The BLH AS-16 was a diesel-electric locomotive rated at , that rode on two-axle trucks, having a B-B wheel arrangement. It was the successor to Baldwin's DRS-4-4-1500 model, and remained in production until Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton quit the locomotive manufacturing business in 1956.
Nine railroads bought 127 locomotives, with five railroads having bought the previous model. Former Missouri Pacific 4328 was sold to Bethlehem Steel for Iron Mines Co. of Venezuela and was later acquired by Ferrominera Orinoco. Today the locomotive survives on display at the entrance of CVG Ferrominera Orinoco in Guyana City, Venezuela. It is the sole surviving Baldwin AS-16.
Original buyers Railroad Quantity Road numbers NotesBaltimore and Ohio Railroad 16 890–905 Renumbered 6200–6215; renumbered 2241–2239Erie Railroad 16 1106–1120, 1140 Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad 18 1571–1586, 1787–1788 RenumberedMissouri Pacific Railroad (International-Great Northern Railroad) 2 4195–4196 Missouri Pacific Railroad (St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway) 6 4326–4331 No. 4328 is sole surviving example. Currently on Display in Venezuela.New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad ("Nickel Plate Road") 4 320–323 Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines 16 6007–6016, 6022–6027 6022–6027 were a cancelled order by the Reading Co., The 6 were built in 1953 with dynamic brakes and conventional mu (as opposed to BLW's air-controlled design). In 1956 the P-RSL acquired the units and had the dynamic brakes removed, BLW air-controlled mu installed, only №'s 6024 to 6027 had steam boilers installed.Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad ("Soo Line") 2 379–380 Reading Company 43 530–554, 560–563, 576–589 Western Maryland Railway 4 173–176 Total 127
Usage The AS-16 was designed as an all-around useful locomotive, capable of freight or passenger service. The engine had optional benefits such as a steam generator or dynamic brakes. The AAR Type B truck warranted higher speed than its siblings, the AS-416 and AS-616, with their three axle trucks.
References
The Baldwin Diesel Zone - Ferrominera Orinoco http://baldwindiesels.railfan.net/orinoco/index.html