Alco RS-1 question

[chessie77]

Hello, I have a question about the Alco RS-1, were any of these built with dynamic brakes? Thanks for any information.

[Mark R.]

No RS1s came equipped with dynamic brakes.

Mark.

[bnsf971]

If you are putting tsunami sound in one, you can set cv 166 to 71. That will return the prime mover sound to idle when dynamic brakes are used. Then, set the volume of the dynamic brake sound to 0. Then, when the engine is consisted, and the other engines use their dynamics, the RS1 will drop to idle.

[chessie77]

Thank you guys for the information, especially the DCC info. I wonder why no one ordered the RS-1 with DB or were they not available?

[bnsf971]

Apr 26, 2015 19:11:49 GMT -8 chessie77 said:

Thank you guys for the information, especially the DCC info. I wonder why no one ordered the RS-1 with DB or were they not available?

When new, it was a switcher with a short hood added. Most switchers do not have dynamic brakes.

[Spikre]

Terry,
while the RS-1 was an overgrown S-2 with road trucks,they were
the loco that originated the term "Road Switcher".
a number of roads dieselized with them,Susie Q,Spokane International,
AT&N,and others.
some like Chattahoochie Industrial relied on used RS-1s for years after
being built in the early 60s.
Tennesse also dieselized with used RS-1s.
Washington Terminal used their RS-1s thru the 70s,a few may have lasted longer ?
C&WI used RS-1s as road locos until abandonment.
really depends on the road and how much they liked Alco's.
Spikre

[bnsf971]

Apr 28, 2015 14:38:16 GMT -8 Spikre said:

Terry,
while the RS-1 was an overgrown S-2 with road trucks,they were
the loco that originated the term "Road Switcher".
a number of roads dieselized with them,Susie Q,Spokane International,
AT&N,and others.
some like Chattahoochie Industrial relied on used RS-1s for years after
being built in the early 60s.
Tennesse also dieselized with used RS-1s.
Washington Terminal used their RS-1s thru the 70s,a few may have lasted longer ?
C&WI used RS-1s as road locos until abandonment.
really depends on the road and how much they liked Alco's.
Spikre

And I remember there is one road out West, that used EMD switchers (SW9s?) as road power. They all had dynamic brakes. I think it was a lumber road, but I can't remember who it was off the top of my head.

[Spikre]

Terry,
did those switchers have those short water cars behind them ?
cant recall the name offhand,but have some pics here in Diesel Era.
Spikre

[edwardsutorik]

You gize iz thinkin' of these?:







I think the water cars might be better referred to as fire cars. Don't KNOW, but just how much radiator water can you lose, anyway?




Ed

[Spikre]

Ed,
not sure,how many Fires can one EMD Switcher Start ??
Fire Car does sound rite for those cute little buggies !!
Spikre

[bnsf971]

I think it might have been cheaper to install spark arrestors. But who am I?
And yes, Ed, those are the ones I was thinking of.

[edwardsutorik]

Apr 29, 2015 15:15:31 GMT -8 bnsf971 said:

I think it might have been cheaper to install spark arrestors.

But spark arrestors look so visually awkward and really ruin the lines! Not at all the attractive look we want to present.



Ed

[jaygee]

Are these ex-Coos Bay Lumber locos? Anyway, space was at a premium on that trusty, crusty RS1. And while several roads could have used DB on the RS1, Alco was not about to mess with the natural good looks of their 539 powered wonder-chooch! We modelers come out ahead here, as free lancers can stick a DB blister on their long hood roof, and hit the DB sound command button on their DCC controller !
Beauty...Eh !

[chessie77]

Here is another idea, if a railroad wanted a RS-1 with DB, do you think ALCo would have built it? If so wouldn't they be in the short hood like the RS-2s and RS-3s? Would the DB look like them and have similar venting?

[lvrr325]

I would imagine RS1 dynamics would have to be in the short hood.

[Spikre]

Dynamic Brakes were NOT an RS-2 Option.
how about some Chop nosed RS-1s ?
they had some real personality.
Spikre

[chessie77]

According to The Diesel Shop web site the RS-2 were offered with DB. Their source are: Diesel Locomotives, Cyclopedia. Vol. 2 by Model Railroader; ATSF Mechanical Data Book; Canadian Pacific Mechanical Data Book; PRR Mechanical Data Book.

