HP of the RSD units

[pablo]

Anyone know what the HP ratings were for the different RSD units? While I'm asking questions? why were RSD-4's or 5's (and what's the difference) not simply RSD-3's?

Thanks in advance.

Dave Becker

[Typewriters]

Domestic units:

RSD-4 and RSD-5, 1600 HP for traction; RSD-12, 1800 HP; RSD-7, first version (DL-600) 2250 HP; RSD-7 (second, or DL-600A) 2400 HP; RSD-15, 2400 HP. (The single MLW RSD-17 was as the RSD-15.) RSD-15 also known as DL-600B.

The RSD-4 contained the same GT-581 generator employed in the RS-3 and FA-2/FB-2, while the RSD-5 employed the GT-566 normally found in 2000 HP and 2250 HP passenger locomotives. The RSD-12 changed yet again, to the GT-586, used thereafter.

-Will Davis

[pablo]

Thanks, Will. Do you know about the RSD-35? What HP is that rated?

Dave Becker

[N. Todd]

why were RSD-4's or 5's (and what's the difference) not simply RSD-3's?

There were RSC-3's (yes, C)- basically the same as an RS-3 but with A1A trucks.

Do you know about the RSD-35? What HP is that rated?

RSD-35 is a general model designation. I beleive HP varies per railroad/country applications; something between 950 and 2200? You should go by specification numbers while in the export field.

[Allen Hazen]

Would an RSD-35 be the same thing as a Dl-535? I **think** that some later Alco's had "model numbers" and "spec numbers" correlated in that fashion...
Anyway. I think spec numbers in the Dl-530 series are for export hood units with 6-cylinder 251 engines. Dl-531 and Dl-532 are the CC and BB versions with a 1000 hp engine. (New South Wales 48 class is a well-known Dl-531 type. I think-- but am not sure-- that there were some Dl-532 in Jamaica.)
Dl-535 was the same general design (?) but with the engine up-rated to 1200 hp. If my memory hasn't failed (again), N de M and WP&Y were North American users of Dl-535.

[N. Todd]

DL530 RSD9
DL531 RSC/D-8, RSD-26 950 hp
DL532 RS-8 950
DL533 RSD-8
DL534 RSC/D-31
DL535 RSD-30, 35, 39 1200 hp
DL536 RS-30 1350 hp?
DL537 ? 1350 hp

[Allen Hazen]

Thanks for that list, N. Todd!
(Somewhere there ought to be an "Alco FAQ" with that sort of information available!)
The only one I can check easily is the Dl-531. The NSW 48 class are listed as "710kw". I'm not sure the rating is strictly equivalent to U.S. power ratings (U.S. diesel locomotive hp ratings are input to traction generator, and I'm not sure this is), but going by the ratings given to other Australian locomotives with U.S.-built power plants (e.g. the NSW 80 class, a CC boxcab with a 12-251 engine comparable to that in a C-420, which is listed as "1492 hp") this amounts to about 950 hp.
---
Apologies for relying on memory in my last posting and saying 1000.

[wess]

DL530 RSD9
DL531 RSC/D-8, RSD-26 950 hp
DL532 RS-8 950
DL533 RSD-8
DL534 RSC/D-31
DL535 RSD-30, 35, 39, YDM-4 1200 hp
DL536 RS-30 1350 hp?
DL537 ? 1350 hp

Went ahead and added Indias mosel designator for the narrow gauge version, which was rated as high as 1850 or somewhere close.