Southern Pacific Alco RS32 4000, probably at Bayshore Yard, San Francisco,, California, August, 1974. Photographer unknown.
(Craig Garver, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/51714729963/in/dateposted/, Public domain)
ALCO RS32 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
Designated as a "DL721" by ALCO, the 2,000 hp RS-32 was intended to compete with EMD's GP20 and GE's U25B locomotives. Only 35 units were produced, with 25 units ordered by New York Central in 1961 and 10 units by Southern Pacific in 1962. New York Central’s RS-32s were commonly seen in both road and local freight assignments. Southern Pacific's units were initially used in road service, but later settled into local freight service in San Francisco's "commute" territory. Here they were sometimes called upon to rescue stalled commuter trains. They later migrated across the system, ending their SP careers in Texas during the late 1970s with various other ALCo models.
Original owners
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Central Railroad | 25 | 8020-8044 | renumbered 2020-2044 |
| Southern Pacific Railroad | 10 | 7300-7309 | renumbered 4000-4009 |
| Total | 35 |
SP 7302 at Lenzen service track, February 1966.
(Drew Jacksich from San Jose, CA, The Republic of California, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Surviving RS32s
| Original owner | Current Owner | Road number | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Central Railroad | Arkansas & Missouri | 32, ex A&M 42, ex-NYC,PC,CR 2031 (nee-NYC 8031) | Operating |
| New York Central Railroad | Genesee Valley Transportation (DL) | 2035 ex-DL 212 ex NYC,PC,CR 2035 (nee NYC-8035) | Operating (FRR) |
| Southern Pacific Railroad | Genesee Valley Transportation (DL) | 211, ex-SP 4002 (nee-7302) | Operating (DL) |
| Southern Pacific Railroad | Fillmore and Western Railway | 4009 (nee-SP 7309) | Operating |
| Southern Pacific Railroad | Pacific Southwest Railway Museum | 4004 (nee-7304) | Un-restored/Serviceable |
New York Central Alco RS32 2038 at Mechanicsville, New York, September 10, 1969. Phhotographer: John R. Quinn.
(Craig Garver from Tucson, Arizona, United States, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builder: ALCO
Model: RS-32, specification DL-721
Build date: June 1961 - June 1962
Total produced: 35
Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR B-B
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Prime mover: Alco 251C
Cylinders: V12
Cylinder size: 9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Transmission: Electric
Performance figures
Power output: 2,000 hp (1,500 kW)
Career
Locale: United States
RS32 No. 2035 switches the Diamond Branch on 'the' Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad in Scranton, Pennsylvania. (former NYC 8035), 22 March 2008.
(Montyvee at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
