The Alco RS1

The American Locomotive Company (Alco) could seemingly never outdo the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) for dominance in the early diesel locomotive market. Simply put, Alco just never spent enough research and development into a reliable and efficient main line model believing steam would always rule supreme (by the time they had done so, EMD already dominated the market). Despite this, the company would develop one of the most important layouts for how all future diesel locomotives would be built; the Alco RS1 would pioneer the original roadswitcher design. Not only would EMD go on to use the carbody style in its later GP-series but the offset cab design is still used today with the latest models being produced by General Electric and Electro-Motive Diesel. Overall, the RS1 was the longest produced diesel locomotive of all time, remaining in Alco's catalog for nearly 20 years. Today, you can still find a handful of these rugged workers still in service (almost all are in museums).

Alco's history with switchers dated all of the way back to its demonstrator HH300 models (High Hood) of the early 1930s. These early models were more of test designs (which also included the HH600, HH660, HH900, and HH1000) built in conjunction with Westinghouse and McIntosh & Seymore. They were given slight design features from famed industrial designer Otto Kuhler and most noteworthy of the models were that they were the first to employ the raised cabs so commonly employed today. Designed by Westinghouse as the "visibility cab", they were, normally, wider and taller than the engine hood providing crews with better visibility featured an arched roof line. Alco would go on to use this cab design through its later RS series.

Interestingly, the initial idea for the RS1 came from the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (a loyal Alco customer), which was looking for a branch line switcher that could be used in all types of applications. The original Alco RS1 most resembles its shorter predecessors, the S series, and carries the same sharp angles as the switcher models. Rated at only 1,000 horsepower (which did include a turbocharger) and plainly labeled by their manufacturer (Road Switcher, 1st model), they quickly caught on with the railroads and lasted in Alco’s catalog until 1960, longer than both the later RS2 and RS3 models. Alco also built a C-C version of the RS1 known as the RSD1 but the six-axle version never quite caught on like its four-axle cousin, although interestingly a few of these continue to remain in use today. The six-axle version came in either a C-C or A1A-A1A truck setup and was quite popular with the US Army (partly due to the fact that World War II was ongoing, helping Alco's diesel sales during the conflict). In the end, the builder was still able to produce more than 250 RSD1s.

The standard Alco RS-1 came in a B-B truck setup (four axles) and could produce 34,000 pounds of tractive effort with a top speed of 60 mph. It was quite short at just 54 feet, 11 inches and also featured a very low profile. Overall, the model weighed just 120 tons and featured electrical and other components from both General Electric and Westinghouse. With the Rock Island's original request for the model it was one of the first railroads to receive the RS1 when the first batches were completed in March, 1941 being delivered to Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad, Milwaukee Road, New York, Susquehanna & Western, and the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railroad.

Despite only modest sales numbers the Alco RS1 could be found on railroads across the country from the Pennsylvania and New York Central to the Milwaukee Road and Union Pacific. Perhaps these modest sales numbers was due to the fact that railroads were simply testing the waters but whatever the case, the success the RS series saw with the following two designs was quite astounding. Interestingly, following the RS3 the series saw only lukewarm sales success. For a total production roster of Alco RS1s please click here. Also, for more information about the RS1 and all RS series designs please refer to the chart below.

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RS Series

Also consider Mike Schafer's Vintage Diesel Locomotives which looks at virtually all of the classic builders and models from Alco PAs to early EMD Geeps. If you’re interested in classic Alcos, or diesel locomotives in general, this book gives an excellent general history of both. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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