P Company experts: When and where did the Standard Railroad of the World use its AS16a RSD-4/5 units? My "Dream Railroad" would be the terminal end of a southwestern PA branch (I grew up in that area) and I'm trying to rationalize the purchase of a couple of Atlas RSD-4 units.
Bonus question: How difficult would it be to put good sound decoders in these units?
ChuckAllen, TX
George Elwood's Fallen Flags website (http://www.rr-fallenflags.org) has only four images of the Pennsy's RSD4/5 units. They are as follows:
RSD-4 8447 - EDGEMOOR DE - 11/17/1957 RSD-4 8448 - EDGEMOOR DE - 11/17/1957 RSD-5 8451 - Wilmington DE - 6/21/59 RSD-5 8451 - Fort Wayne IN - 05/03/65
Hi, Chuck
I grabbed a little information from a book I have, Pennsy Diesels 1924- 1968 by K. Douglas and P. Weiglin.
They mention that the PRR ordered six RSD-5s in Nov. 1951, order No. 20785 and two were delivered in Oct. 1952 with the other four delayed by a strike at Alco and were delivered in March 1953.
Initially all six were assigned to Baltimore and Wilmington heavy yard service. 8449-50 and 51 were equipped with cab signals. None were built with M-U capability but was added by 1965 and the engines reclassed AS-16am. All six were equipped with hump control.
In 1955 the 8446 worked Enola-Harrisburg and one or two others worked the York, Pa. area.
In late 1960 the 8446 was moved to Terre Haute, In. for heavy coal runs at the Green River Mine. By 1964 8446- 47- 48 went to East Altoona and the other three stayed in the Chesapeake Region.
Pre- Penn Central renumbering resulted in them having 6800 to 6805, reclasses ARS-16a and in 1967 all six were back in the Baltimore-Wilmington area.
Four of the six were retired in 1977 and one (6804) was converted to a hump slug (C-R 6899) until scrapping in Jan 1980.
I probably have more information if I dig for it, time permitting. I'll update if I find anything.
Hope that helps, Ed
gmpullmanHope that helps, Ed
Helps? Well, really not so much. Looks like I'll just have to renew my Modeller's License (again) and claim that a couple of these units were temporarily assigned to the Monongahela Division in 1943 (before they were built!) to see if they could effectively replace steam there. Any objections from Rivet Counters will be met with 1. It's my railroad. and 2. It coulda been.
Thanks anyway.
Edit: comment withdrawn.
Ray
Ray:
Go back and read the entire post; not just the part you quoted. The whole thing was a tongue-in-cheek admission that the facts were not what I had hoped. I doubt very much if Ed was offended in any way but, if he was, i sincerely apologize.
Well it's a little tough for there to be a loco there in 1943 that Alco didn't even start building until nearly 10 years later, in 1951...
There's modeler's license, and then there's War Production Board reality. After 13 RS-1's redirected to the US Army in 1941, Alco was only allowed to build switchers. So, no Alco road units in 1943.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
cefinkjrLooks like I'll just have to renew my Modeller's License (again) and claim that a couple of these units were temporarily assigned to the Monongahela Division
I found one photo in one of the Yanosey PRR Diesel Years volumes, of the 6804 taken at Pitcairn Yard in March of 1968 so that is at least close to S-E Pennsylvania. These Alcos seem to have wandered a bit in their 25 year lifespan.
cefinkjrHelps? Well, really not so much.
I knew what you meant — no worries. I say go ahead and run your AS-16a's any way you'd like. On my layout you might see the S2 Turbine pull alongside an Amtrak SDP-40F, although I generally don't photograph, nor condone, such events.
Good Luck, Ed
gmpullmanPitcairn Yard ... at least close to S-E Pennsylvania
Gotta take exception to this, Ed. Pitcairn Yard, now NS's Pitcairn Intermodal Terminal, is just east of Pittsburgh and still well within what is commonly known as Southwestern Pennsylvania. That was sort of my old stompin' grounds when I worked for PC.
But I hear ya on not condoning anachronisms like this. My ulterior motive though is to have something to run at our club. I can run steam there but I do tire of running a "turn" and watching my power back to its final destination (no wye or operable turntable). Still, I'm really dragging my feet on anything more modern than 1st generation power.
cefinkjrGotta take exception to this, Ed. Pitcairn Yard, now NS's Pitcairn Intermodal Terminal, is just east of Pittsburgh and still well within what is commonly known as Southwestern Pennsylvania.
I re-read your original post. My eyes saw southeast but my brain shifted to southwest. I live in North-east ohio, near Northeast, Pennsylvania, which is in the northwest corner of the state.
Anyway, with those Alcos working near Baltimore, Wilmington, Enola (Harrisburg) I'm sure you can justify their appearance on your branch line. Sorry for the confusion
Regards, Ed
I know 6804 popped up in Columbus for about a month in '67 and then she was gone. They used her in the CA&C yard during that short time frame.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
gmpullman... you can justify their appearance on your branch line...
Yes, I remember the branch line in question from when I was young enough to be standing behind my dad as we drove through Ellsworth and Cokeburg, PA on our way to US 40 to Wheeling and Route 2 to Parkersburg.
