Delaware and Hudson Alco RS11 No. 5004, August 1971.
(Photo Roger Puta, Courtesy Marty Bernard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
ALCO RS-11 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
The ALCO RS-11 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive rated at 1,800 hp (1.34 MW), that rode on two-axle trucks, having a B-B wheel arrangement. This model was built by both Alco (327 units) and Montreal Locomotive Works (99 units). Total production was 426 units.
Lehigh Valley 403, an Alco DL-701 or RS-11at Pittston, PA yard on June 29, 1969.
(Photo Roger Puta, Courtesy Marty Bernard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Development
The first three RS-11s were produced by ALCO in February 1956 as a demonstrator set. This locomotive, classified by ALCO as model DL-701, was their first high-horsepower road switcher, intended to be a replacement for the very popular RS-3 road switcher. Featuring a V-12, 1,800 hp (1,300 kW) 251B diesel engine, the RS-11 was ALCO's answer to EMD's very successful GP9. The turbocharged RS-11 accelerated faster, had a higher tractive effort rating and typically used less fuel than the competition. It was also quite versatile and could be found in heavy haul freight as well as passenger service. It was produced in high-nose and low-nose versions. Montreal Locomotive Works also built 351 nearly identical units, known as the RS-18, for the Canadian market.
While the RS-11 benefited from the increased power and reliability offered with ALCO's new 251B engine, and was arguably a more advanced product than the GP9, its market acceptance was disappointing against the reputation EMD's locomotives had made for superior reliability.
Apache Railway Alco RS11 901 at Snowflake, Arizona, February 16, 1981. Photographer: Peter Jobe.
(Public domain, Craig Garver, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/51805420916/in/dateposted/ )
Original Owners
| Railroad | Quantity | Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alco | 3 | 701, 701A, 701B | |
| Carolina and Northwestern Railway | 1 | 11 | |
| Chicago and Northwestern Railway | 2 | 1613, 1624 | RS-3s rebuilt by Alco in March 1960 as RS-11 with a 251-B engine but retained RS-3 high short hood. |
| Delaware and Hudson | 12 | 5000-5011 | |
| Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific | 15 | 3600-3614 | |
| Erie Mining | 15 | 300-314 | |
| Ferrocarril del Pacifico | 1 | 1501 | |
| Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México | 94 | 7200-7293 | |
| Green Bay and Western | 1 | 309 | |
| Lehigh Valley Railroad | 4 | 400-403 | |
| Maine Central | 1 | 801 | |
| Ministry of Communication and Transportation (Mexico) | 4 | 7123-1 - 7123-4 | |
| Missouri Pacific | 12 | 4601-4612 | |
| Monongahela Connecting Railroad | 1 | 700 | |
| New York, New Haven and Hartford | 15 | 1400-1414 | |
| New York Central | 9 | 8000-8008 | |
| New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad | 35 | 558-577, 850-864 | |
| Norfolk and Western | 99 | 308-406 | |
| Northern Pacific | 18 | 900-917 | |
| Pennsylvania | 38 | 8617-8654 | |
| Portland Terminal | 1 | 1082 | |
| Seaboard Air Line | 10 | 100-109 | |
| Southern Peru Copper Corp. | 5 | 3-6, 8 | |
| Southern Pacific Railroad | 34 | 5723-5729, 5845-5871 | |
| Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway | 3 | 400-402 | |
| Total | 431 |
Ferrocarril Sonora Baja California RS11 No. 2301 at Benjamín Hill, Sonora, Mexico in 1975.
(LIMO 5, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Preservation
- Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific 3612 is preserved as York-Durham Heritage Railway 3612 at the York–Durham Heritage Railway in Ontario.
- Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México 7282 is preserved at the Yucatán RR Museum in Mérida, Yucatán.
- New York, New Haven and Hartford 1402 is preserved at the Danbury Railway Museum in Danbury, Connecticut.
- Toledo, Peoria and Western 400 is preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois.
TPW 400, an RS-11 on display at Illinois Railway Museum, July 16, 2005.
(Photo by Sean Lamb (User:Slambo), CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builder: ALCO, MLW
Model: RS-11
Build date: February 1956 to June 1961 (Alco) /November 1957-1 unit, June 1963 to April 1964 (MLW)
Total produced: 431
Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR B-B
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Trucks: AAR type B
Wheel diameter: 40 in (1,016 mm)
Minimum curve: 21° (274.37 ft or 83.63 m)
Wheelbase: 39 ft 4 in (11.99 m)
Length: 56 ft 6 in (17.22 m)
Width: 10 ft 1+5⁄8 in (3.089 m)
Height: 14 ft 5+1⁄8 in (4.397 m)
Loco weight: 257,300 lb (116,700 kg)
Fuel capacity: 2,000 US gal (7,600 L; 1,700 imp gal)
Prime mover: Alco 251B
RPM range: 1,000 rpm max.
Engine type: V12 Four stroke diesel
Aspiration: Turbocharger
Generator: GE GT 581
Traction motors: (4) GE 752
Cylinders: 12
Cylinder size: 9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed: 70–85 mph (113–137 km/h)
Power output: 1,800 hp (1,300 kW)
Tractive effort: 64,325 lb (29,177 kg)
Career
Locale: North America South America
New Haven Railroad RDC No. 25, used for the New London - Worcester round trip, being shunted at New London by New Haven Alco RS-11 No. 1413.
RDCs were self-propelled, so the reason for it being shunted by a locomotive is unknown.
(Photo Roger Puta, Courtesy Marty Bernard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
FNM (Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México) Alco RS11 501 at Empalme, Sonora, January 6, 1995. Photographer: Paul Western.
This is ex-Ferrocarril del Pacifico 501, repainted at the Emplame shops in the original FCP cream, green, reddish-brown, and black scheme.
The colors are reversed, originally the unit was painted mostly cream with green accents, but FNM lovingly reproduced the color quite accurately.
(Craig Garver, Public domain, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/51660365511/in/dateposted/)
