ALCO RSD-15

Infobox Locomotive
name = ALCO RSD-15
powertype = Diesel-electric

---

caption = GBW 2407, preserved at IRM
builder = ALCO
buildmodel = RSD-15
totalproduction = 75
aarwheels = C-C
uicclass = Co'Co'
trucks = ALCO trimount
gauge = RailGauge|ussg
length = 66 ft 7 in (20.29 m) [cite web
url = http://www.thedieselshop.us/DataRSD15.HTML
title = ALCO RSD-15 Data Sheet
work = The Diesel Shop
accessdate = 2006-11-29]
width = 10 ft 1 in (3.07 m)
height = 14 ft 11 in (4.55 m)
wheeldiameter = 40 in (1.02 m)
weight = 335,000 lb (152,000 kg)
fuelc

poweroutput = 2400 hp (1800 kW)
primemover = ALCO 251B
enginetype = 4-stroke diesel
cylindercount = V16
alternator = GE GT586 generator
topspeed = 65 mph (105 km/h)
tractiveeffort = starting: 95,600 lbf (425 kN) at 25% adhesion
continuous: 79,500 lbf (354 kN) at 12 mph (19 km/h)The ALCO RSD-15 was a diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type built by ALCO of Schenectady, New York between August 1956 and June 1960, during which time 75 locomotives were produced. The RSD-15 was powered by an ALCO 251 prime mover rated at 2,400 hp (1,800 kW); it superseded the very similar in appearance ALCO 244-engined RSD-7, and was cataloged alongside the similar but smaller 1,800 hp (1,350 kW) RSD-12.Pinkepank diesel spotters guide 2]

The locomotive rode on a pair of three-axle trucks with all three axles on each truck powered; this is a C-C wheel arrangement. These trucks have an unequal axle spacing due to traction motor positioning; the outer two axles on each truck are closer together than the inner two. The six-motor design allowed better tractive effort at lower speeds.

The RSD-15 could be ordered with either a high or low short hood; railfans dubbed the low short hood version "Alligators", on account of their long noses.

Original owners

[cite web
url = http://www.thedieselshop.us/Alco_RSD15.HTML
title = ALCO RSD-15 Roster
work = The Diesel Shop
accessdate = 2006-11-29]

urviving examples

Six RSD-15s survive in preservation; all are ex-Santa Fe units. [cite web
url = http://www.thedieselshop.us/PRSVDalcoRS.HTML
title = Preserved ALCO Road-Switchers
work = The Diesel Shop
accessdate = 2006-11-29] Only two are in operating condition; the Austin and Texas Central has ATSF #842, now numbered #442 and painted in a modified Southern Pacific "Black Widow" scheme. It hauls tourist passenger trains. [cite web
url = http://www.austinsteamtrain.org/442.html
title = Alco Diesel 442
work = Austin Steam Train
accessdate = 2006-11-29]
Green Bay and Western Railroad RSD-15 #2407 (Ex-ATSF 841) survives at the Illinois Railway Museum. [cite book
author = Glischinski, Steve
title = Santa Fe Railway (Railroad Color History)
pages = 126
publisher = MBI
year = 1997
id = ISBN 0-7603-0380-0] Another, ex-ATSF 823, is at the Utah Railroad Museum, painted for former owner Utah Railway, while units also survive at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento and the Arkansas Railroad Museum has the ex ATSF #843.

Models

The RSD-15 has been produced in N Gauge by Mehano of Yugoslavia.

The RSD-15 has been produced in HO scale by Broadway Limited Imports. [cite web
url = http://www.broadway-limited.com/products/rsd15.htm
title = ALCO RSD-15
work = Broadway Limited Imports
accessdate = 2006-11-29]

The RSD-15 has been produced in O scale by Atlas O in their Trainman line. [cite web
url = http://www.atlastrainman.com/Locomotives/tmorsd715.htm
title = ALCO RSD-15
work = Atlas O, LLC
accessdate = 2007-02-08]

References