imported>Trainsandotherthings: Undid revision 1311182561 by Reeso Chacón (talk) Unsourced.

2025-09-14T01:24:41Z

Undid revision 1311182561 by Reeso Chacón (talk) Unsourced.

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{{Short description|Model of diesel-electric locomotive}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = ALCO RS-3
| powertype = [[Diesel-electric]]
| image = CNJ 1554 (6125339203).jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| caption = A former [[Central Railroad of New Jersey]] ALCO RS-3 at [[Steamtown National Historic Site]]
| builder = [[American Locomotive Company]]<br>[[Montreal Locomotive Works]]
| buildmodel = RS-3
| builddate = May 1950 – August 1956
| totalproduction = 1,418
| aarwheels = B-B
| gauge = {{RailGauge|ussg}};<br> {{RailGauge|5ft3in}} for Brazil
| trucks = AAR type B
| wheeldiameter = {{convert|40|in|0|abbr=on}}
| minimumcurve = [[Degree of curvature#Formula for Chord length|21°]]
| wheelbase = {{convert|39|ft|4|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|56|ft|6|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|10|ft|1+5/8|in|2|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|14|ft|5+1/8|in|2|abbr=on}}
| locoweight = {{convert|247,100|lb|abbr=on}}
| primemover = [[ALCO 244]]
| enginetype = [[V12 engine|V12]] [[Four stroke diesel engine|Four stroke diesel]]
| aspiration = [[Turbocharger]]
| displacement =
| generator = GE GT-581
| tractionmotors = (4) GE 752
| cylindercount = 12
| cylindersize = {{convert|9|×|10+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| poweroutput = {{convert|1,600|hp|MW|abbr=on|lk=in}}
| tractiveeffort = {{convert|61,775|lb|abbr=on}}
| maxspeed = {{convert|65-85|mph|kph|0|abbr=on}}
| locale = [[North America]]; [[Spain]] (purchased from US railroads); [[Brazil]] (MLW);
}}

The '''ALCO RS-3''' is a {{convert|1,600|hp|MW|abbr=on}}, [[AAR wheel arrangement#B-B|B-B]] [[diesel-electric locomotive]] manufactured from May 1950 to August 1956 by [[American Locomotive Company]] (ALCO) and its subsidiary [[Montreal Locomotive Works]] (MLW). A total of 1,418 were produced: 1,272 for [[United States|American]] railroads, 98 for [[Canada|Canadian]] railroads, 48 for [[Brazil]]ian railroads, and 7 for [[Mexico|Mexican]] railroads.

The RS-3 greatly resembled the earlier [[ALCO RS-2|RS-2]] and somewhat resembles the [[ALCO RS-1|RS-1]],<ref>{{cite book |author=Pinkepank, Jerry A. |title=The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide |publisher=Kalmbach Publishing Co., Milwaukee, WI |year=1973 |isbn=0-89024-026-4 |pages=243–244}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Foster |first1=Gerald L. |title=A field guide to trains of North America |date=1996 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |isbn=0-395-70112-0 |location=Boston |page=20}}</ref> but it had 100 more horsepower thanks to its 12-cylinder, 1,600 hp ALCO Model 244 engine. It also had some changes to the fuel system and body shape.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Schafer |first=Mike |title=Vintage diesel locomotives |date=1998 |publisher=Motorbooks International |isbn=0-7603-0507-2 |location=Osceola, WI |pages=52 |oclc=38738930}}</ref>

Much like the RS-1, many RS-3s served for decades; some are still in use as of 2022.

== Variants ==
[[ALCO RSC-3|RSC-3]]: an RS-3 that used 3-axle trucks instead of 2-axle trucks. The middle axle on each truck was unpowered. This variant was designed for service on light track, as the extra axles better spread the weight of the locomotive.<ref name=":0" /> The [[ALCO RSD-4|RSD-4]] and [[ALCO RSD-5|RSD-5]] were similar units but with all 6 axles powered.

