The Alco PA series locomotives are considered by many to be the most
attractive diesel locomotives ever produced. The PA locomotives were
built by a partnership of American Locomotive and General Electric
between 1946 and 1953. They offered two models, the PA-1 initially
followed by the PA-2. Both were powered by Alco’s 16-cylinder 244 diesel
engine generating 2,000 HP in the PA-1 and 2,250 in the PA-2.
The PA locomotives were designed to compete with General Motors’ EMD
E-units in the passenger locomotive market. While one could argue the
Alcos won in style, they did not win in reliability. Their 244 prime
movers could not unseat the EMD 567, and the PAs were demoted to
secondary service on many lines. Most were retired as passenger service
declined in the 1960s, and nearly all were scrapped.