Help identify these Alcos - NIMX 1982

[BlockLine_4111]

Red Alco switcher #1268 (s-1, s-2) and #1800 National Locomotive (maybe a RS27 or C420)? I have small 126 pix of these two in the bone yard.

4111

[Alcoman]

I remember the 1268.an S-2..It was in Naparano's Iron & Metal.They leased it out for awhile to a Sand Company in South Amboy,NJ.
1800 was a RS-36 which was scrapped due to the price they(NIMX) wanted for it. I have slide of these also. Due you member seeing the "Dolly sisters" there? I have slides of that too!

[BlockLine_4111]

I remember the 1268.an S-2..It was in Naparano's Iron & Metal.They leased it out for awhile to a Sand Company in South Amboy,NJ.

Did NIMX eventually scrap it?

Due you member seeing the "Dolly sisters" there? I have slides of that too!

SOO Alcos? IIRC in a magazine but not in person.

[Alcoman]

Yes, they scrapped it.
Yes, Soo Line RS-27's(DL-640)

[trainspot]

Was the 1268 a former B&O unit? Some of the B&O S-2's were cut down to a frame & trucks, and used like flat cars on some unusual operation, I remember hearing. I have a poor photo of some.

[trainspot]

Here's a photo I took, those cut down S-2s are way in the back.
http://trainspot.rrpicturearchives.net/ ... ?id=611949

[tgibson]

Hi,

I saw and photographed the Dolly Sisters in operation at Minneapolis. I also shot the GB&W RS27 working at Green Bay. Lucky me!!

Take care,

[BlockLine_4111]

I saw and photographed the Dolly Sisters in operation at Minneapolis.

Why are these so called "Dolly Sisters" so popular among railfans? Seems fans crawled out of the woodwork to get down to NIMX before they cut 'em up. Any history can anyone fill me in on these "Dolly Sisters" and why they are classical.

[SooLineRob]

The "Dolly Sisters" story...

First new locomotives delivered to the newly merged SOO Line Railroad in 1962, road #'s 415 & 416.

First units to be delivered in the SOO red-white-black scheme.

First "high horsepower" units purchased by SOO, 2400 HP.

Only 2 Alco RS27's purchased by SOO, as well as the SOO's last Alco product!

Quickly deemed unreliable for road service, spent their entire careers with SOO on Twin Cities area yard/transfer assignments (close to shop).

Named after a 1930's era Vaudeville act where two identical twin sisters, the Dollys, mirrored each other's dance moves exactly. The nickname given to the units was in reference to how they were identical twin "orphans" on the roster, always moving/mimicing each other's moves, initially coupled back-to-back, in their "high horsepower" yard assignments.

Why they became classics is left to interpretation and speculation...

[N. Todd]

The Dolly sisters at Naporano
If I'm correct they were scrapped in May.

[BlockLine_4111]

Quickly deemed unreliable for road service, spent their entire careers with SOO on Twin Cities area yard/transfer assignments (close to shop)....

What operational or mechanical issues did they pose in road service?

Named after a 1930's era Vaudeville act where two identical twin sisters, the Dollys, mirrored each other's dance moves exactly. The nickname given to the units was in reference to how they were identical twin "orphans" on the roster, always moving/mimicing each other's moves, initially coupled back-to-back, in their "high horsepower" yard assignments.

Did they belch much smoke with all the throttle changes in switcher service?

[SooLineRob]

Hello Blockline, how've you been?

Alco's products were already off the roster by my time. Sorry, I can't help with specific info on these units per se; only a few remaining co-workers of mine ran them...

I got my "Golden Arm" at the end of GP30/35's, GP/SD 9's, U23/33/36 C-boats, etc. Most (except D&H) Class 1 roads scrapped their Alco's in the early 80's... Hey GA, care to chime in?

[GOLDEN-ARM]

(Doing his best imitation of a Nathan M-3)........BAMP!!!!!! Hey, Rob, what's up? I saw the "sisters at Nappi's, in the very early 80's. They were parted quickly, then frames cut, for scrap. As for the "typical" Alco-esque cloud making abilities, an Alco is an Alco........ I have already related the demise of the National 1800, which was sold due to untraceable electrical faults, then scrapped by Nappi's as well. (got those pix, too) I got some seat time on the 4 and 6 axle Centuries, in mainline service, and am lucky(?) enough to be able to run a RSD-6 in yard/transfer service, here in Oregon, if the call goes in my favor. Turbo lag, and the related loading lag makes them less than desireable, for switching, but those very "qualities" makes them excellent sun-blockers. I "horse" the Alco when working her, and she produces thick, black acrid clouds of Alco smoke, at will. I just passed on the chance to hire on the A&M, with their large Alco roster, over wages. It was hard, to pass the chance to run the last of the surviving LV Alco road fleet, but you gotta pay the bills...... If you make it down to the TCT, you might poke around the Shoreham shops. Some very interesting stuff was stored inside the roundhouse, and behing the backshop, when I was running out of there.........