One other thing that was done at Hornell was the elimination of the crankcase exhauster. No more motor- GE used an exhaust eductor to generate a negative pressure in the crankcase, which Alco was very against even trying in earlier days. I got this tidbit, and a few others, from a gent who was with GE at Hornell and later with LSRC.
Railroad Forums
LSRC C425M question
- Discussion of products from the American Locomotive Company. A web site with current Alco 251 information can be found here: Fairbanks-Morse/Alco 251.
Moderator: Alcoman
I think they would have to have air starters. Unless you have one of the dash 8 or dash 9 GEs, alternators don't spin over very well on batteries. Although I did know at one time an ex-NYC U-30B that had a pair of 36 VDC Leece-Neville starters, wired in series, and a big ring gear-
The eductor style crankcase exhauster was also used on the D&H 251 powered RS shop rebuilds.
On the Dash-7's, the aux gen and exciter were set up so that they serve as the starter motors. Perhaps the D&M units used this arrangement.
On the Dash-7's, the aux gen and exciter were set up so that they serve as the starter motors. Perhaps the D&M units used this arrangement.
I haven't checked specifically on photos, but I don't think the D&H / GB&W / D&M rebuilds have air starters. The main spotting feature of Alcos with air starters is a third air tank. If you check photos of both sides of the rebuilt 424s and 425s, look for a third tank.
Cheers
Steve
Cheers
Steve
There's only one Alco in NZ. 8-(
Only two tanks on the engineers side of the units so no air start on the D&M/LSRC units. This has proven to be a very interesting thread.