1958 - General Motors and Alco Will Build 268 Diesel Engines Units for N&W

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Roanoke Times - July 23, 1958

General Motors and Alco Will Build 268 Diesel Engines Units for N&W

   Norfolk and Western Railway announced yesterday that 268 diesel 
locomotive units purchased recently by the company will be built by 
the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors Corp., and Alco Products Inc.
   Delivery on the new locomotives, costing five million dollars, 
will begin in October with Alco supplying 4 units and EMD 12 units each month.
   Alco will build 40 class T-6 switchers of 1,000 horsepower, and 36 
class RS-11 road switchers of 1,800 horsepower.
   General Motors will supply 192 class GP-9, 1,750 horsepower units, 
16 of which will be equipped for passenger operation.
   It is expected that the units equipped with steam generators will 
be the first delivered by EMD.
   The new engines will enable the railway to dieselize completely at 
present traffic levels in a year and half, said Stuart T. Saunders, 
N&W president.
   By the end of 1960, 202 steam engines are expected to retired, 
with 60 steamers of the present J, A, and Y6 classes held by the 
company for stand-by power.

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link