ALCO S-1 and S-3

Infobox Locomotive
name=ALCO S-1 and S-3
powertype=Diesel-electric

---

caption=MidContinent Railway #7, an S-1, rests between trains on October 10, 2004.
gauge=RailGauge|ussg
builder=American Locomotive Company, and
Montreal Locomotive Works
primemover=Alco 539
aspiration=Normally aspirated
enginetype=Four-stroke diesel
cylindersize=12½ × 13 in (318 × 320 mm)
displacement=convert|9572|cuin|l|abbr=on|lk=on
cylindercount=Straight 6
poweroutput=convert|660|hp|kW|abbr=on
aarwheels=B-B
builddate=S-1: April 1940 – June 1950
S-3: March 1950 – November 1953
totalproduction=S-1: 550
S-3: 292
locale=North America, Brazil, United KingdomThe ALCO S-1 and S-3 were convert|660|hp switcher diesel-electric locomotives produced by ALCO and their Canadian subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW). Basically, the two locomotives differed only in trucks, with the S-1 using ALCO's own Blunt trucks, and the S-3 riding on standard AAR type A switcher trucks. The S-1 was built between April 1940 and June 1950, with a total of 540 completed, while the S-3 was constructed between March 1950 and November 1953 (MLW until 1957) with total sales of 292. A modified version, the S-10, was built by MLW only; 13 were built between January and June 1958.

Identification

The S-1 and S-3 are distinguishable externally from the very similar S-2 and S-4 convert|1000|hp switchers in that they have a smaller exhaust stack with a round base and a smaller radiator shutter area on the nose sides. The S-1/S-3 radiator shutter area is taller than it is wide, while the S-2/S-4 radiator area is wider. The smaller stack is due to the lack of turbocharging.

The S-10 is not externally distinguishable from later Canadian-built S-3 locomotives; it differed mostly in electrical equipment.

Original owners

The S-1 and S-3 models were sold to an extensive list of railroads and industrial operators, as detailed below. Major owners of the S-1 included the New York Central Railroad (NYC), with 71 locomotives; the New Haven with 65 locomotives; the L&N with 45 locomotives; the C&NW, with 29 locomotives; and the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) with 27 locomotives. Major customers for the S-3 included the CP, with 101; the CN, with 49; the NYC, with 43 locomotives; the B&M, with 16; and the PRR, with 13. The MLW S-10 was sold only to the CP.

The totals below include export orders and MLW-built locomotives.

Locomotives built by ALCO

S-1

S-10

Survivors

A few S1s still survive in operation with shortline railroads in the United States. Several more are preserved at US railroad museums.

The Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad in Stockton, California still uses an S1, although the locomotive, former Western Pacific 505, is now considered a back-up to the railroad's primary locomotives.

Three S1s are preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola, California: Western Pacific locos 504 and 506 and a former U. S. Army locomotive painted to represent a Western Pacific locomotive.

The former Proctor and Gamble #9, repainted as NYC 9339, is, as of 2008, in regular use on the Whitewater Valley RR in Connersville, IN.

A Canadian S3 has been restored to original condition and is on display at the Saskatchewan Railway Museum.

Of the locos that were shipped to the UK for use at Margam the current position is: 801 has recently been bought for preservation from EMR Kingsbury and will be restored by members of the UK Alco Group; 802 is scrapped; 803 is recorded as a long term restoration project; 804 saw some work undertaken by members of the UK ALCo Group but site development has meant this is on hold; 805 was supposedly sent for preservation but no further details are known and it is assumed now scrapped.

References

*
* Toppan, Andrew et al. " [http://www.thedieselshop.us/Alco_S1.HTML Alco/MLW S-1 Roster] ". Retrieved on January 12, 2004.
* Toppan, Andrew et al. " [http://www.thedieselshop.us/Alco_S3.HTML Alco/MLW S-3 Roster] ". Retrieved on January 13, 2004.