И. А. Курбасова Е. И. Силантьева

ПРИМЕЧАНИЕ
1. the motor railcars or the rail buses—рельсовые автомобили

16. 
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TEXT С. FIRST COMMERCIALLY-PRODUCED DIESEL

IN AMERICA
(1) In 1923 the first attempt was made in the USA to design an original diesel-electric locomotive. It was a 300 hp 60-ton unit. After a four-month test it became evident that the locomotive was a success although it was not a practical machine in the true sense (смысл) of the word.

(2) This locomotive proved far more economical than the steam locomotive as regards fuel. Indeed, it could pro­duce as much work on a tank car (цистерна) of oil as the steam locomotive did on twelve cars of coal. This experi­mental switching locomotive demonstrated its talents on fourteen railroads and industrial plant tracks.

(3) As to the first commercially-produced diesel in America it was designed and built in 1925. It was a 300-ton switcher similar in design to the pioneer of 1923.

(4) Most Americans consider this locomotive to be the "grand-daddy" of US dieselization. In appearance it was like a box on a platform car. The locomotive had a driv­er's cab at each end. The power plant and the main generator were located in the centre. This locomotive was in service until 1957 and now it is displayed in the Trans­portation Museum at Baltimore.