[[ALCO RS-3m|RS-3m]]: an RS-3 whose engine was replaced with the more reliable EMD engine. Various railroads had repowering programs, most using 567B (and later 567C) engines from retired E-units in their RS-3's. The New York Central RR rebuilds were nicknamed "DeWitt Geeps", after the shop that did the conversions.

Various Alco production variations occurred depending on the specifications by the customer. A small handful were built with steam generators in an extended-height short hood, nicknamed "Hammerhead" RS3's. Some had dynamic brakes located in the short hood. Some NYC units had one of their air tanks mounted on top of the long hood. Carbody vents, doors, and louvres also changed over the production span.

==Competition==
ALCO built the RS-3 to compete with [[Electro-Motive Diesel|EMD]], [[Fairbanks-Morse]], and [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]]—and in particular with EMD's [[EMD GP7|GP7]], introduced in 1949.

The arrival of the 1,500-hp GP7 led ALCO, Fairbanks-Morse, and Baldwin to increased the power of an existing locomotive line from {{convert|1500|to|1600|hp|MW|abbr=on}} and add more improvements to create new locomotive lines. In 1950, Fairbanks-Morse introduced the {{convert|1,600|hp|MW|abbr=on|lk=in}} [[FM H-16-44|H-16-44]], while Baldwin introduced the {{convert|1,600|hp|MW|abbr=on}} [[Baldwin AS-16]]. ALCO's {{convert|1,500|hp|MW|abbr=on}} line was the [[ALCO RS-2|RS-2]], although 31 were built in 1950 with {{convert|1,600|hp|MW|abbr=on}}. Fairbanks-Morse's {{convert|1,500|hp|MW|abbr=on}} line was the [[FM H-15-44|H-15-44]]. Baldwin's {{convert|1,500|hp|MW|abbr=on}} line was the [[Baldwin DRS-4-4-1500]]. EMD kept its [[EMD GP7|GP7]] at {{convert|1,500|hp|MW|abbr=on}} until 1954, when it introduced the [[EMD GP9|GP9]], rated at {{convert|1,750|hp|MW|abbr=on}}.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

In the end, EMD won the road switcher production race. EMD produced 2,729 GP7s. ALCO produced 377 RS-2s, and 1,418 RS-3s. Fairbanks-Morse produced 30 H-15-44s, and 296 H-16-44s. Baldwin produced 32 DRS-4-4-15s, and 127 AS-16s.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

== Exports ==

===Brazil===
In 1952, the [[Brazil]]ian railway the [[Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil]] purchased forty six new RS-3s from the [[Montreal Locomotive Works]]. Some are still active as work train engines for [[CPTM]], [[Supervia]], and [[Brazilian Company of Urban Trains|CBTU – BH]] respectively São Paulo's, Rio de Janeiro's and Belo Horizonte's commuter railways. In Brazil these units were nicknamed Canadians or Hot Tails.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Spain===
In 1964, the [[Spain|Spanish]] railway the [[Ferrocarril de Langreo]] purchased four RS-3s from the [[Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis]]. A fifth unit, number 1604, was purchased in 1971 from the [[Burlington Northern Railroad]] (BN), a piece of surplus [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] stock from the 1970 merger that formed BN. The locomotives served until 1984, when the line was [[Gauge conversion|converted]] to {{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}}.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://alcoworld.railfan.net/langreo.htm| title=Ferrocarril de Langreo en Asturias| work=AlcoWorld| date=2000-05-14| access-date=2007-09-13}}</ref>

