The Alco Historic Photos collection consists primarily of Alco's builder's photo negatives from about 1880 to the end of production, covering with varying degrees of completeness the locomotives produced by Alco and most of its predecessors during that period. There is also a fairly complete collection of what Alco referred to as "photopasters" -- 3x8 photos mounted on cardboard with abbreviated specifications pasted on the back -- and over a thousand From 1007 engineering specification sheets. The latter are large (12x19) ledger forms with detailed engineering data entered by hand on both sides. These are the items included in this catalog. There are in addition a number of original antique erecting card drawings (tracings) and several thousand photo negatives in the SM series (Schenectady Miscellaneous). The latter cover mostly plant facilities, equipment, processes and events.

About a third of the negatives belong to the City of Schenectady, having been donated to the City's History Center by Alco around 1950, and are on loan to the National Railway Historical Society in custody of its Mohawk & Hudson Chapter. Another third plus the "photopasters" are similarly on loan by Alco's last corporate parent, Studebaker Worthington. The remainder are property of the Chapter, having been donated by Alco power at Auburn and others. Housed originally in Union College's Schaffer Library, they have since 1982 been located in a private facility in Schenectady's YMCA, with access restricted to authorized Chapter members. Overall administration is by a Board of Trustees appointed by the president of the NRHS.

The photos do not represent a complete record of construction during the years involved. For one thing, the builders usually only photographed only one locomotive in a group of similar machines for a given customer. Also, the collection itself is incomplete, as over the years a number of negatives have apparently disappeared, having either been stolen, destroyed or given away. Many still in the collection are so badly damaged or stained as to be unusable, and are not included in the catalog. There are no negatives from the Manchester or Montreal Works.

It is the Chapter's hope in the time ahead to locate and acquire missing photos and to assemble a collection of other Alco publications and memorabilia. Contributions of any such material will be greatly appreciated. The Chapter is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization; contributions are tax-deducible.

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