Diesel-Electric Locomotive, MRS-1

One of thirteen MRS-1 locomotives built by the General Motors Company for the U.S. Army between 1952-53 before the contract passed to the American Locomotive Company-General Electric, this diesel-electric locomotive was part of a design meant to overcome the Army's difficulties operating American locomotives overseas. With six coupled driving wheels and no leading or trailing wheels, it was classified as an 0-6-6-0. The MRS-1 was designed to operate on different countries' rail networks and use their rolling stock despite differences in track gauges, couplings, braking systems, and truck designs. Diesel-electric locomotives also proved more efficient than steam locomotives because they converted fuel into energy more efficiently and largely eliminated frequent refueling stops. Locomotive No. 1811 served in Korea from 1952-54 during the latter part of the Korean Conflict, and after the war most of these locomotives were kept as strategic reserves until the 1970s, when they began to be sold or assigned to military bases for local use. No. 1811 was last used in 1991 at Sunny Point, NC during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

Newport News, Virginia · United States