== Preservation ==

* [[Boston and Maine Railroad|Boston & Maine]] #1508 is owned by the [[Railroad Museum of New England]] in [[Thomaston, Connecticut]]. It is currently stored awaiting restoration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boston & Maine RS3 1508 |url=https://www.rmne.org/bm1508 |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Railroad Museum of New England |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Central of Georgia Railway|Central of Georgia]] #109 is owned by the [[Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum]] in [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]]. It is undergoing restoration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RailPictures.Net Photo: CG 109 Central of Georgia Alco RS-3 at Chattanooga, Tennessee by John Doughty |url=https://www.railpictures.net/photo/833685/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.railpictures.net}}</ref>
* [[Central Railroad of New Jersey]] #1554 is preserved at [[Steamtown, U.S.A.|Steamtown]] in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]]. It also sees revenue service on the [[Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad|Delaware Lackawanna]] shortline railroad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RailPictures.Net Photo: CNJ 1554 Delaware Lackawanna Alco RS-3 at Scranton, Pennsylvania by Lester Zmudzinski |url=https://www.railpictures.net/photo/865692/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.railpictures.net}}</ref>
* [[Connecticut Department of Transportation|Connecticut DOT]] RS3m #605 is preserved at the [[Danbury Railway Museum]] in [[Danbury, Connecticut]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Locomotives |url=https://www.danburyrail.org/locomotives |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Danbury Railway Museum |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Delaware and Hudson Railway|Delaware & Hudson]] #4085 is owned by the [[Saratoga Corinth and Hudson Railway|Saratoga, Corinth, & Hudson Railway]] and is under restoration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RailPictures.Net Photo: SCHX 4085 Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railway Alco RS-3 at Saratoga Springs, New York by Marc Glucksman/River Rail Photo |url=https://www.railpictures.net/photo/882478/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.railpictures.net}}</ref>
* [[Delaware and Hudson Railway|Delaware & Hudson]] #4103 operates on the [[Saratoga Corinth and Hudson Railway|Saratoga, Corinth, & Hudson Railway]]
* [[Delaware and Hudson Railway|Delaware & Hudson]] #4118 operates on the [[Saratoga Corinth and Hudson Railway|Saratoga, Corinth, & Hudson Railway]]
* [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern]] #229 is preserved at the [[Museum of Innovation and Science]] in [[Schenectady, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=RailPictures.Net Photo: GN 229 Great Northern Alco RS-3 at Schenectady, New York by Matt Csenge |url=https://www.railpictures.net/photo/822507/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.railpictures.net}}</ref>
* [[Green Bay and Western Railroad|Green Bay & Western]] RS3m #308 is preserved at the [[Monticello Railway Museum]] in [[Monticello, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=GB&W 308 |url=https://www.mrym.org/gbw-308 |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Monticello Railway Museum |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Kennecott Utah Copper|Kennecott Copper]] #2 is preserved at the [[Western Pacific Railroad Museum]] in [[Portola, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=WPRM Locomotives |url=https://www.wplives.org/locomotives.html |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.wplives.org}}</ref>
* [[Lehigh Valley Railroad|Lehigh Valley]] RS3m #211 is preserved at the [[Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum]] in [[Monroe County, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lehigh Valley "Hammerhead" Alco RS-3 211 |url=https://rgvrrm.org/about/railroad/lv211/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Long Island Rail Road|Long Island Railroad]] #1556 is preserved at the [[Railroad Museum of Long Island]] in [[Riverhead, New York]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=LI 1556 |url=https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=6216258 |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.rrpicturearchives.net}}</ref>
* [[Magma Arizona Railroad|Magma Arizona]] #3 is owned by the [[Grand Canyon Railway]] in [[Williams, Arizona]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=RailPictures.Net Photo: OKRX 3 Magma Arizona Alco RS-3 at Williams , Arizona by Robby Gragg |url=https://www.railpictures.net/photo/820229/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.railpictures.net}}</ref> It is in storage.
* [[Maine Central Railroad|Maine Central]] #557 is preserved at the [[Railroad Museum of New England]] in [[Thomaston, Connecticut]].
