There was also a lone 251 powered RS-3 on the L&N, and the C&NW had had a pair of wrecks rebuilt by Alco. These last three had RS-11 hoods.
L&N's unique RS20 kept its original hood. C&NW's pair had RS36 hoods and were not wreck rebuilds - they were done as a feasibility test to see whether repowering the rest of the RS3's would be worth it.
Larry
Railroad Forums
Alco RS3's, rebuilt and otherwise
- Discussion of products from the American Locomotive Company. A web site with current Alco 251 information can be found here: Fairbanks-Morse/Alco 251.
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I hate to tell you this, SOU2645, but your information on the RS-3 251 repowerings is incorrect. All three units did have RS-11 hoods.
The L&N unit, 1350, was rebuilt with an RS-11 hood, per an L&N drawing that appears in George Elwood's excellent Fallen Flags site. Unfortunately there is no photo on that site, but I have seen one in a book on the L&N that one of my associates has in his collection. This same gentleman also has some Alco engineering drawings that pertain to this particular unit and it's new engine.
The C&NW units, 1613 and 1624, were wrecked in a derailment at New Ulm, NM in August, 1959. They were sent back to Alco for rebuilding with 251B engines, and received RS-11 hoods. This rebuilding took place sometime in 1960. The RS-36 wasn't even in production until February, 1962, so how could these units have RS-36 hoods?
The 1613 and 1624 are well documented in Eric Hirsimaki's book, The Alco Line, with photos both before and after the rebuilding; the before photos are of the wreck, in fact. A wreck repair hardly qualifies as a feasibility study.
The L&N unit, 1350, was rebuilt with an RS-11 hood, per an L&N drawing that appears in George Elwood's excellent Fallen Flags site. Unfortunately there is no photo on that site, but I have seen one in a book on the L&N that one of my associates has in his collection. This same gentleman also has some Alco engineering drawings that pertain to this particular unit and it's new engine.
The C&NW units, 1613 and 1624, were wrecked in a derailment at New Ulm, NM in August, 1959. They were sent back to Alco for rebuilding with 251B engines, and received RS-11 hoods. This rebuilding took place sometime in 1960. The RS-36 wasn't even in production until February, 1962, so how could these units have RS-36 hoods?
The 1613 and 1624 are well documented in Eric Hirsimaki's book, The Alco Line, with photos both before and after the rebuilding; the before photos are of the wreck, in fact. A wreck repair hardly qualifies as a feasibility study.
OK, show me a photo of 1350 with an RS-3 hood-- The L&N equipment diagram, in Fallen Flags (sheet 50) clearly shows an RS-11 hood, complete with numberboard notches and compressor aftercooler. L&N's mechanical department drew up the diagram incorrectly?
(Added later)
A perusal of several of other drawings by the L&N mechanical department show their C-418s (RR class RS-27, which were really RS-11s) with the same long hood as 1350 received. Also the drawing of 1350 shows an RS-3 short hood with the RS-11 long hood. Clearly the mechanical department took the time to make a diagram specifically for this unit and to not use a "generic" RS-11 diagram for this rebuild.
Two people have said that this unit had a modified RS-3 long hood. Again, I'd like to see photos.
(Added later)
A perusal of several of other drawings by the L&N mechanical department show their C-418s (RR class RS-27, which were really RS-11s) with the same long hood as 1350 received. Also the drawing of 1350 shows an RS-3 short hood with the RS-11 long hood. Clearly the mechanical department took the time to make a diagram specifically for this unit and to not use a "generic" RS-11 diagram for this rebuild.
Two people have said that this unit had a modified RS-3 long hood. Again, I'd like to see photos.
Last edited by EDM5970 on Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
I know nothing about the drawing, but I do know its wrong if it shows a RS-11 hood. I've seen it myself, I've shot it myself and I know (knew) the L&N Alcos pretty well. It had the hatch cover for the stack area raised 8-12 inches and I think a slightly larger radiator fan. Otherwise, pure RS-3. Drawings, apparently even "offical" drawings can be wrong. Show me a picture with a RS-11 long hood:-)
I'm sure there's a photo in the book
"The Louisville And Nashville In The Appalachians"
RS-3
I'm sure there's a photo in the book
"The Louisville And Nashville In The Appalachians"
RS-3
L&N 1350:
As you can see, a vee 251 can fit in most engine hoods, save the turbocharger assembly. Interstingly, they left the oscillating headlights on. 1350 was also a RS-3 slug mother. Sold to Nap in 1979.
L&N's "C-418" series applied to RS-36s, not RS-11s. All of the locos in question were scrapped. As to those neat CNW RS-3/11 hybrids, they *probobly* don't exist, but I can't prove that.
As you can see, a vee 251 can fit in most engine hoods, save the turbocharger assembly. Interstingly, they left the oscillating headlights on. 1350 was also a RS-3 slug mother. Sold to Nap in 1979.
L&N's "C-418" series applied to RS-36s, not RS-11s. All of the locos in question were scrapped. As to those neat CNW RS-3/11 hybrids, they *probobly* don't exist, but I can't prove that.
A picture from 1978 might shed some light. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=448470
I agree, now that I've seen two photos, that the L&N equipment diagram for 1350 is wrong. Maybe the RS-11 hood was wishful thinking on the Mechanical Department's' part? IIRC, GBW chose to raise the whole hood, as did M-K for the D&H and D&M units. Just raising the turbo housing, as L&N did, would have saved some serious money. In the case of the C&NW units, there was no hood left to raise, after the wreck!
As to RS-11 v. RS-36, the L&N diagrams do not give model numbers. DSG II, which is known to have a few errors of it's own, lists L&N 901-905 (exTC 301-305) as RS-36s. The same DSG II offers a photo of C&NW 1624 on page REP-450. I'm sure the C&NW units were scrapped long ago.
As to RS-11 v. RS-36, the L&N diagrams do not give model numbers. DSG II, which is known to have a few errors of it's own, lists L&N 901-905 (exTC 301-305) as RS-36s. The same DSG II offers a photo of C&NW 1624 on page REP-450. I'm sure the C&NW units were scrapped long ago.
The 5 ex-TC RS-36's were indeed RS-36's and classed by L&N as C-418's. They had the standard RS-36 carbody and were numbered 910-914 (NOT 901-905). No other units had the same hood modification as the 1350. (Another RS-3 was repowered with a EMD engine out of a E-unit, the 138 I think, but it required no real body modification.) The L&N later acquired the 10 ex-Seaboard/SCL RS-11's (L&N 950-959) when all the SCL "Falimy Lines" Alcos were sent to the L&N.
RS
RS