Diesel Engines

Although diesel locomotives first came to American railroads in the 1920s, it wasn’t until 1940 that diesels could practically replace steam locomotives in heavy-duty service. A pioneer freight diesel toured the nation’s railroads and changed history. Locomotives of the day were styled with an automobile-like nose and windshield, a design that prevailed until the late 1950s. Although commonly called “diesels,” the locomotives actually are electrically driven. The diesel engine drives an alternator, which produces electricity to run electric motors mounted on the locomotive’s axles. By the end of the 1950s the steam era was over and increasingly powerful diesels ruled the rails.

Diesel Models Available