Hammerhead RSD-5 questions

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Hi everyone,

I am trying to find some information on hammerhead rsd-5 locomotives. How were these units constructed? I assume they were rsd-5s and railroads added some goodies under the short hood that required more space. Are there any other differences between the hammerheads and an unmodified rsd-5?

Also, if I were to kitbash one in n scale what would be the easiest method?

Thanks,

Sean

2

Try here:

3

A “hammerhead” RS unit is one that was equipped with both dynamic brakes and a steam generator, both of which are located in the short hood of an RS unit. There is enough room in an unmodified RS to put one or the other, but not both. So if both were required the hood was raised to allow the DB to be installed over the steam generator. A hammerhead should have both steam generator vents and a DB vent on the top of the short hood and DB air intake vents in the side doors.

4

Dave,

Thanks for the info, were hammerhead units available from Alco or were they modified by the railroad i.e CNW.

Thanks,

Sean

5

From Alco, but railroads made mods themselves at various times, mostly removing stuff from the nose.

6

IIRC CNW also had some Alco’s that were the other way around…that is, they had a regular short hood, but the railroad rebuilt the loco with a new GM engine, and installed a new higher long hood.

7

Dave and Stix,

Thanks again for the responses. Would the locomotive with the higher long hood be called a “hammerbutt?” [:P]

Sean

8

Could be. [;)] Although I believe with CNW the long hood was the front on these.

9

Not sure about CNW RS3s with EMD prime movers, but I do recall new Alco 251 prime movers with corresponding RS11-style long hoods applied to some RS3s.

CNW also repowered a herd of Baldwin switchers with EMD engines, some in the Baldwin hood, some getting new EMD hoods. CNW later bought some repowered AS-16s from MKT, these had GP9-style long hoods.

There was a kit in HO scale for the hammerhead conversion, but not sure about N scale.

10

WSOR 3801,

Your reply seems to imply that hood were match with the prime movers (I read between the lines of your response). Was this a size issue or were there some components in the hood that “matched” the prime mover?

Thanks,

Sean