ALCO RS-11

Infobox Locomotive
name=ALCO RS-11
powertype=Diesel-electric
gauge=RailGauge|ussg


caption=TPW 400, an RS-11 on display at Illinois Railway Museum, July 16 2005.
builder=ALCO
buildmodel=RS-11
poweroutput=1,800 hp (1.3 MW)
aarwheels=B-B
totalproduction=356
locale=North America
primemover=ALCO 251B
The ALCO RS-11 is a diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type rated at 1,800 hp (1.3 MW), that rode on two-axle trucks, having a B-B wheel arrangement.

Development

The first RS-11s were produced by ALCO in early 1956. This locomotive, classified by ALCO as model DL-701, was their replacement for the very popular RS-3 road switcher. Featuring a V-12, 1,800 hp (1.3 MW) 251B diesel engine, the RS-11 was ALCO's answer to EMD's very successful GP9. The turbocharged RS-11 accelerated faster, had a higher tractive effort rating and typically used less fuel than the competition. It was also quite versatile and could be found in heavy haul freight as well as passenger service.

Original purchasers

The largest owner of RS-11s was Norfolk and Western Railway which purchased a total of 99 units (an additional 35 were added to the fleet after the merger with Nickel Plate Road). Other major purchasers included Northern Pacific Railway, Pennsylvania Railroad and Southern Pacific Railroad, all of whom placed repeat orders. With approximately 426 units built for the US and Mexico over 8 years of production, the RS-11 was successful for ALCO in that it provided ongoing competition for EMD's popular road switchers. A few examples of this model are still in service as of 2007 and can be found working for various short-line railroads in the US.

References

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