ALCO RSC-3

The ALCO RSC-3 was a diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type rated at 1,600 horsepower (1,200 kW), that rode on three-axle trucks, having an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement.^[1]

ALCO RSC-3
New South Wales Government Railways 4002
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder ALCO MLW Model RSC-3 Build date November 1950 – June 1955 Total produced 99
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR A1A-A1A Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge and others Length 53 ft 1 in (16.18 m) Width 10 ft (3.05 m) Height 14 ft 5 in (4.39 m) Loco weight 254,840 lb (115,590 kg) Fuel capacity 800 US gal (666 imp gal; 3,028 L) Prime mover ALCO 12-244 Engine type V12 Four-stroke diesel Aspiration Turbocharged Displacement 8,016 cu in (131.36 L) Generator DC generator Traction motors DC traction motors Cylinders 12 Cylinder size 9 in × 10+1⁄2 in (229 mm × 267 mm) Transmission Electric Loco brake Straight air Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 65 mph (105 km/h) Power output 1,600 hp (1,190 kW) Tractive effort 42,470 lbf (188.92 kN)
Career Locale North America, Central America, South America, Portugal, Australia, Pakistan

Used in much the same manner as its four-axle counterpart, the ALCO RS-3, though the axle load was spread out for operation on light rail such as are found on branch lines. This locomotive had much better success as an export unit than in the domestic market.

Original owners

Locomotives built by Alco

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
Algerian Railways	5	DG1–DG5
Ferrocarril Central del Uruguay	3	1601–1603	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge (last one, 1602, withdrawn in 1993)
North Western Railway of Pakistan	26	3301–3326	to Pakistan Railways 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) gauge
Panama Railroad	3	901–903	5 ft (1,524 mm) gauge
São Paulo Railway, Brazil	12	550–561	1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) gauge
Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses	5	1521–1525	1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) gauge
Consolidated Railways of Cuba	6	1606-1611
Seaboard Air Line Railroad	7	1537–1543	to Seaboard Coast Line 1111–1117
Soo Line Railroad	4	372–374, 2380	2380 owned by Wisconsin Central Railway
Total	71

Locomotives built by Montreal Locomotive Works

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
New South Wales Government Railways	20	4001–4020	NSW 40 class
Pacific Great Eastern Railway	8	561–568	to British Columbia Railway
Total	28

Preserved

This list is incomplete. Please help expand it.^[2]

Locomotive ALCO RSC-3 7653, originally manufactured for CPEF, having operated in FEPASA, Ciminas and SPA Engenharia. Currently belongs to IRON and operates in rented Supervia.

Australia

• 4001 Preserved at the NSWRTM Thirlmere
• 4002 Preserved at the PRHS Western Australia
• 4006 On static display Wickham WA

Brazil

• 7653 operating in Supervia

Canada

• PGE 561 operating in Squamish at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park

Portugal

• 1525 operating in SOMAFEL

See also

• List of ALCO diesel locomotives
• List of MLW diesel locomotives