leikec
Junior Member
Posts: 96 
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Post by leikec on Sept 13, 2015 16:31:55 GMT -8
Including MLW LOCOS. Whatever criteria you want to use is fine--justify your choice however you wish, but let's limit selections to virgin Alco powered locos--no EMD (or other) repowers please. My choice would be the ALCO S-2...reliable, rugged, long-lived, and as good looking as a switcher could be, and there's nothing like a 539 Diesel engine.  Jeff C |
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Post by eh49 on Sept 13, 2015 18:36:58 GMT -8
RS3
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Post by Paul Cutler III on Sept 13, 2015 19:14:04 GMT -8
According to the New Haven Railroad, that would be their fleet of RS-3's. They were the "go anywhere, do anything" loco that could be used for yard switching, local freights, mainline freights, or passenger trains. In fact, the loco that was reserved for the use by the president of the railroad with his private car was a steam gen. equipped RS-3.
My personal favorite Alco diesel is the DL-109. The first diesel ever designed for both freight and passenger service, it got the NH through WWII. That rakish nose, the 3rd front window, and the sound of twin 539T's...Good stuff. And it's such a NH loco with 60 out of 74 being made for the NH, it was used pretty heavily on NH advertising.
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leikec
Junior Member
Posts: 96
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Post by leikec on Sept 13, 2015 22:20:20 GMT -8
I almost chose the DL-109, as it is another favorite of mine. If I ever did a New England based layout it would revolve around the New Haven RR.
Jeff C
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Post by Great-Northern-Willmar Div on Sept 14, 2015 5:08:37 GMT -8
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Post by The Ferro Kid on Sept 14, 2015 5:14:55 GMT -8
Love the PA, but would have to say from a development/evolutionary standpoint, the C628 for power and, aesthetically, the clean curves and lines that were stunning in LV Snowbird and Delaware & Hudson paint. Great in the subsequent LV red scheme as well. And the pure size of the unit, which looked even more massive in the high-nose version. Were eventually banned from the LV Buffalo west end due to tri-mount trucks supposedly tearing up track, but the late 60s and 70s were the grand era of deferred track maintenance in the Northeast. Don't know if Delaware & Hudson had similar problems or not.
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Post by mlehman on Sept 14, 2015 7:31:33 GMT -8
I can't pick just one. In standard gauge, I have a strong affection for the Monon's RS-2 and C-420 locos. The RS-2 may not have been quite as technically advanced as the -3, but still holds a dear place in my heart from watching them shuttle cars around in quarry-to-mill service. EDIT: Found a couple of old pics to illustrate my entry. Sorry for the poor quality. You take what you can get when the past is past...circa 1970   The C-420 were thundering past on the main throughout 9th grade, as Bloomington Jr. High was right next to the Monon main in 1970 when I attended. The -420 was as sleek and beautiful as you can make a hood unit IMO. Then there is narrow gauge and the ready for business look of the White Pass DL-535E. It may have been narrowgauge, but it was one heck of a gutsy loco to tackle the grades and storms of that line. The nose reminds one of its big brother, the fleet-footed C-420. A pair I built from PSC kits.  |
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Post by jaygee on Sept 14, 2015 7:55:55 GMT -8
Count me in as a big fan of the RSD series ...the 7, 12, and 15. All great lookers and performers too. The 'D7 is a bit more expensive to keep up with it's V16-244H engine...but what the hey ! But the best Alco of all time is...without doubt, the RS1 ! Yup that 539T chirpy turbo can't be beat, and the overall package is outrageously practical, it defies description. You just can't jam more essence of railroading into 57 feet. It was said in the day that the Alco PA was an honorary steam locomotive...maybe. The RS1, OTOH, actually is ! Go ask Rich Stoving up on the Tioga Central.
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Post by Spikre on Sept 14, 2015 10:26:56 GMT -8
 C-424/425. EL had the 1st U.S. examples of each. but what Alco isn't Fantastic ? this is a Loaded question !! Spikre
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Post by dti406 on Sept 14, 2015 10:44:31 GMT -8
The RS-11/RS-36 Series, NKP had both and the engineers preferred to the GP7,9 and 18 series. Could outpull and outstop the EMD's.
