Here’s a new question. Why were the big Alco century six axles such rough riders. For exmaple the C628s. The Monon sent theirs back and even Alco stalwart the Lehigh Valley acknowledged the tendency of these units as rough riders…
LC
Oh and one more, why does GVT collect so damn many Alcos?
LC
Could I have a summary of all of the operable six axle ALCOs from the RSD-1 to the RSD-17
dougal, Hello [:)]
Email Andy @
inse0005@tc.umn.edu
He would have a pretty good idea of what you want.
Without being sarcastic, a list of all operable six-axle Alcos could get pretty long if you include the exports and licensee production. As I mentioned in an earlier posting, India is still building 251-powered locomotives, and they are mostly six-axle designs. The WDM-2 (broad gauge) and YDM-4 (meter gauge) are probably the most common power on Indian Railways and they number in the thousands between them.
Argentina has some World Locomotives and RSD16’s in operation and they are all six-axle designs. Some DL535’s are also operating.
For status in Australia, check this site: http://locopage.railpage.org.au/
Greece also has six-motor Alcos in operation.
I would check out http://alcoworld.railfan.net/
PS: I am more of a technical guy [:)]
My first train ride was behind PAs on the San Joaquin Daylight. I know this because my grandfather took movies from the dome car.I was 9 years old .
I also rode behind an RS1 on Washington Terminal RR. during a switching move.I rode the Western Maryland Scenic Behind An FPA4 and an RS3.
My last time behind an Alco was the express from Toronto to Montreal with an MLW LRC loco.
Alcos rock!!![:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p]
Railpac,
Under your list of engines, you could add model 270, which was a British engine, otherwise called the English Electric or Ruston RK270. It was never used under the Alco name in a locomotive, but a brochure was issued for it. That happened while Alco was part of Britsh group GEC (not to be confused with US GE, that also owned Alco at one time. The engine was used (as a Ruston) in a few British locomotives.
Also, your list of engine usage neglected the cab units, a bad thing to do when talking about Alco. The DL 103/105/107/109/110 all used two 538 or 539, and nearly everyone knows that PA/PBs used 244, as did the early FAs.
On our National Day (Australia=26 January), I chased an empty return of a country music special train, with 11 stainless steel sleeping cars, diners and lounges, in perfect weather through our local mountains with a beautifully restored DL500C, number 4490 leading a less nice DL500G. The sound of two Alcos on a really first class train on 1.5% grades. If I were still using film, I’d have run out!
By the way, I heard a rumour that some Alco locomotives might be brought in from India, possibly standard gauge YDM-4s to provide power for light weight grain lines still in use. But I’ll confirm that when I’ve checked my photos.
Peter
Who’s Andy, Andy Inserra?
Andy Inserra is currently a college student who has wasted much of his youth creating and maintaining his website: http://www.tamr.org/Andy_Inserra/
It would appear that India and Australia are Alco heaven. The locomotives may be smaller than what Americans are used to, but 251 engines, side-mounted radiators with shutters, and tri-mount trucks are good enough for me.
I havea Question… and its a good one
why is everyone answeing questions using the single word “because”…?
I heard of him from the TAMR that’s how I even regonized the name. He also has an ALCO column in a magazine I get.
They get the job done. [}:)]
L C, do you hate Alcos? It seems like you dog them out, not as much as Kevin though.
NS had Alcos in heavy haul service. But you probally know this. They did the job and NS liked them. I don’t know your age, or if you ran Alcos. You did ask, “Why they leaked so much fluid?” So I have an idea you have been around some. If you have ran them, please give us your honest opinion of them? Did they pull the train as well as other locos of the same time frame? Did they ride as well as the other locos? Did they receive regular required maintaince? How did they stack up against other locos? Please give us your honest opinion. [;)]
OK ALCO fans, answer this, Truthfully…
Does anyone know where someone can get a list of all operating ALCo’s are? (My life gole is to see at least 1 model type in existance)
Pentrex has a 3 series tape set called, “Those Incredible Alcos”. They have tried to show one of every type of Alco ever made. Some Alco locos were produced in such few numbers that none are still around. The set is worth while and can be purchased through the Pentrex.com site.
Also, as I told Dougal, you can email Andy I. He sorta keeps up on this type of stuff. He is also a trains.com forum member. Just scroll up and find his email addy and his website is also listed.
Thanks jhhtrainsplanes
I saw the the video’s, but I don’t know when they were filmed so I thought the railroads might have made some changes to their rosters, and the ALCo’s might be gone.[V] I’ll try to email Andy I. sometime.
On Saturday, I drove 60 miles to watch a grain train expected to be hauled by two Clyde/EMD A16Cs (Basically F9s with SD9 trucks). It didn’t appear, but instead I saw a container train hauled by two Goodwin/Alcos, DL-500C 4472 (A cab unit like a C-C FPA-4, but with a flat cab at the back - which was leading) and DL-500G JL-405 (a double end boxcab). Both of these have 12-251C engines, and I caught them on a 1.5% grade. 4472 had been last painted in the early 1980s, and although it was clean, the paint was fairly sad.
So, guys, was I better off having seen Alcos rather than EMDs?
Peter
Peter! That’s like asking, “Am I better off with the 16-oz. New York Strip or the 16 oz. rock lobster tail.?”
OK, Mark, I was just showing off! I hadn’t seen either of those operator’s trains out on the road, but the ARG GM class are more recent in my area. There were the usual other trains, and it was a good day! We don’t often hear 251s or 567Cs on the main line, and I think I was better off with the Alcos, because they may not last as long as the EMDs, even though their fuel efficiency will be better.
Peter