Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Alco Hauled Orion: Model 251 engines power NASA’s Crawler Transporters

Received the following via email from a correspondent in northwest Pennsylvania.

Alco has hauled ore on tracks with trains. Now, Alco has hauled Orion on 'tracks' with one of the two 1965 Crawler Transporters. They each use a pair of the same Model 251 V-16 diesel engine that propelled freight behind Alco Model C-628 and C-430/630 and C-636 locomotives..

http://www.nasa.gov/content/new-roller-bearings-tested-on-crawler-transporter-2/#.VII9y8l4VLk 

"One of...two crawler transporters (CTs) transport the Mobile Launcher Platform with the assembled Space Shuttle from the VAB to Complex 39 Launch Pads A and B at John F. Kennedy Space Center":
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/nasafact/transpcrawler.htm


Under "Additional Facts":
"Diesel Engines: Alco, 16 Cylinders, 2 @ 2,750 H.P. each"  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawler-transporter