Alco power swap in Batavia.

From the GVT forum:
http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=45444

DLWR 1801, the Batavia MLW:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=228025

is leaving, to be replaced by freshly painted S6 1044:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 106&nseq=3

happening soon..probably tomorrow or Saturday.

Scot

I wouldn't be surprised if the Falls Rd will be needing more power soon with the Ethanol Plant going online. That could be a reason for the swap in Batavia. It sure would be nice to see that pair of black RS3's in Scranton come up and pull those tanks out of Medina. I'm dreaming and drifting from the original post. Sorry. I'll have to get into Batavia and check out that "new" S6.

Joe

Sorry Joe, you *are* dreaming. I'd be shocked, shocked I say, to see the RS-3s ever leave Scranton. They are "DL" engines and I'm sure will stay that way. (But I can't blame you for wanting to see them! Just not gonna happen:-)

RS

Traffic in Batavia must be fairly light?

What would make you say that ?

SAAII

Traffic is still pretty good in Batavia. There was a spike this past year with a local scrap dealer loading gons off of Evans street. I'm not sure if that's still going or if its going to pick back up. Then there was that Amtrak they tip toed in for fire training that no one knew about and I found out after the fact....nuff said on that... Traffic on the old Lehigh is steady with feed being off loaded from boxcars. I think that S6 will do a good job. I do wonder how it would do if it ever had to take the CSX main to CP402 from Batavia yard. The 1801 has had a few opportunities to do that when the controlled siding wasn't available. Stretch its legs so to speak. The S6 does seem like a good fit there all in all.

Joe

Do the S6 Alco's have a 539 under the hood?

An S-6 has a 6-251 under the hood.

sixaxlealcoII wrote:What would make you say that ?

SAAII

Oh I don't know, they replaced an 1800 HP road switcher with a 900 HP yard switcher, you don't generally do that when you have tons of traffic...

For a RR the size of the DL&W in Batavia, 10 cars a month is considered a "big" increase in traffic, but not enough to justify a road switcher. Given the number of tight curves and the nature of the work on the line, it is my opinion that an RS-11 or RS-18 is a bit overkill for the line and I always wondered why the large power. An Alco S-series or an EMD SW-series would be more appropriate for the line. 1044 would be a natural fit for the line and much easier on the rails.

I don't say this real often but Nessman is dead right:-) The S-6 is perfect for the DLW.
RS

Oh I don't know, they replaced an 1800 HP road switcher with a 900 HP yard switcher, you don't generally do that when you have tons of traffic...

Perhaps your assumption is flawed and locomotive horsepower is really not a good representation of traffic level. Les very likely has it right, the attributes of a smaller locomotive in an environment like Batavia make it an ideal candidate for such an operation. The RS-18 may have been too big, too long, and too heavy but that was the best locomotive for the job at the time. Now that the 1044 has got roller bearings, been rebuilt and repainted it might be an ideal replacement ! Maybe that's what they had in mind all along ?

SAAII

[/quote]

Oh I don't know, they replaced an 1800 HP road switcher with a 900 HP yard switcher, you don't generally do that when you have tons of traffic...[/quote]

Perhaps your assumption is flawed and locomotive horsepower is really not a good representation of traffic level. Les very likely has it right, the attributes of a smaller locomotive in an environment like Batavia make it an ideal candidate for such an operation. The RS-18 may have been too big, too long, and too heavy but that was the best locomotive for the job at the time. Now that the 1044 has got roller bearings, been rebuilt and repainted it might be an ideal replacement ! Maybe that's what they had in mind all along ?

SAAII

Just a little background on S6 1044.

She was built in December 1956 as South Buffalo #44, Alco b/n 82295.
then to Knox & Kane #44.
then to GVT #1044 in 2002.

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/sb43.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/kk41.jpg

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails. ... toID=37285

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 106&nseq=3

Scot

The RS32 2035 went up as well, but I think to Falls Road?