Built between December 1945 and July 1948, the "
Babyface" design reflected Baldwin
steam and
electric locomotive practice. The carbody rode on two massive articulated cast steel half-frames cast by
General Steel Castings, linked at the middle with a hinged joint. Unpowered four-wheel
trucks at each end guided the locomotive through curves for stability at speed. Internal wiring was passed through metal conduits exactly like those used on a steam locomotive, which proved troublesome in practice. The prototype 2-unit set was built in 1945 and toured American railroads. Orders followed from the
Pennsylvania Railroad, the
Seaboard Air Line Railroad, and the
National Railways of Mexico (NdeM). The two demonstrators (originally ordered by
Union Pacific Railroad as #998 and #999) were never sold and were eventually
scrapped. The "Centipedes" were essentially obsolete during production, unable to compete with the more advanced locomotive design and technology offered by
EMD. Reliability was an ongoing problem, and as they were built one at a time (like steam locomotives) each one was a bit different in the placement of wiring and equipment, which complicated even
routine maintenance. The PRR units were eventually derated and relegated to
helper service. Most PRR and SAL units were scrapped by the early 1960s, while NdeM units lasted slightly longer and were in service until the late 1960s. No Centipedes have been preserved. The models manufactured for Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (NdeM) were sent back to Baldwin shops to receive the MU receptacles in order to work in a trailing position with other locomotives. Those Mexican Centipedes end their days as Helper Service in División San Luis, for the "Carneros" hill. ==Original buyers==