BroadwayLion Alco made some really nice locomotives. LIRR was a big Alco customer...
Alco made some really nice locomotives. LIRR was a big Alco customer...
Funny you should mention that. I was just looking through some keepsakes and found an 8x10 B&W of my father-in-law walking through a yard with lots of Century locos around him. It was probably taken in the early 1960s. He was a manager in the Morris Park locomotive shop, so all those Alcos were his babies.
Unfortunately, the only Alcos on my layout are a PA-PB, a Niagara, and display models of a Hudson and a Big Boy.
Genesee Terminal, freelanced HO in Upstate NY ...hosting Loon Bay Transit Authority, run through Amtrak and CSX Intermodal
CP/D&H, N scale, somewhere on the Canadian Shield
Bayfield Transfer Railway Also, dieselwise, the Green Bay and Western was all-Alco, which is one of the reasons they're awesome.
Also, dieselwise, the Green Bay and Western was all-Alco, which is one of the reasons they're awesome.
Most of the GB&W's diesel roster has been produce at some point in HO. I have a few of them.
alcofanschdy I also belong to the Alco Historical Society
I also belong to the Alco Historical Society
Wait, that's a thing? Where do I sign up?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Most of my roster is Alco, RS-1,2 and 3's plus I just bought an RS-36. I also belong to the Alco Historical Society
dragonriversteel ...Please Post your Alco/MLW photos & builds with the rest of us ALCOholics.
...Please Post your Alco/MLW photos & builds with the rest of us ALCOholics.
Since I model the B&O in the Cleveland area of the early 1970's, there weren't many Alcos left in active service - except for some S-2's and S-4's which I have, but haven't photographed. But having my own fantasy line allows me to run whatever I want, like these RS3's:
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Modeling the PRR, I have a few Alcos: an FA-FB-FA trio, a PA-PB duo, an RSD-15, and an S-4 switcher. I also have quite a few EMD's, FM's, and of course, Baldwin sharks. Hard to say which is my favorite, though.
I have 3 RSD15's painted in the ATSF pinstripe paint scheme, 2 C430's painted in BNSF orange and black, one of which was rebuilt with a GE safety cab after a wreck. Waiting their turn to go into the paint shop are one RS2, one RS3, one C424 and an RS11 which will be painted in BN green and black scheme. There is a C420 sitting around. I will have to discuss with higher managemnet as to whether we will spend the resources to repair and repaint it, use it for parts or scrap it.
I have one Atlas RS-3 DCC equipped lettered for SSW (Cotton Belt) in the Espee's Black Widow Scheme.
Might model a short passenger train with it at some point.
Two HH-660s, six S-1, two S-2, one RS-1, one RS-2, ten RS-3, three RS-11, three C-425, four FA-1, four FB-1, one FB-2 and three PA-1. My first cab ride was on an S-1 that snorted and rattled like it was trying to revert to kit status. Most memorable Alco experience. Cab ride on two PA-1s on New Haven train 187, Boston to New Haven. Alco encounter furthest from home-DL-535s on Korean National Railways, 1968. Wildest non-Alco, Alco experience. Prepping to go to work early one morning, instead of the first DMU (diesel multiple unit) commuter train of the day, I heard the rumble of something much heavier that suddenly exploded into a very familiar snarling bark that froze my blood. I had heard that sound many times watching New Haven 1405, an RS-11 kicking cars in the south end of Readville yard. Reality told me I was still in the town of Saxmundham, a bit more than midway up British Rail's single track Ipswich-Lowestoft line, along England's east coast. Saxmundham is the only passing "loop" (siding) between Melton and Lowestoft and is where the DMUs exchange block occupancy "tokens" and, the remaining portion of the old Aldeburg branch splits off to serve Leiston/Sizewell. Since the line was passenger service-only, as far as I had seen, anything other that the grind of DMUs passing about 40 yards from our back door, was cause for investigation. Before I could get out the door, the grind of the first scheduled service to Ipswich went by, so, I walked over to the track and saw a red marker light on what was definitely NOT a DMU coming toward me from the northbound track. A brake van (caboose) and five freight cars being pushed by a typical, double end cabbed British diesel. Just as he went past, the unit did its finest imitation of an Alco 251 I have ever heard. The number on that hound dog looking beast was 37219, and I waited for him to come back on the southbound track because I would NEVER get enough of that Alco snarl. As construction at the Sizewell power station progressed, 37138, 37216 and 37219 replaced my alarm clock, providing freight service, and what the local railfans called "thrash" (sound) and "clag" (smoke). With eyes closed, it was 1963 in Readville again. Search "British Rail Class 37 locomotives" on Youtube and see what you think of these 60 year old almost-Alcos.. Yeah. I'm an Alcohaulic!!
