| BAR BL2 56, location unknown, June 1974, photographer unknown, Chuck Zeiler collection. Built in April 1949 as #556 (c/n 8616), it is one of 59 of this model built (including the BL-1 demonstrator, later rebuilt to BL-2), one of eight on the BAR roster. It was powered by a 16-cylinder Model 567B prime mover, and some were built with steam generators, evidenced by an exhaust stack which was positioned between the two windshield panes up against the center post dividing them. At the time of its construction, Alco dominated the road switcher market with its RS-1 and sucessor RS-2, and EMD needed something with which to compete. This locomotive was the predecessor to the GP-7. |