ALCO RSD-15

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

As I've been known to do elsewhere, I'm going to turn the issue around. We have discussed the relative rarity of the RSD15 and should also include the RSD17 since this was a Canadian variant, but perhaps we should consider the export variant known as the DL560/RSD29, 2600 HP on C-C trucks. It is known on Indian Railways as the WDM2 and at least 2500 have been built, either by Alco, MLW or under license in India by DLW.

Even in India, it shows its Alco roots by tri-mount trucks, shutters over the radiators, and lots of smoke while under acceleration. It may have the largest production numbers of any Alco designs.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

As I've been known to do elsewhere, I'm going to turn the issue around. We have discussed the relative rarity of the RSD15 and should also include the RSD17 since this was a Canadian variant, but perhaps we should consider the export variant known as the DL560/RSD29, 2600 HP on C-C trucks. It is known on Indian Railways as the WDM2 and at least 2500 have been built, either by Alco, MLW or under license in India by DLW.

Even in India, it shows its Alco roots by tri-mount trucks, shutters over the radiators, and lots of smoke while under acceleration. It may have the largest production numbers of any Alco designs.

[Anonymous]

RSD-15 the rarest?

Hardly.

Somewhere on the list of rare diesels you have to put the two EMD RS-1325s that were owned by the Chicago and Illinois Midland.

Oh, and I've run all kinds of Alcos, from RS-3s to RS-11s to Century 420s to Century 628s to PAs and yes, the RSD-15s.

Sorry, guys. They never made one that was, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, as good as a comparable EMD. They might have done some things better, but not enough to ensure they could outsell EMD.

And I've heard all that conspiracy BS that was supposed to have occurred to keep Alco out of the diesel picture.

That's what it was. BS. There was no conspiracy - just customers deciding who survived in the marketplace.

Old Timer

[Anonymous]

RSD-15 the rarest?

Hardly.

Somewhere on the list of rare diesels you have to put the two EMD RS-1325s that were owned by the Chicago and Illinois Midland.

Oh, and I've run all kinds of Alcos, from RS-3s to RS-11s to Century 420s to Century 628s to PAs and yes, the RSD-15s.

Sorry, guys. They never made one that was, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, as good as a comparable EMD. They might have done some things better, but not enough to ensure they could outsell EMD.

And I've heard all that conspiracy BS that was supposed to have occurred to keep Alco out of the diesel picture.

That's what it was. BS. There was no conspiracy - just customers deciding who survived in the marketplace.

Old Timer

[Anonymous]

Weren't the six RSD-15s owned by the DM&IR the rarest of all? They did have the high noses . . .

N&W leased them for a time about 1961 or 1962 . . .

Old Timer

[Anonymous]

Weren't the six RSD-15s owned by the DM&IR the rarest of all? They did have the high noses . . .

N&W leased them for a time about 1961 or 1962 . . .

Old Timer

[Anonymous]

SP's three Alligators were transferred to Eugene, Ore. in horrible condition after being on the SP's TNO lines and were totally rebuilt at its shops. I saw them when they first came in and they looked like candidates for the scrapline. The shop personnel did a wonderful job making them look, and work, like new again.
For a very brief period they worked side-by-side with the Baldwin road-switchers and when it came their time for replacement, SP put hump controls on SD45's. The SW1500's came a little later.

[Anonymous]

SP's three Alligators were transferred to Eugene, Ore. in horrible condition after being on the SP's TNO lines and were totally rebuilt at its shops. I saw them when they first came in and they looked like candidates for the scrapline. The shop personnel did a wonderful job making them look, and work, like new again.
For a very brief period they worked side-by-side with the Baldwin road-switchers and when it came their time for replacement, SP put hump controls on SD45's. The SW1500's came a little later.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dblstack

I had the terrible mis-fortune of seeing 6 RSD-15's be scrapped in Green Bay, WI about 5 yrs ago. They had been owned by Wisc. Central; aquired in the Green Bay & Western / Fox River Valley RR (FRVR) merger. They were former Lake Superior and Ishpeming (anybody ever been to Ishpeming?) nee former Santa Fe (I think.) They were bought by the FRVR as extra power for the Green Bay to Milwaukee trains. They turned out to be fairly unreliable and were parked after no-too-many trips to Milwaukee. The WC had them scrapped at the North Green Bay roundhouse (former C&NW facility.) Later, they scrapped most of the facility itself. Gotta love those RR bean-counters.

A Travesty

Whoever ordered their scrapping should be burried alive beneath some nasty old GE U Boats. However, I would consider them being boiled in diesel fuel fired by a toaster. [;)]

GE, they put their toasters on rails.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dblstack

I had the terrible mis-fortune of seeing 6 RSD-15's be scrapped in Green Bay, WI about 5 yrs ago. They had been owned by Wisc. Central; aquired in the Green Bay & Western / Fox River Valley RR (FRVR) merger. They were former Lake Superior and Ishpeming (anybody ever been to Ishpeming?) nee former Santa Fe (I think.) They were bought by the FRVR as extra power for the Green Bay to Milwaukee trains. They turned out to be fairly unreliable and were parked after no-too-many trips to Milwaukee. The WC had them scrapped at the North Green Bay roundhouse (former C&NW facility.) Later, they scrapped most of the facility itself. Gotta love those RR bean-counters.

A Travesty

Whoever ordered their scrapping should be burried alive beneath some nasty old GE U Boats. However, I would consider them being boiled in diesel fuel fired by a toaster. [;)]

GE, they put their toasters on rails.

