ALCO RS-3m
A former Conrail RS-3m locomotive now owned by the Cape May Seashore Line Railroad. May 6, 2009
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
Build date1956 – 1978
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB-B
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Prime moverEMD 567
Career
OperatorsPenn Central, Conrail, Missouri-Kansas-Texas, Chicago and North Western, Green Bay and Western Railroad, Amtrak
LocaleEastern and Midwestern United States

The ALCO RS-3m is a diesel-electric locomotive rebuilt from an ALCO RS-3 road switcher. These 98 locomotives were rebuilt to replace their original ALCO prime mover with the more reliable EMD 567B engine and fan assemblies taken from retired E8s.[1] Many of these rebuilds were performed by the ex NYC DeWitt shop with 56 completed at the ex PRR Juniata shop. The RS3m rebuild program started in 1972 and continued until 1978 under Conrail.[2][3][4]

Perhaps one of the earliest examples of the RS3m is the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad's RS3m fleet. Built in the early 1950s by ALCO, the Katy had them rebuilt in the late 1950s by ALCO competitor, EMD, who rebuilt them with GP9 long hoods to make room for the larger EMD 567 prime movers.[5]

The Chicago and North Western Railway had a pair of RS-3ms (1613 & 1624) that were rebuilt by ALCO in March 1960 using an 1,800 hp 12 cylinder ALCO 251-B engine and schedule 26L air brake components.[6] These featured long hoods from ALCO RS-11 road switchers.[7]

Missouri Kansas Texas locomotive 142

Missouri Pacific GP12

The Missouri Pacific Railroad had a fleet of RS-2s and RS-3s that were rebuilt in their North Little Rock shops, receiving the GP12 designation after rebuilding with EMD 567 engines. These look like normal Alco RS-3s with the addition of more exhaust stacks.[8][9]

New Haven - Alco rebuilds

By the year 1958 the New Haven RR needed renewed power but couldn't afford new. They decided to rebuild the RS-3 fleet "in kind" as they were ten years old by that point. And for first generation diesels, ten years was considered middle aged.[10] Twenty one rebuilds were done by Alco in three groups. All the Alco rebuilds had the black cab/orange hood paint scheme and were able to Multiple Unit aka MU with later engines. Nose MU was added as well.[11] These rebuilds kept the original Alco 244 engines. The New Haven didn't have the problems that other roads did with their 244 engined locos.

The first rebuilds: Type I — kept their steam generator, and single bulb reflector headlights; #526 & #529 kept their buffer plates for diaphragms. #518, 526, 529, 549, & 553 were rebuilt May 1958 - June 1958. Type II — kept the steam generator but got twin sealed beam headlights. #533, 551, & 559 were rebuilt October 1959. Type III — The steam generator and water tank were removed and got a concrete block instead. Headlights were replaced with a twin sealed beam headlights. They all received a raised area around the stack. Units rebuilt in early 1962 - #517, 520, 523, 527, 528, 534, 535, 537, 538, 545, 548, 557, & 558.

The New Haven RR itself rebuilt two units at their Lamberton Street Shop, numbers #542 & 543. These units kept their steam generators and single bulb headlights, but were not upgraded to nose mounted Multiple Unit capability. Repainted in the black cab/orange hood paint scheme. The remaining 21 New Haven RS-3's were never rebuilt.[12]

Green Bay and Western RS-20

In 1975, the Green Bay and Western Railroad started rebuilding their four RS-3 units numbers 306, 307, 308 & 309.[13] They lowered the nose and raised the long hood for the Alco 251e 2,000 hp engines. These rebuilds are called RS-20s.[14]

RS3u

The Delaware and Hudson Railway had eight RS3u locomotives that were rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen between December 1975 and March 1976. They received ALCO 12-251C prime movers, boosting horsepower from 1,600 to 2,000 hp (1,200 to 1,500 kW). M-K raised the long hood six inches (152 mm), moved the dynamic brake to behind the cab and cut-down the short hood.[15]

RS-3m units today

Metro-North Alco RS-3m #605 at Danbury Railway Museum. April 9, 2006

As of 2021, rebuilt RS-3s can be found in museums, on shortlines and as industrial switchers.

