I’m wondering if anyone knows how much an RSC-2/3 weighed. I’ve gotten a few different figures so now of course I’m lost. I’m wondering because I plan on doing a rail barge scene on what will start out as a shelf and grow from there with maybe code 70 mainline and code 55 sidings/spurs so I thought maybe using someing like an RSC-2 could be prototypical because of the greater weight spread. That wasn’t very clear, what I mean is I think it would right because it’s got 6 axles instead of 4. Yes, I am aware of the RSC’s A-1-A truck configurations, another reason why I like it. Trains won’t have be very long, shelf will be no longer than 8 feet, so something with more power than what the RSC-2/3 would be overkill. I did think of using a switcher, but I’m just trying to cover all options.
Just for back ground info, one source gave me 237,000 lbs. while another gave me 242,500 lbs. If anyone else knows of engines with the six-axle A-1-A trucks and under 2000 hp let me know, I would be glad to take a look at them. The switcher in mind is an Atlas Proto HH600, I’m not sure if it’s Proto 1000 or 2000 though. DC would be best since that what I will have.
Both of those weight numbers are accurate enough. You can’t get it much more precise. Locomotive weights vary according to how the individual railway specified them, as well as how much fuel is in the tank. Some railways thought it was important to purchase locomotives with very light axle loadings such as lightweight C-Cs and A-1-As, and others simply used B-B road-switchers or switchers, for the same type of lines and services. Bridges were typically the much more important determinant of the locomotive axle weight than rail. There are lots of examples out there of railways running 360,000 lb. SD9s and SD7s on 60 lb. rail for many years (Nevada Northern, for example).
I think for what you’re describing you would be prototypically “correct:” with anything from an SW1 to an SD9, and the Alco equivalent. Somewhere someone did it. But generally for switching service, B-Bs whether a road-switcher type or a switcher type is much better, because 6-axle locomotives are very hard on tight curves, low-numbered turnouts, bad ties, and light rail in general. Plus they cost significantly more to purchase and maintain.
That’s only 5000 lbs difference about 2%, so its not significant. The limit for a “standard” 4 axle car is 263,000 lbs so unless you are restricting the weight of your cars, there is no need to restrict the weight or axle loading of the engines. the RSC2’s were designed for branches where the axle loading only allowed 40 or 50 ton cars (which can really restrict which cars you operate on your railroad)
I wouldn’t use a six axle truck engine, powered axle or not, because for most industrial/barge operations the ability to negoiate tight curves was more important than weight. I would stick with B-B switcher types.
Baldwin made A1A truck roadswitchers that looked like AS16’s on RSC2 trucks and EMD made the SDL39, a 2300 hp CC unit that replaced the RSC2/3’s.
I guess I just liked the look of the 3 axle trucks to not look outside the box for more real world information. I thought about the SDL39 but too many variables. Only a very few made, just about everyone of them made for Milwaukee Road, and also too knew. I can’t remember the exact build dates but it was around 1970 give or take a few years. I do remember though that they were only made for a few years, I will have to check my spotters guide. As for the choice of RSC-2 is actually pretty limited. I love the look of the early RS’s, I will be adding a standard 4-axle RS to my roster for sure, and I knew it had the outter-axle powered only A-1-A truck set up. I am freelancing this completely, everything about my layout, but I’m tryin