ALCO-GE did have several good designs; the RS-1 was the world's first road-switcher, for example. My favorite is the PA series. Next is the FA series. If only the 251 engine had come sooner... The PA. The FA.
AlCO locomotives were indeed good looking engines. Unfortunately, as time passed, the quality at ALCO began to slip, railroads were encountering warranty problems with ALCO's engines and with GE pulling back on supplying traction motors, orders fell to a trickle. To be sure, ALCO's were luggers and could really get down and load but the 244 and later, the crankshaft and turbo problems were just too much. The U25B had come on line, customers were interested and as GE began to cut into ALCO's (and later, EMD's) bottom line, finis arrived in 1969, shuttering the doors of one of America's greatest private industries.
A favorite? Argh. Hard to pick just one. Ummm. Errr. Well, for big road power, SP&S C-636. But I did enjoy just watching and hearing them all. Especially the turbocharged units. And the show put on by a yard goat, lugging a big cut of cars, was truly something special to behold! Boxcab E50
All around every day use Alco would have to be the RS-3! Local, mainline, passenger, etc. Almost every road had one and no one ever had complaints!:teeth:
I've always had a soft spot for the RS32:tb-ooh: But, Anything ALCO gets my traction motors turning:tb-biggrin:
Any Alco that's still running is my favorite. Thank you, Arkansas & Missouri, for going with Alcos, and providing us with operating RS1s.
Hello, My name is Lee Davis and I am an Alco-Haul-it!...lol...lol... Without a question Alco RS-2 or RS-3 water cooled turbo charger, Dynamic brake with 24 RL brake stand, 1200 gal. fuel tank, and dual 27 wire MU. Although they had problems with the cylinder jackets craking and turbo chargers leaking the 4-cycle V type series 244, turbo super charged Alco prime mover was a down and out hard chargein' puller that would load up in a hartbeat. "Still Training After All These Years"
Id have to agree on the post stating, "any ALCO still out there". But I like the looks of the RS1,RS2,RS3....s. I think its interesting that to some degree Alcos demise involved GE deciding to get into the loco business all the way with there U-boat series. Would have loved to be a fly on the wall at Alco when they got the news there supplier was going to be there next big competiter. But I also think the test of time speaks for itself. You see a lot of Alcos around the country even Centuries. In service on Class II and III RR's, as well as Ag. Co-op and Industrial owners. Which just wouldnt be the case if Alco didnt do something seriously right. Yet I dont think Ive ever seen a U boat other than in pictures. My neice has a picture of me my sister and Dad next to a RS3(?) when we were kids. Dad worked for New York Central about a year after he got out of the Army. Sure wish I had that photo to post here.
Has to be the PA's in first place with the Century 636 in second. The Century 420 is quite good looking too.
the Yreka Western has a MRS-1 that has seen its better days. It's never run right since they took delivery, and it's an electricians nightmare trying to trace down the problem(s). When it does run, the breather pipe from the engine is located right under the engineers window and all the noxious fumes come up inside the cab. I have to say though, she's a nice looking unit, rides like a dream and pulls like nothingelse I have ever operated (when she is running half way good, that is).
A couple years ago, I would have said the Hi-Ad C630, C636 (and M630 and M636 if they count). Now, I'd probably say RS-11 (highnose, not low).
All good stuff here. My first time ever seeing an ALCO road locomotive came when I was a boy, trackside at King Station in Seattle. I'd ridden ALCO switchers before but seeing those Great Northern FA, RS tandems coming at me pulling a freight just trumped everything appearance-wise that EMD had. I'd just been used to seeing UP's E's, NP/GN F's and Geeps so it was a nice change. That 244 sound will work too! One post said it all. We still see ALCO's, though small in number, still working in little hidden places here and there. But rarely will you find an old GE anywhere. Of course quite a few of those ALCO's are switchers. GE never entered the big yard switcher phase, leaving that to ALCO, EMD and the other early entrants.
For diesels, ALCOs had class, from everyone's fave PA on down. The latest Classic Trains mag has a great shot of a Santa Fe RSD-15 which makes it obvious why they were known as "Alligators." :tb-biggrin:
The first Alco I remember seeing was a Union Pacific RSC2 on the Encampment Branch, switching out the sawmill in Saratoga, WY back in the 1960s. It was the usual power for this train which was based out of Rawlins, and ran on weekdays. Ironhorseman- the last MRS1 I saw was at the Nevada Northern RR in Ely, NV in 2002- it wasn't running at the time. Matter of fact, NN has an RS2 and RS3 used for excursion service in conjunction with their steamers.
