Alco RS-1 Spokane international question

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Hi All

I have in my stock a beautifull locomotive by ATLAS HO rappresenting an Alco RS-1 in the colour of the Spokane International

I have never been aware of such railroad and this locomotive colour are very similar [if not the same ] of the Union Pacific paint scheme

Is there any connection with the UP ?

thanks for your advice

stefano

2

Yes, the SI was controlled by UP as of 1958, and fully absorbed into the UP in 1987. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spokane_International_Railroad

3

thanks very much

4

Orphans on the UP, both were sold to the Tidewater Southern around 1971-retaining UP colors but with fresh owenership ID, if memory serves one was retired by 1975, the survivor was eventually repainted into TS colors in the late seventies before being sold to Foster Farms I am unsure of the disposition date for this unit.

Dave

5

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74312783@N00/5327181795/

Hi

This is the model I have

can someone please tell me in what time period can this Alco rs-1 Spokane international be prototopical in this format and paint scheme ?

thanks very much for your appreciated reply

stefano

6

I believe this locomotive was originally given the road number #205 by Spokane International, but was renumbered to #1216 and given Union Pacific style paint when the UP bought the SI in 1958. It operated in this scheme (your models scheme) from 1958 until being retired in 1969.

For interests sake, it was built by ALCO in October 1949 (builder #77171). It was sold in 1970 to Tidewater Southern Railway and given the road #747, still in UP colors but with TSR painted over the SI. It was eventually repainted in TSR colors, but had a fairly short career with the railway, being scrapped in 1975.

Hope this helps.

Happy Modeling!

Don.

7

HI Don

thanks very much for your reply

On the previously posted Wikipedia link I have read that UP leased the SI RS-1 as from 1958 but repainted them sometime later and that in 1965 UP concentrated this locomotive in Denver area

my question on the paint scheme is therefore

were they painted already in UP colours in 1958 or acquired the UP colour scheme only in 1962 ?

in the later case this model would be operating in this colour scheme and lettering from 1962 to retirement in 1970

thanks for your confirmation

8

To be 100% honest, I don’t know. I went with what info I had. Unless someone else comes forward on this, I have to say your paint scheme is pretty solid from 1958-1969. I mean, aside from what I provided you in my last post, I have no idea what to say. Sorry…I really wish I was more help.

Happy Modeling!

Don.

9

Found this book. Currently The Museum of North Idaho appears to be the only source on line.

http://www.museumni.org/books_SI.html

10

thanks very much to you all

11

Here’s a short YouTube Video of a Spokane International RS-1 in the original (pre-UP) scheme:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRh7LTpRhNA&noredirect=1

The current Iowa Interstate Railroad uses a similar, although not identical, scheme as shown by this IAIS GP38-2: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=210016

Andre

12

really very interesting

thanks very much indeed for posting

13

Hi, Stefano. The model in the photo is an Atlas RS1 that I painted and lettered several years ago using Microscale decals. The paint and lettering are based on photos and UP diagrams. I didn’t change any of the UP-specific details. Finished the project about six months before Atlas came out with theirs. :slight_smile:

UP leased the SI fleet of ALCo RS1 engines in 1962. What were SI 200-211 became UP 1211-1222. Most or all had number boards at the end of the long hood and a different horn arrangement than the standard Atlas model. There are also some pilot variations from unit to unit.

Ten of the locomotives were traded in to EMD between May and November 1969. 1216 and 1218 were resold to Tidewater Southern as others describe.

14

thanks very much indeed Graham

excellent and very precise informations

regards

stefano