I’ve alwasy been an EMD fan, and my model railroad has an all-EMD fleet. But recently, Alco’s have begun to grow on me. In particular, LA&L and WNY&P have inspired me as class acts with their all-Alco fleets - almost makes me want to switch my modeling preferences! What is it though that keeps roads like A&M and LA&L to roster Alco-only fleets, especially since the units are becoming older and parts harder to find?
Don’t forget to include the D&L to that list.
I too am a fan of EMD and have found myself intrigued by Alcos ever since my trip to the Poconos last year where I got to watch PT-98 switch cars at Keystone propane in Tobyhanna.
Now I’ve got Alco fever and find myself contemplating changing my way of thinking in regard to my HO scale model as well.
As far as why some roads maintain all-Alco fleets, I believe that it’s because it makes better business sense to them. These companies have warehouses of parts, many of which are rebuilt or custom fabricated, or access to Alco parts through third party suppliers. They also have mechanics who know how to work on Alcos.
Changing out or phasing in new equipment is an expensive proposition. It could take decades for a shortline operation to see a return on its investment and most shortlines just don’t have that kind of capital, which is what, in part, defines a shortline. That is also why shortlines routinely use old equipment and the tracks usually appear to be in less-than-perfect condition.
Pure sentiment would be my next guess.
What I remember from an article about the A&M and another regarding GVT years ago…
- Alcos are cheaper to purchase
And Morristown & Erie…
Rode all weekend on an ALCO C425, and my trains next weekend will likely have an ALCO C424 on the point. Our ALCO RS3 is sick right now, and headed for the shop for a water leak and a couple of “cold” cylinders.
While ALCO locomotives are no longer built, there is a substantial body of ALCO equipment “out there” in a variety of uses. ALCO also built engines for marine use, for instance. Parts are not usually an issue for us (paying for them might be, but…)
We have a few folks in our organization that prefer ALCO’s, and some who’d rather we went all EMD (we already have 3 F’s and a GP9). As long as it pulls the train, bring it on!
The Alco 251 diesel is still manufactered by Fairbanks Morse and has been a very reliable engine for about 50 years. It replaced the 244 which was notoriously unreliable (the early PA’s had this engine.)
Real Alcos are awesome to see if not rare sometimes. I like them but never quite got as much into them as others because I don’t regularly see them, though several local railroads either do, or up til recently have, rostered them. I did get a ride in the cab of a Morristown & Erie one once, compliments of the railroad president himself at the time.
Don’t forget NASA’s Space Shuttle Crawler is Alco powered.
Long live ALCOs!
Carl T.
The scrap yard I work at uses 2 Alco locomotives, a 1940 HH660 and a 1954 S-4. Both are reliable and getting parts for them does not seem to be much of a problem. They were both purchased as scrap and with a little work have been switching our facility for many years. Long live Alco.
I just like the looks of the RS-2 and RS-3…
That’s pretty cool, got any pics of them?
Some Alcos do look cool, but all of them sound awesome! I’d like to see more Alco powered roads, I got to see the DL when I was in Pennslyvania last year.
I never gave much thought to it before, but after reading an article on the CNW in South Dakota, RSD-4s are startin’ to grow on me. I like the RS-1/2/3’s, and the RSD-4/5’s look even better (something about those 6-axles).
Alco’s were called “honorary steam engines” by many and for many years because they SMOKED, had a distinctive sound and were sometimes temperamental. EMD turned out to be like the New York Yankees dynasty. While Baldwin, Lima, and Fairbanks-Morse faded away earlier, Alco clung on later in the season. The galloping sound of an RS road switcher (or passenger engine) in idle is my best memory. I sometimes do my yoga recalling that special sound to put me in a peaceful place!
RIX
Ya, Me Too!!
We in the Southeast have a restaurant chain that decorates their walls with pictures of all sorts of old tractors, locomotives, etc. I was in one recently and saw a photo of an Alco RS something or other lettered for the Cape Breton and Nova Scotia RR. That thing looked like it could pull the moon out of orbit. Very beefy and beautiful locomotive. I tried to buy it from the manager but no deal!
What got me interested in Alco and lead me to creating this post was the discovery of their M420TR locomotive. It’s a shame than only 2 were built. The -2 models in Mexico are pretty cool too though. I’ve always been a fan of the end-cab switchers from EMD, and that is one thing than GE and Alco do not have (minus the S-series switchers of long ago). I suppose I should clarify the newer, bigger, road-switcher style of end cabs… None-the-less, I’m glad to be bitten by this bug!
Im pretty sure you mean “Don’t forget to include the DL to that list.”
its Delaware-Lackawanna…not Delaware & Lackawanna.
unless you are talking about an actual D&L im not aware of…
and the DL is just one part of the GVT system, which runs Alcos on five different lines in both NY and PA…
thanks,
Scot
I rode behind a a pair of Alcos on the Pennsy’s Indianapolis-to-Chicago “Kentuckian” one night. I fell in love with the noise the engines made on that trip.
Worked with a C425 (DL/MA&N, ex BCR) this morning, and a C424 (including a trip in the cab) this afternoon.
Burble, Burble, Burble…