Ingersoll-Rand Number 90 Diesel-Electric Locomotive, 1926

Summary

This is one of the earliest diesel-electric locomotives used on American railroads. Diesel-electrics offered many advantages over steam locomotives. They required less maintenance, were more fuel-efficient, and could be operated by smaller crews. This locomotive's body houses an Ingersoll-Rand diesel engine that drives a General Electric generator, which in turn powers electric motors on the axles.

This is one of the earliest diesel-electric locomotives used on American railroads. Diesel-electrics offered many advantages over steam locomotives. They required less maintenance, were more fuel-efficient, and could be operated by smaller crews. This locomotive's body houses an Ingersoll-Rand diesel engine that drives a General Electric generator, which in turn powers electric motors on the axles.

Artifact

Diesel-electric locomotive

Date Made

1926

Creators

American Locomotive Company 

General Electric Company 

Ingersoll-Rand Company 

Place of Creation

United States, New Jersey, Phillipsburg 

Creator Notes

Made by General Electric Company, American Locomotive Company, and Ingersoll-Rand Company of Phillipsburg, New Jersey

Henry Ford Museum
 On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in Transportation - Trains

Object ID

70.96.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ingersoll-Rand Company.

Material

Metal
Steel

Color

Black (Color)
Yellow

Dimensions

Length: 399 in

Weight: 120000 lbs

Inscriptions

Outside markings: IR, #90/"Make Safety a Habit." ["Make Safety a Habit" was lettered on the locomotive as accessioned; it is not present on the restored locomotive] Present lettering in white: INGERSOLL-RAND / 90 (JCL 4/29/97) Builder's plates: OIL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE / CLASS B-B 120/120 -0-4HM840G / GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. / AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE CO. / INGERSOLL-RAND CO. / G.E.CO. NO. / 10132 / U.S.A. / DEC 1926 / A.L.CO. NO. / 66752 Metal tag: 1935 / 2872

Specifications

Maker: General Electric/Ingersoll-Rand/American Locomotive Company

Engine: 6-cylinder diesel

Horsepower: 300 at 550 revolutions per minute

Displacement: 5655 cubic inches

Generator: 200 kilowatts, 600 volts

Traction motors: 4 at 95 horsepower each

Weight: 60 tons

Tractive effort: 36,000 pounds

Speed: 30 miles per hour

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