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Description:
In April of 1953, Fairbanks-Morse release the H24-66 Trainmaster, described by FM as 'The most useful locomotive ever built'. It featured a 12 cylinder, 2 cycle, 2400 HP Opposed-Piston engine (2 pistons per cylinder). It could carry 1800 gallons of fuel in its main tank, and had two additional tanks, one 1000 gallons, the other 1400 gallons, which could be used for fuel or for train heating water on steam generator equipped units. It had 4 sandboxes, holding 24 cubic feet of sand each. These represented increases of between 50 and 200 percent the capabilities of other road switchers of the era. It could produce enough steam to heat 15 passenger cars in 0 degree weather. Due to its single-equalized, six wheel trucks, it could deliver 32% of its total weight in tractive effort. All together 127 units were produced, purchased by 10 different railroads. The units were exceptionally large for the era, measuring 66 feet long and 15 feet high, with a distinctive sound produced by their opposed-piston engines. Shortly after production, FM ceased production of locomotives. Today the only surviving Trainmaster can be found in the Canadian Rail Museum in Toronto.
Canadian National took delivery of 1 of these, unfortunately, they never did find anyplace where they could use 2400HP.