[Spikre]

according to Diesel Builders Vol-2,Alco and MLW,Dynamic Brakes
were not offered in Alco/MLW Road Switchers until the RS-3 of 5/50,
with D&H getting the 1st RS-3s.
any pics of RS-2s with Dynamics ?
the Kalmbach book is from the 70s and repeats some Errors from the
Diesel Spotting Guides.
and we're talking "As Built" RS-2s.
Spikre

[Spikre]

ATSF did not have any RS-3s.
PRR did not have any RS-2s.
CP RS-2 pics here Do NOT show dynamics as built.
the CP book may be lumping RS-2s and RS-3s together ?
but will check the CP RS-3 pics here again.
but if You have pics of these Rare Birds,post them if possible.
ATSF 2099 was an E-1661C RS-2 built as a 1600 HP Demo in early 1950,
it is WRONGLY listed as an RS-3 now and then,but is clearly an RS-2.
not so clear are the last 8 GN RS-2s in RS-3 bodies,but RS-2s under
the Hoods,Pullies and Belts everywhere !!
but No Dynamics as built.
built rite after Erie 1006,the last Alco built RS-2 bodied loco,4/50.
Spikre

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

May 1, 2015 10:38:01 GMT -8 chessie77 said:

According to The Diesel Shop web site the RS-2 were offered with DB. Their source are: Diesel Locomotives, Cyclopedia. Vol. 2 by Model Railroader; ATSF Mechanical Data Book; Canadian Pacific Mechanical Data Book; PRR Mechanical Data Book.

AT&SF had one RS-2 #2099 it was the former ALCo 1600 and had a steam generator but no dynamics.

CP had five ALCo RS-2's and four MLW RS-2's none had dynamic brakes.

Pennsylvania owned zero RS-2's.

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

May 1, 2015 11:49:37 GMT -8 Spikre said:

ATSF did not have any RS-3s.
PRR did not have any RS-2s.
CP RS-2 pics here Do NOT show dynamics as built.
the CP book may be lumping RS-2s and RS-3s together ?
but will check the CP RS-3 pics here again.
but if You have pics of these Rare Birds,post them if possible.
ATSF 2099 was an E-1661C RS-2 built as a 1600 HP Demo in early 1950,
it is WRONGLY listed as an RS-3 now and then,but is clearly an RS-2.
not so clear are the last 8 GN RS-2s in RS-3 bodies,but RS-2s under
the Hoods,Pullies and Belts everywhere !!
but No Dynamics as built.
built rite after Erie 1006,the last Alco built RS-2 bodied loco,4/50.
Spikre

ALCo made some major electrical and mechanical upgrades to the RS-3

Some CP RS-3's had dynamics

Santa Fe had RSD4 and 5's. The 4's did not have dynamics. The 5's had dynamics, except the former ALCo demo.

Some of the PRR RS-3's had dynamics.

[Spikre]

there were plenty of changes/improvements to the RS-3s compared
to the RS-2s.
higher rated GT581 Generator compared to the GT564 in the RS-2.
higher rated GE752 Traction motors.
more fuel space under the unit.
batteries moved up behind the cab on the running boards.
Optional Dynamic Brakes.
Steam Generator with Dynamic Brakes led to the "Hammerheads".
Optional Short Hood Forward Operation.
later better ventilation systems led to the Phase-2 and final Phase-3 bodies.
Up-Graded 244 Engine Blocks.
but the best improvement came during mid 53,the Water Cooled Turbo Charger
replaced the troubled Air Cooled Turbos used since 1946.
Spikre

[Spikre]

CP RS-2s:
8400-8404,blt by Alco 8/49.
8405-8408,blt by MLW 4/50.
all had standard RS-2 bodies,all had Steam Generators,
all had strange Alco style Winterization Hatches on the long hoods.
none had M.U. as built.
all had the end hood number boards added by CP after delivery ?
possibly the MLW units were built with the number boards,but no
as delivered pics of them here.
CP RS-3s:
8426-8461,built in batches between 3/54 and 12/54.
all had Phase-2 Bodies.
all had Dynamic Brakes.
all had full M.U. on both ends of the units.
all had the winterization hatches on the long hoods.
all had the end hood number boards as built.
some had Dynamics removed in the 70s and had the short hood chopped
and lowered.
many of these units lasted into the 80s with RS-2 8401,8402,8403,8404
lasting until 9/83.
RS-3s 8441,8445,8452,8456 lasted until 3/83,but some others made it until 12/82.
MLW replaced the RS-3 with the RS-10/DL-700 during 12/54,CP was the 1st
to order getting units 8462-8482 between 12/54 and 4/55.
RS-10s had 244G engines and similar equipment to the RS-3s,but in a new
taller carbody that was also used by the RS-18/DL-718
Spikre