Baldwin RF-16 “Shark”
- ROSTER
- DATA
- PHOTOS
Articles:
- THE BALDWIN SHARKNOSE
- PAINTING THE SHARKS
- RIDING THE SHARKS
Obtained from the Monogahela Railway in 1974, the two Baldwin RF-16 "Sharks" were part of a preservation project under the guidance of Carl B. Sterzing Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the Delaware & Hudson. Along with normal freight duty, they participated in public relations ventures and railfan trips until the end of Mr. Sterzing's tenure. They were sold to Castolite Inc. of Minneapolis, MN in April 1978.
D&H RF-16 #1216 sits at Whitehall, NY on October 2, 1977. The Garbely Publishing Company collection
The D&H’s two Sharks sit together. Jay Winn collection
For those of you unfamiliar with the term “Sharknose” as it applies to railway locomotives, a brief explanation is in order. “Sharknose” was the term applied to certain specific Baldwin Locomotive Works diesel locomotives due to their rakish streamlining that included a very striking nose profile. The BP-20 6-axle passenger unit and the RF-16 / DR-4-4-1500 4-axle freight units were known as “Sharknoses” or sometimes shortened to just plain “Sharks.”
For additional information on the design of the Baldwin Sharks, click here.
For additional information on the painting of the D&H Sharks, click here.
For the recounting of a cab ride on the D&H Sharks, click here.
| Delaware & Hudson Railway Baldwin RF-16 "Shark" Roster (Class RF-16) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Model | Builder | Serial | Built | Retired | Notes | Photos |
| 1205 | RF-16 | BLW | 75361 | 12/1951 | sold 4/1978 | Built as NYC #3805, renumbered #1205, to MGA #1205, acquired 8/1974, sold to Castolite Inc. | Link |
| 1216 | RF-16 | BLW | 75372 | 1/1952 | sold 4/1978 | Built as NYC #3812, renumbered #1216, to MGA #1216, acquired 8/1974, sold to Castolite Inc. | Link |
| Baldwin RF-16 "Shark" Data | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 8-cylinder 608A |
| Trucks | B-B |
| Truck Type | AAR Type B (9'10" wheelbase) |
| Fuel (gals.) | |
| Sand (cu. ft.) | |
| Weight (lbs.) | 248,000 lbs. |
| Horsepower | 1600 hp @ 625 rpm |
| Traction Motors | Westinghouse 370 series |
| Tractive Effort | |
| Gearing | |
Photos from the collection of Jay Winn:
Here the Sharks are heading a freight train in Binghamton, NY in September of 1975. Photos from the collection of Jean-Louis Simonet:
