The ALCO RS-3 is a , B-B diesel-electric locomotive manufactured from May 1950 to August 1956 by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and its subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW). A total of 1,418 were produced: 1,272 for American railroads, 98 for Canadian railroads, 48 for Brazilian railroads, and 7 for Mexican railroads.

The RS-3 greatly resembled the earlier RS-2 and somewhat resembles the RS-1, but it had 100 more horsepower thanks to its 12-cylinder, 1,600 hp ALCO Model 244 engine. It also had some changes to the fuel system and body shape.

Much like the RS-1, many RS-3s served for decades; some are still in use as of 2022.

Variants

RSC-3: an RS-3 that used 3-axle trucks instead of 2-axle trucks. The middle axle on each truck was unpowered. This variant was designed for service on light track, as the extra axles better spread the weight of the locomotive.

Preservation

  • Boston & Maine #1508 is owned by the Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston, Connecticut. It is currently stored awaiting restoration.
  • Central of Georgia #109 is owned by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is undergoing restoration.
  • Central Railroad of New Jersey #1554 is preserved at Steamtown in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It also sees revenue service on the Delaware Lackawanna shortline railroad.
  • Connecticut DOT RS3m #605 is preserved at the Danbury Railway Museum in Danbury, Connecticut.
  • Delaware & Hudson #4085 is owned by the Saratoga, Corinth, & Hudson Railway and is under restoration.
  • Delaware & Hudson #4103, 4118 operate on the Saratoga, Corinth, & Hudson Railway

thumb|Alco RS-3 at the Railroad Museum of New England

  • Great Northern #229 is preserved at the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady, New York.
  • Green Bay & Western RS3m #308 is preserved at the Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, Illinois.
  • Kennecott Copper #2 is preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California.
  • Lehigh Valley RS3m #211 is preserved at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in Monroe County, New York.
  • Long Island Railroad #1556 is preserved at the Railroad Museum of Long Island in Riverhead, New York.
  • Magma Arizona #3 is owned by the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Arizona. It is in storage.
  • Maine Central #557 is preserved at the Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston, Connecticut.
  • Minnesota Transfer Railway #200 is preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois.
  • Missouri-Kansas-Texas RS3m #142 is owned by the Midland Railway in Baldwin City, Kansas and used to power excursion trains.
  • Missouri Pacific #4502 is preserved at the National Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood, Missouri.
  • Nevada Northern #109 is preserved on the Nevada Northern Railway in Ely, Nevada
  • New Haven #529 is preserved at the Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston, Connecticut. It is currently stored awaiting restoration.
  • New York Central #8255 is owned by the Adirondack Railway Preservation Society and is under restoration as of 2025.
  • New York Central Railroad #8223 was run by Adirondack Scenic railroad; now stored at Union Station Utica NY in the midst of a legal dispute.
  • Norfolk & Western #300 is preserved at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia.
  • Ohio Central #1077 is preserved at the Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum in Sugarcreek, Ohio.
  • Reading #467 is preserved at Steamtown in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
  • Reading #485 is preserved at the Reading Company Museum in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. It is awaiting restoration.
  • Western Maryland #195 is preserved at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

See also

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

References

Bibliography