* [[Minnesota Transfer Railway]] #200 is preserved at the [[Illinois Railway Museum]] in [[Union, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=RailPictures.Net Photo: MTRY 200 Minnesota Transfer Railway Alco RS-3 at Union, Illinois by Robby Gragg |url=https://www.railpictures.net/photo/840995/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.railpictures.net}}</ref>
* [[Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad|Missouri-Kansas-Texas]] RS3m #142 is owned by the Midland Railway in [[Baldwin City, Kansas]] and used to power excursion trains.
* [[Missouri Pacific Railroad|Missouri Pacific]] #4502 is preserved at the [[National Museum of Transportation]] in [[Kirkwood, Missouri]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Missouri Pacific #4502 |url=https://tnmot.org/collection/missouri-pacific-4502-alco-rs-3/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=National Museum of Transportation |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Nevada Northern Railway|Nevada Northern]] #109 is preserved on the [[Nevada Northern Railway Museum|Nevada Northern Railway]] in [[Ely, Nevada]]
* [[New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad|New Haven]] #529 is preserved at the [[Railroad Museum of New England]] in [[Thomaston, Connecticut]]. It is currently stored awaiting restoration.
* [[New York Central Railroad|New York Central]] #8255 is owned by the Adirondack Railway Preservation Society and is under restoration as of 2025.
* [[Norfolk and Western Railway|Norfolk & Western]] #300 is preserved at the [[Virginia Museum of Transportation]] in [[Roanoke, Virginia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Norfolk & Western ALCO RS-3 Diesel Electric #300 Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=172291 |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Ohio Central Railroad System|Ohio Central]] #1077 is preserved at the [[Age of Steam Roundhouse|Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum]] in [[Sugarcreek, Ohio]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=RailPictures.Net Photo: OHCR 1077 Ohio Central Alco RS-3 at Sugarcreek, Ohio by John Doughty |url=https://www.railpictures.net/photo/817508/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.railpictures.net}}</ref>
* [[Reading Company|Reading]] #467 is preserved at [[Steamtown, U.S.A.|Steamtown]] in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=RailPictures.Net Photo: RDG 467 Reading Alco RS-3 at Scranton, Pennsylvania by Lester Zmudzinski |url=https://www.railpictures.net/photo/747169/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.railpictures.net}}</ref>
* [[Reading Company|Reading]] #485 is preserved at the Reading Company Museum in [[Hamburg, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=RailPictures.Net Photo: RDG 485 Reading Company Alco RS-3 at Hamburg, Pennsylvania by Aaron C. Schlegel |url=https://www.railpictures.net/photo/821040/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.railpictures.net}}</ref> It is awaiting restoration.
* [[Western Maryland Railway|Western Maryland]] #195 is preserved at the [[B&O Railroad Museum]] in [[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=RailPictures.Net Photo: WM 195 Western Maryland Railway Alco RS-3 at Baltimore, Maryland by The Occidental Tourist |url=https://www.railpictures.net/photo/848083/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.railpictures.net}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of ALCO diesel locomotives]]
* [[List of MLW diesel locomotives]]

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{Dorin-North Western|page=140}}
* {{cite book|author =Solomon, Brian|year=2000|title=The American diesel locomotive|publisher=MCI Publishing Company|isbn=0-7603-0666-4}}
* {{cite book|author1=Coelho, Eduardo J. J. |author2=Setti, João B.|year=1993|title=A era diesel na EFCB|publisher=Associação dos Engenheiros Ferroviários}}

{{ALCO diesels}}
{{MLW diesels}}

[[Category:ALCO locomotives|RS-3]]
[[Category:B-B locomotives]]
[[Category:MLW locomotives|RS-3]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1950]]
[[Category:Passenger locomotives]]
[[Category:Freight locomotives]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of Brazil]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of Spain]]
[[Category:Broad gauge locomotives in Brazil]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of Canada]]
[[Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of Canada]]
[[Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of Spain]]
[[Category:Diesel–electric locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Shunting locomotives]]
[[Category:Maine Central Railroad locomotives]]
[[Category:Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway locomotives]]

ALCO RS-3 - Revision history

imported>Trainsandotherthings: Undid revision 1311182561 by Reeso Chacón (talk) Unsourced.