactured by Fairbanks-Morse from June 1947 – March 1954. It represented the company's first foray into the road switcher market. The 2,000 hp (1,490 kW), ten-cylinder opposed piston engine locomotive was referred to by F-M's engineering department as the "Heavy Duty" unit. It was configured in a B-B wheel arrangement mounted atop a pair of two-axle AAR Type-B road trucks with all axles powered. H-20-44s shared the same platform and much of the same carbody as the lighter-duty FM H-15-44, which began its production run three months later.

FM H-20-44
An FM H-20-44 locomotive, retired Union Pacific #1366
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Fairbanks-Morse Model H-20-44 Build date June 1947 — March 1954 Total produced 96
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC B′B′ Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) Length 51 ft 0 in (15.54 m) Loco weight 254,000 lb (115.2 tonnes) Prime mover FM 38D-8 1/8 Engine type Two-stroke diesel Aspiration Roots blower Displacement 10,369 cu in (169,920 cm3) Cylinders 10 (Opposed piston) Cylinder size 8.125 in × 10 in (206 mm × 254 mm) Transmission DC generator, DC traction motors Loco brake Straight air Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 70 mph (113 km/h) Power output 2,000 hp (1.49 MW) Tractive effort 42,125 lbf (187.38 kN)
Career Locale North America Disposition Two preserved, remainder scrapped

Union Pacific FM H-20-44 No. 410 at the Galveston Railroad Museum

In the same manner as other F-M switcher models, the H-20-44 started out displaying a variety of Raymond Loewy-inspired contours, only to have the majority of these superfluous trim features stripped from the last few units built as a cost-cutting measure. Only 96 units were built for American railroads, as few firms saw sufficient value in moving freight in greater quantities or at a higher speeds than was possible with the typical 1,500 and 1,600 horsepower (1,200 kW) four-axle road switchers of the era. Also limiting the model's utility as a true road unit was its lack of a short hood, which the (ironically) lighter-duty H-15-44 did have. Two intact examples of the H-20-44 are known to survive today; all are preserved at railroad museums. These were former Southwest Portland Cement units donated in the early 1980s. Unfortunately, SWPC 410, or AC&Y 500, was scrapped in August 2025 at the Galveston Railroad Museum. It was rendered inoperable due to severe storm damage inflicted by Hurricane Ike in 2008. It was also the last Akron, Canton and Youngstown locomotive preserved.

A six axle version for better traction was catalogued, but no orders were placed, and no demos were built.

Units produced

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad	6	500–505	500 sold to Southwest Portland Cement in the 1960s. Donated to the Galveston Railroad Museum in 1984 and repainted as "Union Pacific 410."[1][2] "410" was scrapped in August 2025 due to storm damage.
Fairbanks-Morse (demonstrator units)	1	2000	Serial number #L1032; sold to the UP later in 1947 and assigned #DS1366. Sold to Southwest Portland Cement in 1963 and renumbered 409. Donated to the Illinois Railway Museum in 1984. Still in SWPC paint.[3]
New York Central Railroad	19	7100–7118
Pennsylvania Railroad	38	8917–8942, 9300–9311	#8931 and #8939 to Penn Central #7731 and #7739 in 1968, retired August 1970
Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railway	22	50–71
Union Pacific Railroad	10	DS1360–DS1365, DS1367–DS1370	DS 1369 sold to Southwest Portland Cement in 1962 and renumbered 69. Donated to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in 1984. Repainted back to UP colors in 1998.[4]
	96

References

• "Fairbanks-Morse 38D8 Diesel Engine". PSRM Diesel Locomotives. Archived from the original on May 26, 2006. Retrieved January 1, 2006.
• Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. ISBN 978-0-89024-026-7.
• Kirkland, John F. (November 1985). The Diesel Builders Volume 1: Fairbanks-Morse and Lima-Hamilton. Interurban Press. ISBN 0-916374-69-6.

Further reading

• Sweetland, David R. (1999). Erie-builts and H20-44s: Fairbanks-Morse's 2,000-Horsepower Pioneers. Withers Publishing, Halifax, PA. ISBN 1-881411-22-2.