Toledo, Lake Erie & Western Railway and Museum

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No. 5109 (ALCO), 1953
Builder: American Locomotive Company (Schenectady, New York)
Type: S-4 diesel-electric switcher
Wheel Arrangement: B-B
Classification: Locomotive
Original Owner/Use: Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, for yard switching and light freight duties

The C&O 5109 is a classic example of mid-20th century diesel switcher technology, designed for efficient yard work and local freight operations. Built during the height of the transition from steam to diesel power, this locomotive represents ALCO’s successful S-series, which helped modernize railroading across North America.

Build and Early Service

The 5109 was constructed by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in Schenectady, New York, in September 1953 (builder’s serial number 80633), as part of ALCO’s S-4 production run. It was delivered new to the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O), where it entered service as road number 5109. The S-4 was an evolution of ALCO’s earlier S-2 model, featuring improved AAR Type A switcher trucks for better performance on uneven yard tracks. Equipped with a 1,000 horsepower ALCO 539T prime mover (turbocharged 6-cylinder inline diesel), the locomotive was well-suited for switching duties in C&O’s extensive yard network, handling tasks such as assembling trains, sorting cars, and short-haul transfers in industrial areas along the railway’s routes in the Midwest and Appalachia.

Service Life and Retirement

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the 5109 served reliably with the C&O, spending most of its life around Huntington, West Virginia, contributing to the railway’s operations during a period of significant freight growth driven by coal, steel, and manufacturing traffic. In 1973, the C&O was integrated into the Chessie System, a holding company that also included the Baltimore & Ohio and Western Maryland railroads. 

Preservation and Current Ownership

At the TLE&W, the 5109 became a key part of the museum’s operations, often pulling the “Bluebird” passenger train. It saw periodic use over the decades, though passenger services were suspended around 2009 due to track maintenance needs and other challenges. 

A significant restoration milestone occurred in 2013 when the 5109 was fully repainted in its original C&O delivery scheme—classic blue and yellow colors it wore when new over 60 years earlier. This effort was celebrated with test runs pulling flat cars and a Nickel Plate Road caboose, attracting rail enthusiasts to Waterville. Additional startups and tests were documented in September 2019.

By the mid-2020s, further mechanical work was required. In September 2024, the TLE&W received a $5,140 grant from the Anderson Foundation, supplemented by member donations, to support restoration as part of “Phase I” in resuming Bluebird passenger services. Today, the 5109 remains on the TLE&W roster in Grand Rapids/Waterville, Ohio, preserved as a soon-to-be-operational example of ALCO and C&O heritage for public education and excursions.

Today, the engine can be visited as part of our outdoor museum but it is in a temporary location due to the mechanical work being done. Please use our interactive map to discover it’s location. Since the engine is part of revenue passenger service, do not climb onto the engine. You are welcome to admire it from the ground.

Specifications

Attribute	Details
Builder	American Locomotive Company (Schenectady, New York)
Model	S-4
Built	September 1953
Serial Number	80633
Prime Mover	ALCO 539T, 6-cylinder inline diesel (turbocharged)
Horsepower	1,000 hp (746 kW)
Cylinders	6
Wheel Arrangement	B-B
Trucks	AAR Type A switcher trucks
Length	44 feet 5 inches
Weight	Approximately 230,000 lbs
Fuel Capacity	635 gallons
Generator	General Electric GT-564
Traction Motors	General Electric 731 (4)
Top Speed	60 mph

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