ALCO RSD-15

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 440cuin

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

The PA's are probably one of the most well-kown Alco types and yet one of the rarest. What about Alco FA's? There is CP FA-2 4090 (I have an HO model of this engine made by Model Power) and FB-2 4469 preserved at the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel in Cranbrook, B.C. How many other FA's are still in existence?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 440cuin

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

The PA's are probably one of the most well-kown Alco types and yet one of the rarest. What about Alco FA's? There is CP FA-2 4090 (I have an HO model of this engine made by Model Power) and FB-2 4469 preserved at the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel in Cranbrook, B.C. How many other FA's are still in existence?

[Anonymous]

The Napa Valley Wine Train in Napa Ca. has a A-A set of FPA-4's in service. Unsure if they're still ALCo powered.

[Anonymous]

The Napa Valley Wine Train in Napa Ca. has a A-A set of FPA-4's in service. Unsure if they're still ALCo powered.

[Anonymous]

Trust me gentlemen, there are plenty of FPA-4s to go around, and so far, to my knowledge, none have been re-engined. They are very reliable locomotives, the NV wine train has em, so does the Grand Canyon RR and many many more tourist RRs.

[Anonymous]

Trust me gentlemen, there are plenty of FPA-4s to go around, and so far, to my knowledge, none have been re-engined. They are very reliable locomotives, the NV wine train has em, so does the Grand Canyon RR and many many more tourist RRs.

[adrianspeeder]

I thought that the Napa Valley Wine Train converted their ALCOs to run on natural gas, for the environment and stuff.

Adrianspeeder

[adrianspeeder]

I thought that the Napa Valley Wine Train converted their ALCOs to run on natural gas, for the environment and stuff.

Adrianspeeder

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder

I thought that the Napa Valley Wine Train converted their ALCOs to run on natural gas, for the environment and stuff.

Adrianspeeder

No. The NV Wine train is still diesel. I'm just not sure if they've been converted to EMD power or not.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder

I thought that the Napa Valley Wine Train converted their ALCOs to run on natural gas, for the environment and stuff.

Adrianspeeder

No. The NV Wine train is still diesel. I'm just not sure if they've been converted to EMD power or not.

[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

[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

[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/

[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.

[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.

[coborn35]

How many high hoods did they produce?

[coborn35]

How many high hoods did they produce?

[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]

Thanks

[coborn35]

Thanks

[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.

[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.