Hi ,
has the RS18(railroad: Cartier) the same sound as the RS27? And the all Alco engines likly the same sound?
Thanks!
The RS27 had a 16-cylinder 251, 2400 hp.
RS18 had a 12-cylinder 251, 1800 hp.
Soundtraxx shows a different sound set for the two varieties, so I suspect there is a difference in the sound.
I used to watch/listen to the first generation Alcos - idling, switching, and on locals - RS1, RS3, S1-S4, RSD5, RSD12. Earlier ones had 539 or 244 diesels. They certainly had a different sound than later models with a 251 diesel. Idling RS1s had a neat galloping cadence with a 6 cylinder.
Alco S2/S4/RS1 all had a turbocharged in-line ‘539’ power plant. They has a distinctive ‘whistle’ when the turbo was spooling up/down. The RS2/RS3/RSD4/RSD5 and the cab units had either V12 or V16 turbocharged ‘244’ engines. Starting with the RS11(1956), Alco started using the turbocharged ‘251’ series engine. I suspect that the V16 version was a little more ‘throaty’ than the V12 version.
Check the decoder specs and see what bells/horn sounds are included with each sound decoder. If the engine sound is decent, I tend to look for correct horn sounds for the prototype I model.
Jim
RS18’s were actually made by Alco’s sister company Montreal-Locomotive-Works (MLW) up in Canada dare-hay. Also as mentioned the RS-1 and S switchers used the inline 539 model prime movers, IIRC they were not Alco produced. Alco locomotives also used GE traction motors on a side note. Also as a side note RS-27’s, 32’s, and 36’s were extremely rare. Less then a hundred produced between the 3 of them. The RS-27 came on the scene as Alco’s answer to GE’s B-B trucked 2400 hp U25B. It could also be considered the first of Alco’s 2nd generation power.