ALCO RSD-5

The ALCO RSD-5 is a diesel-electric locomotive rated at 1,600 horsepower (1.2 MW), that rode on a pair of three-axle trucks, having a C-C wheel arrangement.

ALCO RSD-5
Preserved Nickel Plate No. 324 (originally Utah Railway No. 306) at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in 2013
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderALCO
ModelRSD-5
Build date1952–1956
Total produced204 (167 USA, 37 Mexico)
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
TrucksALCO trimount
Wheel diameter40 in (1,016 mm)
Minimum curve21° (274.37 ft or 83.63 m
Wheelbase42 ft 3 in (12.88 m)
Length56 ft 6 in (17.22 m)
Width10 ft 1+5⁄8 in (3.089 m)
Height14 ft 8+1⁄4 in (4.477 m)
Loco weight287,000 lb (130,000 kg)
Fuel capacity1,300 US gal (4,900 L; 1,100 imp gal)
Prime moverAlco 244
RPM range1000 (max)
Engine typeV12 Four-stroke engine diesel
AspirationTurbocharger
Displacement8,016 cu in (131.36 L)
GeneratorGE GT566
Traction motors(6) GE 752
Cylinders12
Cylinder size9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Performance figures
Power output1,600 hp (1.2 MW)
Tractive effort71,750 lb (32,550 kg)

Basically an upgraded version of the earlier ALCO RSD-4, and used in much the same manner as its four-axle counterpart, the ALCO RS-3, the six-motor design allowed better tractive effort at lower speeds.

Original owners
RailroadQuantityRoad numbersNotes
American Locomotive Company (demonstrator)11606to ATSF 2157
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway522110–2156, 2158–2162
Birmingham Southern Railroad1160
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway265570–5595
Chicago and North Western Railway101665–1667, 1684–1690
Central Railroad of New Jersey11615
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road)62150–2155Renumbered 570–575
Pennsylvania Railroad68446–8451
St. Louis Southwestern Railway3270–272
Southern Pacific Company365294–5307, 5336–5339, 5445–5448, 5494–550721 of them traded back to Alco in 1960 and rebuilt into Alco RSD-12's[1]
Southern Pacific (Texas and New Orleans Railroad)24155–176, 185–186
Utah Railway1306to DLMX 324
Ferrocarril del Pacífico35801–835
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México26900–6901
Total204

Preserved units

As of 2015, there are only two of these (unrebuilt) locomotives known to be in existence. Ex-CNW #1689, formerly owned by Gary Baloun, is currently in operation at the Illinois Railway Museum and repainted in its original Chicago & North Western colors. The other is the former Utah Railway #306, now painted as Nickel Plate Road #324 and formerly owned by Doyle McCormack of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation. As of September 2022, the locomotive has been repatriated to Utah and is located at the Utah State Railroad Museum awaiting a planned restoration to its Utah Railway colors.[2]

Two rebuilt RSD5s (made into RSD-12's) built for the Southern Pacific survive at the Orange Empire Railway Museum (numbers 2954 and 2958).

References
  1. "Southern Pacific RSD5 Info Page". espee.railfan.net. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  2. Strack, Don. "Utah Railway Diesel Locomotives". UtahRails. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  • Dorin, Patrick C. (1972). Chicago and North Western Power. Burbank, California: Superior Publishing. p. 142. ISBN 0-87564-715-4.
  • Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing Company. p. 247. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.


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