Rick J
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Post by Spikre on Sept 14, 2015 12:47:39 GMT -8
 Rick, it was interesting that NKP treated 251 powered Alcos as EMD Equals. but still ordered more EMDs. but N&W didnt treat 251 powered Alcos as Equals, but almost as Equals. still a lot of RS-11s and RS-36s lasted thru the 70s on N&W,but not always as Road Power. saw very few on the road here by 1980,but they did work Lamberts Point until the RSD-12s took over in the early 80s. once saw a complete H16-44 at what might have been Cycle Systems, and all sorts of Alco RS-11/36 Hood Parts surrounding the H16. they were closed, or would have asked about the Builders Plates they may have had available. next trip to Roanoke could not for sure locate that place again, no locos were on hand in that area, or they had moved/closed ? Spikre 
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Post by dti406 on Sept 14, 2015 17:44:26 GMT -8
It wasn't the railroad but the engineers that preferred the Alcos. Also remember that EMD was an on-line customer for the NKP and Alco was in New York on the NYC. The story on the RS-11/36 in the NKP Historical Society article I have shows many a lashup with the RS-11 in the lead of either 2 or 3 GP7's or 9's.
Rick
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2015 19:07:01 GMT -8
Rick, it was interesting that NKP treated 251 powered Alcos as EMD Equals... The Navy LST I was on powered by Alco 251s. Six 16-cylinder engines for propulsion and three 8-cylinder engines for electrical power. Of the 20 ships in the NEWPORT Class, the first three were powered by EMD 645s. The remainder by Alco. The 251's ran fine, in no small part because they were well maintained. Removing an engine would entail cutting through two decks and moving lots of machinery, electrical, plumbing, and ductwork and was to be avoided. For a few months I worked as a brakeman on an Alco S-1 powered shortline. A great unit, it loaded very quickly. .JPG) |
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Post by WP 257 on Sept 15, 2015 19:45:57 GMT -8
My vote would have to go to the Alco C-420. Perhaps it was the most successful of the Century Series diesels and all that came after them. Certainly it has been the most reliable, as more of them are still in service than any other Century or M Series model, and these incorporate mechanical improvements that make them superior units to all that came before.
It may not be my favorite engine, but of the Alcos, it can easily be considered among the very best.
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Post by mrsocal on Sept 16, 2015 4:11:39 GMT -8
For me, I am with the C-420 group as well as the S-4. It was a stout little yard horse.  |
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Post by jonklein611 on Sept 16, 2015 8:59:39 GMT -8
I'll go ahead and make Jason proud. The LRC! It's got the ALCO smoke, the ALCO sound, all tucked into a modern package:  |
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Post by mlehman on Sept 16, 2015 17:22:25 GMT -8
I'll go ahead and make Jason proud. The LRC! It's got the ALCO smoke, the ALCO sound, all tucked into a modern package: Let's see now... Alco shuts its doors in 1969 Star Trek original run ends in 1969 LRC numbered to start with 69 Is there a pattern here? Beam me up, Scotty.  |
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Post by jonklein611 on Sept 17, 2015 4:20:19 GMT -8
Alco shuts its doors in 1969 Star Trek original run ends in 1969 LRC numbered to start with 69 Is there a pattern here? Beam me up, Scotty. That explains this:  |
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Post by pacbelt on Sept 21, 2015 13:56:24 GMT -8
I love the whole RS series! They looked like nothing else, the later 244s sounded SERIOUSLY out of tune, when they were running perfectly!
They were rugged, crews loved them, they belched black smoke, like a proper oil fired steamer would, and well, I JUST like 'em.
A RS-1 was in my first train set in 1971, and holds a special place.....
Even IF it was the worst running model in history!!
Carmine
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Post by Spikre on Sept 21, 2015 14:40:31 GMT -8
Carmine, sounds like You actually had the AHM/Yugo 4 wheel drive RS-2. or possibly the AHM/YUGO 4 wheel drive Alco S-2. Clunkers Both !! even if they were painted EL. Spikre 
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Post by atsfan on Sept 21, 2015 15:34:02 GMT -8
Sadly Alco joined all of the other steam engine makers that failed to make the conversion from Steam to Diesel successfully.
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Post by pacbelt on Sept 21, 2015 19:17:23 GMT -8
It was the AHM RS-2.... What we can get now is SO much better. The noobs today will never experience the " joy" of 3-pole motors!!  Carmine, sounds like You actually had the AHM/Yugo 4 wheel drive RS-2. or possibly the AHM/YUGO 4 wheel drive Alco S-2. Clunkers Both !! even if they were painted EL. Spikre |
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Post by markfj on Sept 24, 2015 4:34:59 GMT -8
Just a heads-up for those that don’t get their email notices; MB Klein is running a sale on Bowser products this weekend. The most prevalent locomotive in their inventory seems to be the C-430. Now that “could” be an indication of the C-430’s popularity (or lack thereof) with modelers or it could just mean that Klein had a minimum buy requirement from Bowser that exceeded actual demand (preorders). That is pure speculation on my part, I don’t know if min. buy requirements apply to purchases in the hobby business like they do in other industries.
