Kusan K-Series General-Purpose Four-Wheel Switchers

The first five switchers on this page are track-powered. These switchers have clear number boards on both ends with the number 3206 embossed. There was also a track-powered U.S. Army switcher.

Chesapeake and Ohio GP switcher with safety stripes

Kusan catalog number 25. Chesapeake and Ohio 501 blue four-wheel switcher with yellow safety stripes. The exhaust vent on the side is outlined in yellow.

Chesapeake and Ohio GP switcher without safety stripes

Kusan catalog number 25. Chesapeake and Ohio 501 blue four-wheel switcher without safety stripes. The exhaust vent on the side is not outlined.

Minneapolis and St. Louis GP switcher with handrails

Kusan catalog number 33. Minneapolis and St. Louis 127 The Peoria Gateway red four-wheel switcher with white safety stripes and handrails. The exhaust vent on the side is not outlined.

Minneapolis and St. Louis GP switcher without handrails

Kusan catalog number 33. Minneapolis and St. Louis 127 The Peoria Gateway red four-wheel switcher with white safety stripes and no handrails. The exhaust vent on the side is outlined in white. Photo courtesy of the G. Clarke collection.

General Motors GP switcher

Kusan catalog number 37. General Motors 890 silver four-wheel switcher with black safety stripes. The exhaust vent on the side is outlined in black.

Louisville and Nashville GP switcher

No catalog number, Louisville and Nashville 3206 black four-wheel switcher without safety stripes. The exhaust vent on the side is not outlined.

The next four switchers are battery-powered. These switchers were made without number boards. Battery compartment access, for two C-cell batteries, is on the bottom of the engine. Battery orientation is shown at the bottom of this page. The black switch on top of the engine controls power and direction - forward, off and reverse. A component parts comparison of these battery-operated switchers can be seen here. There were also battery-powered Air Force and Gravy Train switchers.

Kusan red GP switcher

Kusan catalog number 31. Kusan red battery-operated four-wheel switcher. Photo courtesy of the G. Clarke collection.

Kusan light green painted GP switcher

Kusan catalog number 32. Kusan light green painted battery-operated four-wheel switcher. There was also a light green unpainted plastic version of this locomotive.

Kusan dark green GP switcher

Kusan catalog number 32. Kusan dark green battery-operated four-wheel switcher.

6800 GP switcher

No catalog number or road name, 6800 black battery-operated four-wheel switcher.

GP switcher battery orientation

Kusan battery-operated four-wheel switcher with the body shell removed to show proper battery orientation. The C-cell battery on the left is installed positive side down, while the battery on the right is positive side up.