[SSW9389]

And little 'ol COTTON BELT had 10 of the big Alligators purchased in 1960. They were often used with the Espee's three Gators in Texas in the early 1960s. The Cotton Belt Gators were not the most reliable power due to overheating. The Cotton Belt's Gators only lasted until about 1971 when they were traded in to GE. [8D]

So all told 63 Alligators 10 Cotton Belt, 3 Southern Pacific and 50 Santa Fe.

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

SP had 3 RSD-15's. All ended their days replacing the Baldwin AS616's and RS 6-6-1500 B units on the Eugene Hump. The Alligators were low nose. The Alligators were in turn replaced by SW1500's.

[SSW9389]

And little 'ol COTTON BELT had 10 of the big Alligators purchased in 1960. They were often used with the Espee's three Gators in Texas in the early 1960s. The Cotton Belt Gators were not the most reliable power due to overheating. The Cotton Belt's Gators only lasted until about 1971 when they were traded in to GE. [8D]

So all told 63 Alligators 10 Cotton Belt, 3 Southern Pacific and 50 Santa Fe.

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

SP had 3 RSD-15's. All ended their days replacing the Baldwin AS616's and RS 6-6-1500 B units on the Eugene Hump. The Alligators were low nose. The Alligators were in turn replaced by SW1500's.

[kenneo]

SP had 3 RSD-15's. All ended their days replacing the Baldwin AS616's and RS 6-6-1500 B units on the Eugene Hump. The Alligators were low nose. The Alligators were in turn replaced by SW1500's.

[kenneo]

SP had 3 RSD-15's. All ended their days replacing the Baldwin AS616's and RS 6-6-1500 B units on the Eugene Hump. The Alligators were low nose. The Alligators were in turn replaced by SW1500's.

[mudchicken]

Santa Fe's 50 "Alligators" were all low nose (never chopped). The 12 similar ATSF RSD-7's were high nose. They spent their entire career in drag service (primarilly ore for Fontana and Coal from York Canyon), were all to be rebuilt for hump service - but only three were (for Barstow's humps)....I would have loved to see 10 of these rascals in locotrol service at Fontana with the Kaiser ore train.

[mudchicken]

Santa Fe's 50 "Alligators" were all low nose (never chopped). The 12 similar ATSF RSD-7's were high nose. They spent their entire career in drag service (primarilly ore for Fontana and Coal from York Canyon), were all to be rebuilt for hump service - but only three were (for Barstow's humps)....I would have loved to see 10 of these rascals in locotrol service at Fontana with the Kaiser ore train.

[coborn35]

Thanks

[coborn35]

Thanks

[locomutt]

According to my meager information, they only produced 85 RSD-15s, between
1956 and 1960. To the best of my knowledge, they were all 'high hood'.
(Reference: Kalmbach's Diesel Spotter's Guide: circa 1966).

[locomutt]

According to my meager information, they only produced 85 RSD-15s, between
1956 and 1960. To the best of my knowledge, they were all 'high hood'.
(Reference: Kalmbach's Diesel Spotter's Guide: circa 1966).

[coborn35]

How many high hoods did they produce?

[coborn35]

How many high hoods did they produce?

[coborn35]

I am a fan of the high hood RSD-15's owned by the Duluth,Missabe, and Iron Range Railway Company. They pulled hard. Picture is not mine, courtesy to Milt Spanton.

[coborn35]

I am a fan of the high hood RSD-15's owned by the Duluth,Missabe, and Iron Range Railway Company. They pulled hard. Picture is not mine, courtesy to Milt Spanton.

[SSW9389]

Last time I checked there were six PAs extant. The two you mention are stateside under Doyle McCormick's care, there are two in museums in Mexico and another two in Brazil. Does anyone know if either of the ex-D&RGW PB-1 carbodies still exist? [8D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 440cuin

Speaking of rare Alcos, what about the PAs, hundreds were made but only 2 very rough examples survive now.

[SSW9389]

Last time I checked there were six PAs extant. The two you mention are stateside under Doyle McCormick's care, there are two in museums in Mexico and another two in Brazil. Does anyone know if either of the ex-D&RGW PB-1 carbodies still exist? [8D]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 440cuin

Speaking of rare Alcos, what about the PAs, hundreds were made but only 2 very rough examples survive now.

[mmathu]

> They were bought by the FRVR as extra power for the Green Bay to Milwaukee
> trains. They turned out to be fairly unreliable and were parked after
> no-too-many trips to Milwaukee. The WC had them scrapped at the North
> Green Bay roundhouse (former C&NW facility.) Later, they scrapped most of
> the facility itself.
> Gotta love those RR bean-counters.


Don't blame the bean-counters! "Fairly unreliable" is the reason they were scrapped.

--
Mark
The Green Bay Route: http://www.greenbayroute.com/

[mmathu]

> They were bought by the FRVR as extra power for the Green Bay to Milwaukee
> trains. They turned out to be fairly unreliable and were parked after
> no-too-many trips to Milwaukee. The WC had them scrapped at the North
> Green Bay roundhouse (former C&NW facility.) Later, they scrapped most of
> the facility itself.
> Gotta love those RR bean-counters.


Don't blame the bean-counters! "Fairly unreliable" is the reason they were scrapped.

--
Mark
The Green Bay Route: http://www.greenbayroute.com/

[adrianspeeder]

I do remember reading somewhere that some railroad's FAs were converted to natural gas. Thought it was NV, but it must be somethin' else. Anybody know?

Adrianspeeder