If I recall correctly, the C-430 (if not the whole Century series) was plagued with mechanical issues from the start. Still, it’s a neat looking locomotive and I might jump on Klein’s fire sale and get me a non-sound PC or Conrail unit.
Thanks, Mark
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Post by jbilbrey on Sept 27, 2015 16:13:53 GMT -8
Just a heads-up for those that don’t get their email notices; MB Klein is running a sale on Bowser products this weekend. The most prevalent locomotive in their inventory seems to be the C-430. Now that “could” be an indication of the C-430’s popularity (or lack thereof) with modelers or it could just mean that Klein had a minimum buy requirement from Bowser that exceeded actual demand (preorders). That is pure speculation on my part, I don’t know if min. buy requirements apply to purchases in the hobby business like they do in other industries. If I recall correctly, the C-430 (if not the whole Century series) was plagued with mechanical issues from the start. Still, it’s a neat looking locomotive and I might jump on Klein’s fire sale and get me a non-sound PC or Conrail unit. Thanks, Mark A C430 would be tempting to buy to go along with a PC RS27. However, I am supposed to get an Atlas NYC GP40 from a friend (I traded a locomotives and freight cars to him, but neither of us have bothered going to a second friend's house to dig out the GP40). If we go by numbers, I think the two most successful designs that ALCO had were the S2 and RS3. It's hard to think of ALCO and not picture those locomotives. James Bilbrey LaVergne, TN |
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Post by riogrande on Sept 27, 2015 17:30:10 GMT -8
I don't know much about ALCo's but like the RSD 4/5's the Utah Railway had. I hope Atlas reruns them again.
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Post by pacbelt on Sept 27, 2015 17:53:55 GMT -8
Thank GOD for minimum buy requirements from big Retailers!! Half of these forums seem to think that WE have to help the Businesses make money... I must have missed that day in class. THEY are supposed to HELP US get good value!!  A lot of us consumers seem to have forgotten that around the turn of the last Century. |
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Post by chessie77 on Sept 27, 2015 19:21:49 GMT -8
First let me say I think the ALCo C636 was the best locomotive that they built. It came at the end and was a minority locomotive on any roster that had them, but ones built in Australia had long lives pulling very heavy trains through extremely harsh territories and doing this daily. They provided service for almost 20 years. Most being rebuilt into GEs. They were worn out from continuous use. But their frame and trucks are still being used.
Now as for businesses helping use to get good values, that's true, but not if it means they can't make a profit. THAT is what they are in business for. I'm still amazed at modelers who think that the hobby shops HAVE to give use big discounts. I owned a shop in the late 90s and early 2000s. It was in with a game store. They made a good living, I went out of business. They could sell all their products a full price and use sales to only on products that were sitting. They almost never had a sale on anything that was hot. When D&D 3rd edition came out they sold over 2000 copies at full price in less that 3 days. Luckily, they had more coming in. A large number of these were prepaid preorders. They whole time I was in business they kept asking me why I was discounting anything. They are still in business today and doing quite well.
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Post by pacbelt on Sept 27, 2015 20:12:51 GMT -8
..... for the record, I was referring to the major manufacturers - NOT the hobby shops on the front lines, being choked by internet wholesalers, increasing tax codes, local regulations, skyrocketing rents, and a host of other problems - that WEREN'T a problem before the internet made things "so much easier" for us all.......
Just wanted to let you know, I'm not one of those kids, who thing everyone OWES them something!
I've been around a while - and want my money's worth - FOR A CHANGE!
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Post by chessie77 on Sept 27, 2015 20:34:35 GMT -8
Sorry, I wasn't trying to use a wide brush and paint everyone the same. But, when I opened my store, I went to the local model railroad club and told them I was opening a store. I described what I was going to be offering, but the only thing they wanted to know was how much of a discount I was going to give them. They tried playing all the hobby shops off against each other. One guy came in once and said, well this other shop (about 75 miles away) had the same locomotive, but was $5 cheaper. It was already 20% off. I told him that he'd spend more than that in gas to go get it. Guess what, he drove to save the $5 on the engine. Even brought it to the club to show it off and brag that he saved the $5. Actually he spent about $8 in gas and 3 hours time save that $5. Myself and some others could never get him to see it that way. The thing is he wasn't the only one.
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Post by pacbelt on Sept 28, 2015 3:03:09 GMT -8
I'm truly sorry that you had that experience.... SOME people are too ignorant for their own good. There's a reason why more and more these days, an obscure quote from comedian Ron White has become viral, and relevant to a growing number.... "You CAN'T fix Stupid"!!!  |
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