Baldwin RF-16 sharknose

Design

The Sharknose style was created by Raymond Loewy and Donald L. Hadley to differentiate Baldwin locomotives from competitors and to distance them from early Baldwin diesels that had mechanical issues. The style was inspired by the Pennsylvania Railroad's T1 class steam locomotives.

Production

The Sharknose locomotives were produced from 1948 to 1953. The first locomotives to receive the Sharknose styling were the DR-6-4-2000s. The RF-16s were introduced in 1950 and were essentially "debugged" DR-4-4-1500 freight locomotives.

Operators

The Sharknose locomotives were operated by the Baltimore & Ohio, New York Central, Pennsylvania Railroad, and Elgin, Joliet & Eastern.

Nickname

The nickname "Sharknose" was given to the locomotives by factory employees at the Baldwin Locomotive Works. The locomotives are called "Sharknose" because of their overbite, where the front is more protruded and tapers back in.

Use

The Sharknose locomotives were well-suited for the Pennsylvania Railroad's hilly terrain. The RF-16s were known for being reliable and rugged, and were often used to haul coal drags.

Preservation

Some Sharknose locomotives are in the private collection of Larkin, who acquired them in the 1980s. He keeps them in indoor storage and plans to eventually donate them to

a museum.