ALCO RSD-5

The ALCO RSD-5 was a diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type rated at 1,600 horsepower (1.2 MW), that rode on a pair of three-axle trucks, having a C-C wheel arrangement.

ALCO RSD-5
Preserved Nickel Plate No. 324 at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in 2011
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderALCO
ModelRSD-5
Build date1952–1956
Total produced204 (167 USA, 37 Mexico)
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
TrucksALCO trimount
Wheel diameter40 in (1,016 mm)
Minimum curve21° (274.37 ft or 83.63 m
Wheelbase42 ft 3 in (12.88 m)
Length56 ft 6 in (17.22 m)
Width10 ft 1 5⁄8 in (3.089 m)
Height14 ft 8 1⁄4 in (4.477 m)
Loco weight287,000 lb (130,000 kg)
Fuel capacity1,300 US gal (4,900 L; 1,100 imp gal)
Prime moverAlco 244
RPM range1000 (max)
Engine typeV12 Four-stroke engine diesel
AspirationTurbocharger
Displacement8,016 cu in (131.36 L)
GeneratorGE GT566
Traction motors(6) GE 752
Cylinders12
Cylinder size9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Performance figures
Power output1,600 hp (1.2 MW)
Tractive effort71,750 lb (32,550 kg)

Basically an upgraded version of the earlier ALCO RSD-4, and used in much the same manner as its four-axle counterpart, the ALCO RS-3, the six-motor design allowed better tractive effort at lower speeds.

Original owners
RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
American Locomotive Company (demonstrator)
1
1606
to ATSF 2157
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
52
2110–2156, 2158–2162
Birmingham Southern Railroad
1
160
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
26
5570–5595
Chicago and North Western Railway
10
1665–1667, 1684–1690
Central Railroad of New Jersey
1
1615
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road)
6
2150–2155
Renumbered 570–575
Pennsylvania Railroad
6
8446–8451
St. Louis Southwestern Railway
3
270–272
Southern Pacific Company
36
5294–5307, 5336–5339, 5445–5448, 5494–5507
21 of them traded back to Alco in 1960 and rebuilt into Alco RSD-12's[1]
Southern Pacific (Texas and New Orleans Railroad)
24
155–176, 185–186
Utah Railway
1
306
to DLMX 324
Ferrocarril del Pacífico
35
801–835
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México
2
6900–6901
Total204

Preserved units

As of 2015, there are only two of these (unrebuilt) locomotives known to be in existence. Ex-CNW #1689, formerly owned by Gary Baloun, is currently in operation at the Illinois Railway Museum and repainted in its original Chicago & North Western colors. The other is the former Utah Railway #306, now painted as Nickel Plate Road #324 and owned by Doyle McCormack of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation.

Two rebuilt RSD5s (made into RSD-12's) built for the Southern Pacific survive at the Orange Empire Railway Museum (numbers 2954 and 2958).

References
  1. "Southern Pacific RSD5 Info Page". espee.railfan.net. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  • Dorin, Patrick C. (1972). Chicago and North Western Power. Burbank, California: Superior Publishing. p. 142. ISBN 0-87564-715-4.
  • Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter’s Guide. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing Company. p. 247. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.


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