The ALCO RSD-4 was a 1,600 horsepower (1.2 MW) six axle diesel-electric locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company between 1951 and 1952.[1] It was a derivative of the four-axle ALCO RS-3, with two additional powered axles which allowed better tractive effort at lower speeds. Due to the inadequate capacity of the main generator, this model was later superseded in production by the ALCO RSD-5.

ALCO RSD-4
Kennecott Copper Corporation locomotive 201 on display at Snoqualmie Depot, Snoqualmie, Washington
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderALCO
ModelRSD-4 (Specification E1663)
Build date1951–1952
Total produced36
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AARC-C
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
TrucksALCO trimount
Wheel diameter40 in (1,000 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+78 in (3.096 m)
Height14 ft 5+14 in (4.401 m)
Loco weight278,860 lb (126,490 kg)
Fuel capacity800 US gal (3,000 L)
Prime moverALCO 244
RPM range1000 (max)
Engine typeV12 Four-stroke engine diesel
AspirationTurbocharger
Displacement8,016 cu in (131.36 L)
GeneratorGE 5GT-581A1
Traction motors(6) GE 5GE752-C1
Cylinders12
Cylinder size9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Performance figures
Power output1,600 hp (1.2 MW)
Tractive effort69,700 lb (31,600 kg)

Original owners

edit
Railroad Quantity Road numbers Notes
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 10 2100–2109 [1]
Chicago and North Western Railway 5 1515–1517, 1619–1620 [1]
Central Railroad of New Jersey 14 1601–1614 [1]
Kennecott Copper Corporation 1 201 Preserved[1]
Utah Railway 6 300–305 [1]
Total 36

Preserved units

edit

The only ALCO RSD-4 that has survived is Kennecott Copper Corporation #201. It resided at the Northwest Railway Museum until November 2021 (formerly known as the Puget Sound & Snoqualmie Valley Railway) in Snoqualmie, Washington in its orange Kennecott paint scheme.[2] As of 2021, it has been returned to Ely, Nevada (along with EMD SD7 #401) to the Nevada Northern Railway Museum.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f Marre, Louis A. (1995). Diesel locomotives : the first 50 years : a guide to diesels built before 1972. Waukesha, WI: Kalmbach Pub. Co. p. 247. ISBN 0-89024-258-5. OCLC 34531120.
  2. ^ "Northwest Railway Museum moves two 330,000-pound locomotives". 3 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Bring 401 and 201 Home".