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ALCO RS-11

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ALCO RS-11
TPW 400, an RS-11 on display at Illinois Railway Museum, July 16, 2005.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderALCO, MLW
ModelRS-11
Build dateFebruary 1956 to June 1961 (Alco)
November 1957 to April 1964 (MLW)
Total produced431
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AARB-B
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
TrucksAAR type B
Wheel diameter40 in (1,016 mm)
Minimum curve21° (274.37 ft or 83.63 m)
Wheelbase39 ft 4 in (11.99 m)
Length56 ft 6 in (17.22 m)
Width10 ft 1+58 in (3.089 m)
Height14 ft 5+18 in (4.397 m)
Loco weight257,300 lb (116,700 kg)
Fuel capacity2,000 US gal (7,600 L; 1,700 imp gal)
Prime moverAlco 251B
RPM range1,000 rpm max.
Engine typeV12 Four stroke diesel
AspirationTurbocharger
GeneratorGE GT 581
Traction motors(4) GE 752
Cylinders12
Cylinder size9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed70–85 mph (113–137 km/h)
Power output1,800 hp (1,300 kW)
Tractive effort64,325 lb (29,177 kg)
Career
LocaleNorth America South America

The ALCO RS-11 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive rated at 1,800 hp (1.34 MW), that rode on two-axle trucks, having a B-B wheel arrangement. This model was built by both Alco (327 units) and Montreal Locomotive Works (99 units). Total production was 426 units.[1]

Development

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The first three RS-11s were produced by ALCO in February 1956 as a demonstrator set. This locomotive, classified by ALCO as model DL-701, was their first high-horsepower road switcher,[1] intended to be a replacement for the very popular RS-3 road switcher. Featuring a V-12, 1,800 hp (1,300 kW) 251B diesel engine, the RS-11 was ALCO's answer to EMD's very successful GP9. The turbocharged RS-11 accelerated faster, had a higher tractive effort rating and typically used less fuel than the competition. It was also quite versatile and could be found in heavy haul freight as well as passenger service. It was produced in high-nose and low-nose versions. Montreal Locomotive Works also built 351 nearly identical units, known as the RS-18, for the Canadian market.[2]

While the RS-11 benefited from the increased power and reliability offered with ALCO's new 251B engine, and was arguably a more advanced product than the GP9, its market acceptance was disappointing against the reputation EMD's locomotives had made for superior reliability.

Original purchasers

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Owner[3][self-published source?] Quantity Numbers Notes
Alco 3 701, 701A, 701B
Carolina and Northwestern Railway 1 11
Chicago and Northwestern Railway 2 1613, 1624 RS-3s rebuilt by Alco in March 1960 as RS-11 with a 251-B engine but retained RS-3 high short hood.[4]
Delaware and Hudson 12 5000-5011
Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific 15 3600-3614
Erie Mining 15 300-314
Ferrocarril del Pacifico 1 1501
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México 94 7200-7293
Green Bay and Western 1 309
Lehigh Valley Railroad 4 400-403
Maine Central 1 801
Ministry of Communication and Transportation (Mexico) 4 7123-1 - 7123-4
Missouri Pacific 12 4601-4612
Monongahela Connecting Railroad 1 700
New York, New Haven and Hartford 15 1400-1414
New York Central 9 8000-8008
New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad 35 558-577, 850-864
Norfolk and Western 99 308-406
Northern Pacific 18 900-917
Pennsylvania 38 8617-8654
Portland Terminal 1 1082
Seaboard Air Line 10 100-109
Southern Peru Copper Corp. 5 3-6, 8
Southern Pacific Railroad 34 5723-5729, 5845-5871
Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway 3 400-402
Total 431

Preservation

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Foster, Gerald (1996). A Field Guide to Trains. Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. pp. 26. ISBN 0395701120.
  2. ^ Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1978). The second diesel spotter's guide. Milwaukee, WI: Kalmbach Books. p. 248. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
  3. ^ Thompson, David. "Alco's RS11 - Original Owners". www.trainweb.org. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  4. ^ Dorin, Patrick C. (1972). Chicago and North Western power. Burbank, CA: Superior Publishing Company. p. 144. ISBN 0-87564-715-4.
  5. ^ "Our Trains - York-Durham Heritage Railway". York-Durham Heritage Railway. Archived from the original on 2019-07-12. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "IRM Roster - Toledo Peoria & Western 400". Illinois Railway Museum. Archived from the original on 2000-12-18. Retrieved June 16, 2021.