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Post by kcjones on Nov 23, 2014 11:44:42 GMT -8
I am thinking about installing AC units on a few of my Alcos. I've looked high and low, but I can't seem to find any information on Alcos with AC units. Did ALCO ever offer AC with any of their models. It's hard to imagine crews on the SP or the Apache trying to survive without one. Oh,that right...It's a dry heat. I've got both Century books, but I can't find any reference to air conditioners. If they did have one, which one? NO RV units, please!!! Ugly looking things.
JL
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2014 11:49:54 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2014 11:55:08 GMT -8
Apache added the square RV type to the roofs of their ALCO's.
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Post by kcjones on Nov 23, 2014 13:58:47 GMT -8
Jim,
I read about your troubles and I wish you all the luck in the world. Take good care of Trudy.
I was wondering what the Apache had done. I'm surprised that the A&M did not put AC's on their 420's. I lived in the deep south most of my life and the humidity was a killer. The AV runs through AR and OK and the crews are going to go out on strike soon if the AV doesn't install air conditioners. I found out that the GE curved roof adapter on the DW AC unit is a tad too shallow for an Alco roof. Thin it out in the middle with a broad round file and it just fits.
JL
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Post by mlehman on Nov 23, 2014 15:22:10 GMT -8
SP management could be pretty old school when it came to crew comfort. But 45 years ago, when the last of the Alcos were coming off the line, A/C wasn't all that common, so SP management's policy on that wasn't that unusual.
In fact, I have to ask, what RRs had crew A/C in the 60s? I don't know, but I'd almost bet it's a single digit number.
It took most of the 60s before my kin in the Midwest were mostly air conditioned. A lot of that was creaky window units. That was something you noticed on annual summer visits, because it was always so humid, too. Throughout the 60s, we lived in Texas and Arizona, where whole house A/C in new construction was standard by then. That in itself took most of the 50s before it became common. And everything else mostly did without.
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Post by WP 257 on Nov 23, 2014 15:52:50 GMT -8
I think the changeover to A/C for diesels on the Santa Fe occurred during the early 1970's.
The photos of new diesel deliveries during 1970 and 1971 do not show A/C units, but when the changeover to blue/yellow warbonnet paint occurred, during the next couple years, engines that had arrived new without A/C installed now had it (at/after repainting), and the new deliveries in blue/yellow warbonnet paint, with a few early exceptions, all started coming through with A/C.
I would say let the photos be your guide...In the case of 2nd generation EMD and GE power on the Santa Fe, there are plenty of early photos available.
By that time most Alcos on Santa Fe were out of service excepting some RSD-15's that held on for a couple years, and some aging road switchers that were running out their last miles, somewhat similar to SP's situation.
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Post by Spikre on Nov 23, 2014 15:59:07 GMT -8
 KC, sure that pics of the Apache units with the big old AC units have been seen. maybe added by GE-Hornell, or M-K Hornell ? units could have been added at Snowflake. when did the RV style units show up ? recall that GM and GE had Divisions that made AC units,Alco didn't. think that ATSF was an AC pioneer in the 70s ? Spikre 
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Post by mlehman on Nov 23, 2014 16:04:26 GMT -8
SNIP recall that GM and GE had Divisions that made AC units,Alco didn't. think that ATSF was an AC pioneer in the 70s ? Spikre I think you're right Spikre. I had that exact same hunch, can't remember where I heard it, but the implementation dates quoted fit the timeline I remember to a T. |
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Post by Spikre on Nov 26, 2014 17:19:58 GMT -8
 Mike, "not dead yet,Apache Alcos[still]roam the Arizona High Desert". Railfan & Railroad September 2013,pages 42 - 47. the units seem to have the older large A/C units if shown. an A/C equipped unit always seems to lead. units that A/C cant be seen on may have RV type units ? or the A/C units have been changed since the article ran ? Nice Pics,check them out !! Spikre
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Post by kcjones on Nov 26, 2014 17:59:22 GMT -8
Spike,
Thanks for the heads up. I remember the article. That should do the trick. Now if I could only remember what I did with that issue....
Happy turkey day!!
JL
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Post by Spikre on Nov 26, 2014 18:11:18 GMT -8
JL, had bought the issue only about 6 months ago,so hadn't read it enuff to memorize yet ! and sort of just stumbled on it the other day. still cant find any of the 4 10mm wrenches that used to be here,one is a flare 8 & 10 that doesn't get used much,but isn't with the rest of the flared set. may Your Quest be successful ! we had SNOW earlier today,very early for here. Have A Great Thanksgiving Also !! Spikre
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Post by kcjones on Nov 26, 2014 18:17:31 GMT -8
Spike,
2 weeks ago we had an ice storm up here in portland. Today we broke a record for hi temp...63 degrees. Wierd!!!
JL
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Post by kcjones on Nov 27, 2014 10:12:59 GMT -8
And the winner is...SPIKRE!!!
Thanks a heap!!! That was just what I was looking for. When Jim mentioned the RV roof units on the Apache's units, I started looking elsewhere. I found my R&R and went back to the web and BINGO!!. The AC units on the 98 and 99 are just what I was looking for. I needed a good reason for covering the hole left in my 430 when I realized that my strobe wouldn't fit because of the headlight light bar. Since my numberboards are painted, I removed the back half of the nb light bar and moved the strobe off to side. I just wanted to see how funky the big AC unit looked on the top of an ALCO. The time frame is perfect as well. All the AV's Alcos went through their first major overhauls in the late 70's and early 80's. Since our U boats and dash 7's already had AC's, it was time to update the Alco's. You might say that the AV is the BC Rail of the south.
Thanks again.!!
JL
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