The ALCO DL-109 was one of six models of A1A-A1A diesel locomotives built to haul passenger trains by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) between December, 1939 and April, 1945. They were of a cab unit design, and both cab-equipped lead A units DL-103b, DL-105, DL-107, DL-109 and cabless booster B units DL-108, DL-110 models were built. The units were styled by noted industrial designer Otto Kuhler, who incorporated into his characteristic cab the trademark three-piece windshield design. A total of 74 cab units and four cabless booster units were built.
An ALCO DL-107 pictured in a publicity postcard for the NYC-SOU-SAL Florida Sunbeam
Rebuilt Milwaukee Road #14A, "Old Maude," in 1958. Not typical of DL-109 styling, this unit was rebuilt by Milwaukee Road and resembles a contemporary Electro-Motive cab unit.
Units #50 and #50A, the Santa Fe Railway's only DL locomotive set, lead the Super Chief during World War II.
A diesel locomotive is a type of railway locomotive in which the power source is a diesel engine. Several types of diesel locomotives have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is conveyed to the driving wheels. The most common are diesel-electric locomotives and diesel-hydraulic.
The ČKD ČME3, a common example of a diesel shunting locomotive
The InterCity 125 set a speed record – 148 mph (238 km/h) – for a diesel-powered train in 1987. Capable of 125 mph (201 km/h) in regular service, the train consists of two power cars with either seven or eight carriages between them.
These locomotives operated by Pacific National in Australia show three styles of diesel locomotive body: cab unit (front), hood unit, and flat-nose (rear).
Petrol–electric Weitzer railmotor, first 1903, series 1906