The General BB4

Specifications:

Type: RS4TC 60 Ton Diesel Switcher
Horsepower: 500 Hp
Originally Built for: United States Army
Date Built: March 1954
Builder: Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corp.

According to Tim Moriarty the General is an Army RS4TC locomotive originally painted in the Army’s standard black with yellow safety appliances locomotive paint scheme and by September 1996 numbered DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) 54344. It had originally been US Army 4004, serial number 61234. Before coming to the BB it was last based at the Defense Logistics Agency depot just south of Richmond, VA in late 1996. According to the base's public affairs office the nickname originated from the fact that both Army and Navy personnel worked at the base, so in honor of the two groups, this locomotive was called the General and a sister locomotive the Admiral.

According to The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide by Jerry A. Pinkepank copyright 1973, the General is apparently built to an Army blueprint and considered a Whitcomb design. Davenport also built 18 locomotives to the same blueprint. Baldwin Locomotive Works owned 92% of Whitcomb stock after 1931.

By 1940 Whitcomb was operated as a Baldwin division. In February 1952 all Whitcomb production shifted from their Rochelle, IL plant to Baldwin's Eddystone Works. In December 1952 the Whitcomb name was dropped for Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton identification only. Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton continued to build Whitcomb designs into at least March of 1956.

Baldwin had merged with Lima-Hamilton in 1950. The last new Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton locomotive was built in 1956.

With a 1954 manufacture date, the General is a Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton, but the fact it is a Whitcomb design explains its non Baldwin diesel engine. Whitcomb used both Caterpillar and Cummins diesels in some of their locomotives.

The Buckingham Branch has used the General for local switching, as a backup locomotive, and when extra horsepower is needed on the grade east of Alpha.

Photographed by Kim Young, August, 2011.
Added to the photo archive by Kim Young, September 8, 2011.
Railroad: Buckingham Branch RR.

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