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View Full Version : Alco RSD15

oldrk
November 24th, 2005, 02:48 PM
Did the C&O every actually have these? Where can I find pictures?
Tim Loutzenhiser
November 24th, 2005, 11:04 PM
C&O had RSD12s (class MRSA-18) - no RSD15s.
Tim Loutzenhiser
January 28th, 2006, 01:34 PM
Just read the article "Tracking Down C&O's Alcos" by J. David Ingles (Classic Trains Spring 2006). The author refers to the 6800's as RSD15's. I guess I'm confused - 6800 through 6811 were originally ordered as RSD7's (sales order #21005 Dec. 19, 1955). Can someone clarify this?
BoxcabE50
January 28th, 2006, 05:06 PM
Isn't the basic difference, between an RSD7, and RSD15, their engine? 244 versus 251?

graemlins/headscratch.gif

Boxcab E50
chessie
February 4th, 2006, 03:01 AM
I am not that good on Alcos ...

Sorry :(
UP Deano
February 7th, 2006, 03:41 AM
please correct me if i am wrong, but i belive the RSD7's had a MUCH shorter front hood, and a smaller prime mover. i could be wrong, but if memory serves me right, i am correct. -Deano
Robbman
February 8th, 2006, 02:19 AM
You're most likely thinking of the differences between a RSD5 and a RSD12... the RSD5 was shorter than the RSD12 (both used 12cyl 244s, though the RSD12s was turbocharged)


RSD7s and RSD15s were almost identical (the RSD15 is basically a 16-251 powered RSD7 (they used a 16-244)...

Fallen Flags has the PRR drawings of each model...

http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?diag=aps-24ms.gif&sel=die&sz=sm&fr=ge

http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?diag=as-24m_E456265a.gif&sel=die&sz=sm&fr=ge
UP Deano
February 8th, 2006, 04:09 AM
Robbman, thanks for setting me straight! -Deano
chessie
February 16th, 2006, 02:40 AM
You'll find that Robbman usually has the answers for most loco answers... graemlins/notworthy.gif
Robbman
February 17th, 2006, 05:47 PM
Does that mean I'm loco tongue.gif
brakie
February 20th, 2006, 01:51 AM
Guys,The C&O had RSD12s and RSD15s..

The RSD12 numbers 2007-2016 and 6700-6709

The RSD15 numbers 6800-6811
oldrk
February 20th, 2006, 03:12 AM
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/co/co6803.jpg
Tim Loutzenhiser
February 20th, 2006, 05:36 PM
I thought 6800 through 6811 were RSD7's - did they get re-engined at some point and officially re-classified as RSD15's?
brakie
February 20th, 2006, 05:54 PM
Tim,That seems to be the 64,000 dollar question.I talk to a retired C&O locomotive mechanic and he says the C&O never had RSD15s but the RSD12s.My C&O book calls 'em a RSD15. The only picture I could find after doing a search on the C&OH&TS was pictures of the RSD7s.
Robbman
February 20th, 2006, 05:54 PM
5570-5595 were RSD5s, built Mar to July 1952

6800-6811 were RSD7s, built Feb to Apr 1956

6700-6709 were RSD12s, built Apr to May 1956
Tim Loutzenhiser
June 24th, 2006, 03:18 PM
Just got around to looking through the Summer 2006 issue of Classic Trains. There is a letter from Blair Kooistra in which he states that "It took me 45 years, but I think I finally found a locomotive detail I can correct J. David Ingles on! In "Tracking Down C&O's Alcos" [pages 32-37], he took us to obscure Chesapeake & Ohio terminals and claims to have shot C&O RSD15's. 'Tain't so - I believe these were RSD7's, visually identical to the high-hood version of the RSD15, but sporting 2,400 h.p. 244-series engines."
J. David Ingles then goes on to explain the oversight based on some "misinformation" in the Diesel Spotter's Guide which labeled them as RSD15's. Ingles then finishes by stating "So, instead of having the first RSD15's built, C&O had the last RSD7's."
nicktodd
October 27th, 2006, 05:14 AM
I have those things as RSD7s. Whoever started those written errors in books obviously hadn't heard of of that model.
What became of them anyway? I got one as going to GE in the 70s. And I'm missing RSD12s 2012, 2013, 2015. It seems that there isn't much on these locomotives.
SSW9389
October 27th, 2006, 01:10 PM
Richard Steinbrenner in his book ALCO A Centennial Remembrance has them as RSD-7s built with the 16V-244H engine. They were among the last ALCO units built new with 244 engines.
SSW9389
October 27th, 2006, 01:19 PM
C&O #6800-6811 were retired circa 9-11/69 and traded to GE on the U23Bs see X2234 p21 note 87.

B&O RSD-12s 2011-2015 to GE 1-2/72 on C&O U30Bs see X2233 p22 note 29.

I have those things as RSD7s. Whoever started those written errors in books obviously hadn't heard of of that model.
What became of them anyway? I got one as going to GE in the 70s. And I'm missing RSD12s 2012, 2013, 2015. It seems that there isn't much on these locomotives.
Triplex
October 27th, 2006, 06:23 PM
It's this sort of confusion that doesn't help when you're trying to learn diesel identification. How do you tell apart the RSD-7, RSD-12 and RSD-15?
Rasputen
October 28th, 2006, 04:20 PM
According to the book "C&O Diesel Locomotive" (1994), the RSD-7
is about 8 1/2 feet longer than the RSD-12 and has one additional
square filter towards the top of the long hood. Both the long and
short hoods are longer on the RSD-7 when compared to the RSD-12.
nicktodd
October 28th, 2006, 07:33 PM
The RSD12 is short. RSD7s and RSD15s are noticeable longer- note the nose, hence the name "Alligator". They are indestinguishable.
To figure out which is which, you have to remember what is not an RSD7. If one is:
SP
Cotton Belt/SSW
DMIR
Santa Fe, 800s
Pennsy above 8610
it is an RSD15. Anything else is the extinct RSD7.

As to an RSD7's prime mover, only one 16-244 exists- it came from an RSD7 and has been put up for sale many times.