my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

Southern Pacific
Fairbanks-Morse H12-44

45 units delivered

'Southern Pacific Historic Diesels, Volume 1, Fairbanks-Morse Locomotives' by Joe Strapac, confirms the information given below, and offers so much more, both through text and photo's. As a reference for use in modeling the FM H12-44's, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is now 'out-of-print', but may possibly come up on eBay or through secondhand book dealers.

Evidently all H12-44's supplied to Espee were without the Loewy cab roof overhang, however a photo of 4 units in the Extra 2200 South Roster listed below shows a number of variations in the grille work. As well there are differences in the signal lights fitted, with earlier units having the 'barrel' signal lights both ends, and later units having the smaller signal lights, some mounted on the top and some on the ends of the units. Later units also appear with full length handrails.

In 1956 two changes occurred in H12-44 production, the frame became thicker, and the unit lost a little over 3 feet in length. The hood height remained the same, so the later units have a greater over-all height. The earlier number series, #1486 to #1576 (#2350 to #2374) are of the thinner frame type and longer chassis, the later series having the thicker frames and shorter chassis.

With all the variations possible, a photo of a specific unit in your timeframe, is really going to be necessary to 'get it right'.

References:

• Southern Pacific Historic Diesels, Volume 1, Fairbanks-Morse Locomotives - by Joe Strapac.
• SP Dieselization by Garmany - Chapter 10 is devoted to FM's.
• Extra 2200 South Apr/May/Jun 1976, Issue 56 - SP Roster Part III.
• Diesel Era Jul/Aug 1994 Vol.5 No.4 Page 41 - Actually a SW1500 article, but has a great LHS. shot of an early H12-44.

Additional information supplied by Bruce Conklin.