References

  1. ↑ "Penn Central Locomotive Photo Archive - the RS3s & RS3Ms". www.hebners.net. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  2. ↑ Meyers, Lance. "Penn Central & Conrail RS-3M Rebuilds" (PDF). www.altoonaworks.info. p. 1. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  3. ↑ "Lehigh Valley "Hammerhead" Alco RS-3 211". Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  4. ↑ "Locomotives". Danbury Railway Museum. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  5. ↑ Chuck Zeiler (April 1, 1980). "MKT RS3M 142". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  6. ↑ Dorin, Patrick C. (1972). Chicago and North Western power. Burbank, CA: Superior Publishing Company. p. 144. ISBN 0-87564-715-4.
  7. ↑ Farkas, Robert. "CNW 1613 (RS-3M)". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  8. ↑ Greuter, Todd (28 April 2008). "MoPac Power - SCREAMING EAGLES". trainweb.org. Retrieved 31 August 2021. Major differences include: The built up boxy structure added to end of the long hood; offset cooling fan; Built up "camel hump" 3-stack exhaust manifold, usually capped off by spark arresters; and removal of the old protruding number boards.
  9. ↑ Craig, R. "Missouri Pacific Locomotives". www.thedieselshop.us. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  10. ↑ Robert A. Liljestrand; David R. Sweetland (January 1, 1995). New Haven Diesel Locomotives Vol. 1: Switchers and Road-Switchers. Bobs Photo Railroad Books. ASIN B007ZTKDF6.
  11. ↑ Turner, Gene (15 July 2020). "MODELING: Classic New Haven by Lee Turner". Gene's P48 Blog. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  12. ↑ Paul A. Cutler III (1986). "Modeling the New Haven: New Haven's DERS-2C (RS-3) Part II -- The Rebuilds". Shoreliner Magazine. New Haven, Ct: The New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association. 17 (4): 14–16.
  13. ↑ Mathu, Mark (July 11, 2015). "Detailed Diesel Roster". www.greenbayroute.com. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  14. ↑ Mathu, Mark (July 11, 2015). "RS-20 #308". www.greenbayroute.com. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  15. ↑ "ALCo / M-K RS-3m". Bridge Line Historical Society. Albany, NY: The Garbely Publishing Company. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  16. ↑ Craig, R. "Cape May Seashore Lines Roster". www.thedieselshop.us. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  17. ↑ "CDOT 605 at Danbury Railway Museum". www.danburyrailwaymuseum.org. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  18. ↑ Myers, Lance (2005). "Penn Central & Conrail RS-3M Rebuilds From RS-3's By Erie Lackawanna, Penn Central, and Conrail" (PDF). www.altoonaworks.info. p. 2. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  19. ↑ Lewis, Edward A. (1996). American Shortline Railway Guide (5th ed.). Waukesha, Wi.: Kalmbach Publishing Co. p. 152. ISBN 0-89024-290-9.
  20. ↑ "Pictures of MDDE 1201". www.rrpicturearchive.net. rrpicturearchive.net. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  21. ↑ "Pictures of MDDE 1202". www.rrpicturearchives.net. rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  22. ↑ "Pictures of MDDE 1203". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Railroad Picture Archives .net. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  23. ↑ "Michigan Shortlines - Michigan Southern RS3M #7804 - Railroadfan.com Photo Gallery". railroadfan.com. White Pigeon, Mi: GP30M4216. August 25, 2000. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  24. ↑ Handzlik, Chris (July 29, 2008). "Midland Railway Equipment Roster". Midland Railway Historical Association. Archived from the original on February 6, 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  25. ↑ "Lehigh Valley "Hammerhead" Alco RS-3 211". Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. Rush, NY. 2004. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  26. ↑ Charlie Wood (October 2017). "Genesee Valley Transportation". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. 36 (10): 46–48. ISSN 0163-7266.
  27. ↑ Guss, Chris (June 11, 2023). "The end is near for short line's center-cab diesels". Trains. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
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