CNJ No. 1000

Name: CNJ No.1000

Railroad of Record: Central Railroad of New Jersey

Type of Locomotive: ALCO-GE Ingersoll Rand Box cab 300 hp switcher

Manufactured by: American Locomotive Company

Date Built: 1925

Locomotive Weight: 60 tons

Prime Mover: Ingersoll-Rand 6 cylinder Model "PR" 300 hp

Starting Tractive Effort: 37,200 lbs.

Top Speed: 30 mph

Despite the domination of steam locomotives on the railroad for almost 70 years, new technologies began to emerge around the turn of the century that would eventually revolutionize railroad travel.

Although diesel engines first appeared at the end of the nineteenth century, it was not until General Electric combined it with electricity in 1917, that the technology became suitable for locomotives. Still, railroads did not consider incorporating these unproven locomotives until government mandates in the 1920s forced them to eliminate air-polluting steamers from urban rail yards. In 1925, General Electric, in partnership with Ingersoll-Rand and the American Locomotive Company (ALCO), created the first commercially successful diesel-electric locomotive. Identified as the No. 1000, this diesel-electric was purchased by the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The No. 1000's boxy body, traction motors, and trucks fell in line with the light electric locomotives of the time and was an instant success. Almost immediately, other railroads followed suit as managers realized that diesel-electrics were more efficient yard switchers because of their maneuverability and cost effective operation. On June 13, 1957, the CNJ No. 1000 retired from service and was donated to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum.

>> Watch the B&O Railroad Museum Television Network episode about the CNJ No. 1000, hosted by Michael Gross.

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