ALCO RSC-2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Seaboard Air Line Railway #1526, an ALCO RSC-2 |
|
| Power type | Diesel-electric |
|---|---|
| Model | RSC-2 |
| Build date | October 1946 — April 1950 |
| AAR wheel arr. | A1A-A1A |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) |
| Length | 53 ft 1 in (16.2 m) |
| Width | 10 ft |
| Height | 14 ft 5 in |
| Total weight | 242,500 lb (109,996 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 800 gal (3,028 L) |
| Prime mover | ALCO 244 |
| Engine type | 4-stroke diesel |
| Aspiration | Turbocharger |
| Displacement | 8,256 in³ (135.2 L) |
| Cylinders | V12 |
| Cylinder size | 9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm) |
| Transmission | DC generator, DC traction motors |
| Top speed | 65 mph (105 km/h) |
| Power output | 1,500 hp (1,119 kW) — later models 1,600 hp (1,194 kW) |
| Locomotive brakes | straight air |
| Train brakes | 24L air |
| Locale | North America |
The ALCO RSC-2 was a diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type that rode on three-axle trucks, having an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement.
Used in much the same manner as its four-axle counterpart, the ALCO RS-2, though the wheel arrangement lowered the axle load for operation on light rail such as are found on branch lines.
The Milwaukee Road was the first railroad to take delivery of the RSC-2, initially assigning them to their Valley Division (headquartered near Wausau, Wisconsin) in 1947. This was done in order to study the effects of an all-diesel roster (i.e. no steam locomotives available as protection power). The experiment was deemed a success, and soon all steam locomotives were gone from the Valley Division. RSC-2s would faithfully serve the Milwaukee Road for many years, until being replaced themselves by the EMD SDL39.
Meanwhile, down in the southeast, the Seaboard Air Line Railroad determined that the RSC-2 had just the right combination of light weight and power to work their branch lines. Seaboard eventually became the largest owner of the RSC-2, using the locomotives in everything from yard service, to powering heavy phosphate trains in the Bone Valley region of central Florida. These lasted well into the SCL era, before being retired and scrapped at their Uceta (Tampa) shop facilities in the early 1970s.
[edit] Original Buyers
| Owner | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee Road | 18 |
| Seaboard Air Line Railroad | 37 |
| Soo Line Railroad | 4 |
| Union Pacific Railroad | 11 |
| Diesel-electric locomotives built by ALCO | |
|---|---|
| Switchers: | HH series, S-1, S-2, S-3, S-4, S-5, S-6, T-6, SB-8/SSB-9 |
| RS series: | RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-11, RS-27, RS-32, RS-36 |
| RSC series: | RSC-2, RSC-3 |
| RSD series: | RSD-1, RSD-4, RSD-5, RSD-7, RSD-12, RSD-15 |
| Cab units: | DL-103b, DL-105, DL-107, DL-109, DL-110, DL-203, FA, FB, PA, PB |
| Century series: | C415, C420, C424, C425, C430, C628, C630, C636, C855 |
| Diesel-hydraulics: | DH643 |