SeeYou190The only Alco units I have are me PA/PB set.
.
I just remembered I also have a pair of Walthers Trainline FAs to use as spares.
Maybe 15-20% of my final diesel fleet will be Alco.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
NYC 4-8-4 Niagara and a UP PA and PB
Oh yeah, that jogs my memory, I also own a pair of C424's, one in Erie and one in the post-merger Erie Lackawanna paint scheme, both Atlas Classic.
My Alcos consist of a pair of Alligators, a pair of DL-109s, And a few RS-2 and RS-3s. Somehow I missed the PAs and PFs.
Growing up half a block from the LIRR in Queens I do remember seeing Alcos
Joe Staten Island West
SeeYou190 The only Alco units I have are me PA/PB set. This is only because I think they are more attractive than the EMD E Units.
The only Alco units I have are me PA/PB set. This is only because I think they are more attractive than the EMD E Units.
I wish SP had run Alco FA and FB units, as I think they are such a good looking engine for a covered wagon. In my opinion, better looking than EMD F-7 and that series. I know SP had PAs -PBs, but I don't model passenger service.
Alco is well represented on my layout. Dan
I have mostly EMDs because that is what MEC and B&M had. I have a few GEs and a couple RS-11s, an S-2, and an RS-2. No ALCO steam
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
BroadwayLion Alco made some really nice locomotives. LIRR was a big Alco customer. but... They don't make subway cars so they are scarce on the layout of LION. ROAR
Alco made some really nice locomotives. LIRR was a big Alco customer.
but... They don't make subway cars so they are scarce on the layout of LION.
ROAR
Ahh --- Mr. Lion, MLW made 36 subway cars for TTC. [Toronto Transit Commission]
Jim
Since your freelanced road includes the Souther Pacific, why not?
I believe a Black Widow PA-1 would be very handsome.
I love the c415. And the sound is so unique. but i have none on the layout. I do have an s2, (2) RS1. (2)RS3. (2) RSD 15. RS4/5. RS27 bunch of EMDs as well
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
2 C430's, and 3 C425's.
Also a FA A-B-A set.
And yes, I love Alco's.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Alco RSC-3, Milwaukee Road #972
I was looking for a matching GP-9 when I came across this engine, and I had to have it. It's a Proto 1000. It ended up with a Soundtraxx decoder, I think. It was my first sound installation, and still one of my favorites.
The RSC-3 has six axles to spread the load. It was bought for branch line service over lighter-duty rail.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I wish the Espee painted some PAs up in the Black Widow scheme...
I might do that someday...
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
I have more RS-3's than any other model loco, as did the prototype. ANd some S-1's and S-2's, and a couple of FA-FB sets. But I don't have ALL Alcos.
I never could decide whether I found PA's or E's more attractive. I gave up trying, and love them both.
Ed
Although not exclusively, I have plenty of Alcos on my roster.
RS3_Crew by Edmund, on Flickr
Old, new, big or small.
IMG_6081 by Edmund, on Flickr
Even a demonstrator or two...
IMG_5491_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
Thank You, Ed
I have a few Alco (HH660s, S1, S3, RS3s) but also some Baldwin (VO-660, VO-1000), EMD (SW1s, SW7, NW2, FTs, F3s), and FM (H10-44s, H16-44, H20-44) diesels. Of all the early diesels, I do think I enjoy the Alcos the most.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Yeah, the Big Boys are Alco's finest.Also, dieselwise, the Green Bay and Western was all-Alco, which is one of the reasons they're awesome.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Big boys
My Detroit Southern has several Century 430s on the roster. Here are a pair on an eastbound ready to depart Chicago Yard. Click on the image for a non squished view.