ALCO RS-2

ALCO RS-2
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder ALCO Model RS-2 Build date October 1946 – May 1950 Total produced 383
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B Gauge Template:4ft8.5in
Performance figures Power output 1,500 hp (1.125 MW)
Career Locale North America

The ALCO RS-2 is a 1,500 hp (1.125 MW), B-B road switcher railroad locomotive. It was manufactured by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) from October 1946 to May 1950, and 383 were produced — 366 for American railroads, and 17 for Canadian railroads. It has a single, 12 cylinder, model 244 engine.

ALCO built the RS-2 to compete with EMD, Fairbanks-Morse, and Baldwin Locomotive Works. In 1947, Fairbanks-Morse introduced the 1,500 hp (1.2 MW) H-15-44. Also in that year, Baldwin introduced the 1,500 hp (1.125 MW) DRS-4-4-15. In the case of ALCO, Fairbanks-Morse, and Baldwin, each company increased the power of an existing locomotive line from 1,500 to 1,600 hp (1.125 to 1.2 MW), and added more improvements to create new locomotive lines.

EMD, however, kept its competing GP7 at 1,500 hp (1.125 MW) But in 1954, EMD introduced the GP9. It was rated at 1,750 hp (1.3 MW).

EMD won the road switcher production race, though. EMD produced 2,729 GP-7s. ALCO produced 383 RS-2s, and 1,370 RS-3s. Fairbanks-Morse produced 30 H-15-44s, and 296 H-16-44s. Baldwin produced 32 DRS-4-4-15s, and 127 AS-16s.

References

• Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Kalmbach Publishing Co., Milwaukee, WI. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
• Solomon, Brian (2000). The American diesel locomotive. MCI Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7603-0666-4.