I recently bought the BLI, Southern Pacific, ALCo RSD-15. It's not prototypically correct for SP, but I feel like it's a pretty good model.
I was impressed with the sound and how smoothly it runs! Priced lower than a Walther/Proto or Athearn Genesis, I think it's a good buy if you can accept the prototype errors.
SP had three Alco RSD-15's Originally they were numbered behind the FM Trainmasters as 4816-17-18. In 1965 they got the 5100 series numbers. The model has the horns in the wrong place and needs the SP light show.
Yep, lights are wrong, brake hand wheel wrong, drop step wrong, horn wrong. If I can develop some modeling skills I'd like to fix the errors. I like the locomotive and I think the SP RSD-15 prototypes are pretty cool. Thanks for posting the photo!!! I'd never seen that pic!
The photo was taken in about 1974 or so at Eugene. I took the phots with a Pentax K-1000 camera with a 75-225 macro zoom lense
I have two Atlas Alco RS-32's that need the light show added. The lights between teh number boards is the tricky part.
That's what I was thinking as well. Going from the vertical to horizontal light package might be a problem getting the lights to fit. I have one Atlas SP RS11 and one Atlas SP RS32, also have a Bowser SP C630. There are some detail parts out there for the RS32. This video is a few months old (and pretty crappy quality) but it shows most of my locomotives. I've picked up an MTH black widow A&B unit and the RSD-15 since then.
You SP guys have it easy I have to remove the 1/2 the fuel tank to do a PRR RSD-15. https://www.flickr.com/photos/8226029@N06/695475123 Rick J
Thanks! Gotta love the SP! I wish they were still out running other than the 3 or 4 UP hasn't repainted or scrapped. My Bowser C630 is DC. I could afford the DC version at the time but I'd like to convert it to DCC. I'd like to see Atlas update and re-release the RSD-5 in Black Widow paint!
The RSD-5 on the SP was in two versions. The earlier ones were set up for lon hood forward the rest short hood forward. The earlier RSD-5's had the barrell lights while the later ones has the light show. The lights between the numberboards will be fun to do and keep them illuminated. I also have a RS-11 to add the light show to.
It's plain ol' DC on my railroad. The railroad isn't big enough to go DCC and with three hundred locomotives the cost is prohibitive.
Looking around I found the SP Alco RSD-15's had a ratchet type handbrake in the middle of the front of the short hood. It will be a job to replace the brakewheel with the ratchet type and the ratchet brake is in a notch .
I love the C-630 and the FB unit photo! Plus a turntable! Cool! Most the of the C-630 photos I've seen have 3000 series numbers. I like the RS32. It's a good looking locomotive! Nice layout! 300 locomotives! THAT'S A COLLECTION!!! Yep, the SP RSD-15's have the brake ratchet lever vs the hand wheel. The Cotton Belt RSD-15's have the hand wheel.
The Alco C-630 and F7b photo was taken at SP Brooklyn Yard in Portland about 1972. My Bowser Alco C-628 arrived today.