Where to See ALCO PA Locomotives Today

Where to See ALCO PA Locomotives Today



The ALCO PA was one of the most striking diesel-electric passenger locomotives ever built. With its sleek, streamlined design and powerful presence, it became an icon of mid-20th-century rail travel. However, due to reliability issues, most ALCO PAs were retired and scrapped earlier than their competitors, like the EMD E-units.

Despite this, a handful of ALCO PA locomotives have survived. If you're a rail enthusiast looking to see one of these historic locomotives in person, here’s where you can find them today.

Surviving ALCO PA Locomotives

1. ALCO PA #16 – Under Restoration (United States)

  • Location: Genesee Valley Transportation (GVT), Scranton, Pennsylvania
  • History: Originally built for the Santa Fe Railway, this locomotive was later sold to Delaware & Hudson and eventually operated in Mexico for many years.
  • Current Status: It was repatriated from Mexico in the early 2000s and is undergoing a long-term restoration by Genesee Valley Transportation. The goal is to restore it to its former Delaware & Hudson "Lightning Stripe" paint scheme.

2. ALCO PA #18 – Preserved in Oregon

  • Location: Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Portland, Oregon
  • History: Like #16, this unit was originally built for the Santa Fe Railway, later sold to Delaware & Hudson, and eventually operated in Mexico. It was repatriated in the early 2000s.
  • Current Status: It has been cosmetically restored and repainted into its original Nickel Plate Road scheme. While it is not operational, it is displayed as an important piece of railroad history.

3. ALCO PA Units in Mexico (Possible Remnants)

  • Location: Various locations in Mexico, including museums and scrapyards.
  • History: Many ALCO PA locomotives were sold to Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (NdeM) in the late 1960s and operated there for decades.
  • Current Status: While most of these units have been scrapped, rail historians believe that some parts or even remnants of locomotives may still exist in Mexican rail yards or museums.

Why Are ALCO PAs So Rare?

Unlike the EMD E-units, which had a long service life, ALCO PAs suffered from mechanical issues, particularly with their 244 diesel engines. Railroads found them expensive to maintain, leading to their early retirement. Most were scrapped, with only a few surviving by chance.

Can Any ALCO PAs Run Again?

The best hope for an operational ALCO PA lies with #16 in Scranton, PA. Restoration teams are working to bring it back to life, though it is a slow and expensive process. If completed, it could be the only operational ALCO PA in the world.

Conclusion

Though ALCO PA locomotives are rare today, you can still see a few preserved examples in Scranton, PA, and Portland, OR, with the possibility of finding remains in Mexico. For rail enthusiasts, visiting these surviving PAs is a chance to witness a piece of locomotive history that once dominated American passenger rail.

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