My dream railroad would only model Ellsworth and the 2.4 mile Cokeburg Branch with Shire Oaks yard represented by hidden staging. This was (probably) light rail territory so it might have been logical to at least try 6-axle power there. Anyway, "that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!"
The Alco RSD -4/5 units were purchased by the PRR for hump and heavy duty switching service. They basically replaced I-1's and L-1's . None were trainphone equipted . When built they did not have mu capability.That was addded later in 1965. When first built one was assigned to the South Philadelphia ore/coal piers and the remaining units were assigned to Baltimore and Wilmington Del. Regarding sound installation inside they are the same as the Atlas RS-3's so sound install is not that difficult. I've used Lok sound select direct boards with a Streamlined Backshop curved cell phone speaker mount that fit in the curve of the cab roof. --- Ken
KemacPrr The Alco RSD -4/5 units were purchased by the PRR for hump and transfer service. They basically replaced I-1's and L-1's . None were trainphone equipted . --- Ken
The Alco RSD -4/5 units were purchased by the PRR for hump and transfer service. They basically replaced I-1's and L-1's . None were trainphone equipted . --- Ken
When I saw the 6804 I was hoping she was our assigned power for our urban local..Nope she was switching the CA&C yard and would remain there until she left Columbus. Pity.
That was the only time I seen a PRR RSD4/5.
Thank You.
If it's any consolation, that area was home to a lot of F-M's. In particular, 2,000 h.p. H20-44 end-cab road switchers were common on local freights and mine runs, later supplemented with H24-66 Trainmasters. The center-cab Lima and Baldwin road switchers were also quite common visitors. There's no reason to conclude that your roster has to be boring.
I grew up in that area and only remember Alcos, probably RS-1's, RS-2's and/or RS-3's.
The only F-M's I remember seeing regularly were on the P&WV. (P&WV crossed the Mon River on a very high, K-type deck truss bridge about 2 miles south of my home.) Their Trainmasters had a reputation for starting grass fires all along their RoW.
I do recall seeing one center-cab transfer locomotive, probably an LS25, but I don't recall where I was at the time...probably somewhere around Pittsburgh. To my 10-year old eyes, that thing was a monster.
cefinkjrThe only F-M's I remember seeing regularly were on the P&WV. (P&WV crossed the Mon River on a very high, K-type deck truss bridge about 2 miles south of my home.) Their Trainmasters had a reputation for starting grass fires all along their RoW.
But P&WV had nothing like a TrainMaster - everything FM they had was 4-axle. I will grant you that an H20-4-4 was nothing to sneeze at, but it was still an end-cab B-B that looked like a switcher...
Perhaps he saw one of the four H-16-44s?
http://www.thepwvhiline.com/PWVFMRoster/PWV_91.html
http://www.thepwvhiline.com/PWVFMRoster/PWV_93.html
Thank You, Ed
I have said many times that I wished someone would produce the H20-44, which has never been available in HO except in brass. P&WV's four H16-44's were late models with high walkways, similar to the Bachmann version, purchased because F-M had ceased production of the H20-44. A craftsman kit for an H20-44 is said to be in preparation, but I haven't heard anything in a long time.
In addition to P.R.R. and P.&W.V., other purchasers of the H20-44 were I.H.B., N.Y.C. U.P., and A.C.&Y. Secondhand units were used by N.&W. and Southwest Portland Cement. There were also two distinct demonstrator paint schemes.
Tom
gmpullman Perhaps he saw one of the four H-16-44s? http://www.thepwvhiline.com/PWVFMRoster/PWV_91.html http://www.thepwvhiline.com/PWVFMRoster/PWV_93.html Thank You, Ed
I'm pretty sure you're right about the H16-4-4s; the question would be where a 10-year-old would learn what locomotive 'silhouettes' were. It might be quite likely that "TrainMaster" would be the famous example of that general carbody style ... and of course the sounds, and perhaps the egested chunks o'carbon, would have been largely the same...
I'm hoping that the long-shot plan to restore one of the AC&Y H20-4-4s to operation works out in my lifetime. I was impressed with the idea of a 2000hp end-cab Locomotive as a child, and I really still am.
Two other H20-44's exist, both ex UP. In fact, one was an F-M demonstrator. One is at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL, and the other is someplace in California (maybe Portola?).
The existing H20-44 in Texas, that is the subject of the preservation effort, was AC&Y 505, the last H20-44 built and the only existing example of the late (post-Loewy) body style.
All three of these units exist only because they were bought by Southwest Portland Cement after the big roads no longer wanted them.
OvermodI'm pretty sure you're right about the H16-4-4s; the question would be where a 10-year-old would learn what locomotive 'silhouettes' were. It might be quite likely that "TrainMaster" would be the famous example of that general carbody style ... and of course the sounds, and perhaps the egested chunks o'carbon, would have been largely the same...
Exactly, particularly when the 10-year old's father was employed as an engineer on steamboats at the time. My only railroader relative was a great uncle B&O agent at a small station 200 miles from my home.