Alco "S1" Locomotives: Specs, Roster, Data Sheet
Last revised: December 23, 2024
By: Adam Burns
The Alco S-1 was one of the first switcher models the company produced and debuted just after the company had
released its first ever main line design, the DL series.
The American Locomotive Company's history with switchers actually dated as far back as the boxcab design it had developed in conjunction with General Electric and Ingersoll-Rand in 1918 for the Jay Street Connecting Railroad (#4).
In 1931 it began constructing more standard designs beginning with a 300 horsepower variant (despite railfans classifying these switchers as "High Hood" types, Alco never used such terminology as John Kirkland notes in his book, "The Diesel Builders: Volume Two").
Along with this model Alco built 600, 660, 900, and 1,000 horsepower versions through July, 1940. Convinced that it could successfully market a line of switchers, the builder released its "S" series (Switcher) soon after.
The dichotomy of Alco is fascinating; the builder proved quite successful with its switchers and light road-switcher models (RS-1, RS-2, and RS-3).
However, it struggled to catalog an effective and rugged road-switcher design that could handle the stresses and beating of daily freight service. Today, numerous S1's are preserved around the country, many of which are still operational.
Photos
It's the early Erie Lackawanna era as a former Erie Railroad S1 works local service along the old Delaware, Lackawanna & Western main line at Nichols, New York on a beautiful October day in 1963. Photographer unknown. American-Rails.com collection.Overview
The Alco S1 was first produced in 1940 featuring an end-cab design using McIntosh & Seymore's 539 model prime mover. The model came equipped with 660 horsepower and was well liked by short lines and Class Is for yard work and light branch line duties.
The engine the S1 employed proved quite adept in this capacity although the builder would come to find that producing a reliable main line design was a far trickier task.
This was mostly due to the fact that the Schenectady manufacturer did not see diesel locomotives as standard freight and passenger power, a fatal decision that would haunt the company for years. In any event, to its credit Alco correctly foresaw the demand for switchers, at least early with first-generation examples.
New Haven Railroad S-1 #0939 and a mate layover near the massive coaling tower at the Charles Street Roundhouse in Providence, Rhode Island during the early 1950s. American-Rails.com collection.Design
The S1 employed many design characteristics that the company had refined during its early years of collaborating with Ingersoll-Rand and GE, particularly during the construction of its initial switcher line.
This series was produced in conjunction with Westinghouse and McIntosh & Seymore featuring the former's "Visibility Cab" design, which was wider and, usually, taller (unless the hood was mounted flush with the top of the cab) than the trailing hood to give crews maximum visibility.
Alco would make this cab the standard for its S series and early RS (Road Switcher) locomotives. The manufacturer also carried over the carbody design features Otto Kuhler had employed on the HH locomotives, primarily in the way of soft bevels and curves.
A former Erie S1, #318, totes a short of cut of cars at Binghamton, New York in December, 1962. Author's collection.The Alco S1 was classed by Alco as its E1530 design and was quite similar to its later S3 model (actually, all of the S series locomotives were very similar in appearance, externally).
It featured four, General Electric model 731 traction motors and also used main/secondary generators from the company. Additionally, Westinghouse supplied all air components (both companies supplied Alco with these parts virtually through the end of its time as a locomotive manufacturer).
For a small switcher that only weighed 105 tons it could produce quite a bit of tractive effort; 57,500 pounds starting and 46,000 pounds continuous (a trait certainly not missed by railroads).
Chicago & North Western S1 #1223 switches the Oscar Mayer plant at Commercial Avenue in Maple Bluff, Wisconsin in July, 1963. Rick Burn photo.Data Sheet and Specifications
| Entered Production | 5/16/1940 (Des Moines Union Railway #1) |
| Years Produced | 5/16/1940-6//29/1950 |
| Model Specification | E1530 |
| Engine | 539, 6-Cylinder In-Line |
| Horsepower | 660 |
| RPM | 740 |
| Carbody Styling | Alco |
| Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces) | 45' 5.75" |
| Width | 10' |
| Height Above Rail Head | 14' 6" |
| Weight | 196,000 Lbs. |
| Trucks | B-B |
| Truck Type | Blunt |
| Truck Wheelbase | 8' |
| Wheel Size | 40" |
| Traction Motors | GE 731 (4) |
| Traction Generator | GT552 |
| Gear Ratio | 75:16 |
| Tractive Effort Rating | 29,200 Lbs. at 6.1 MPH. |
| Top Speed | 60 MPH |
Production Roster
Total Built = 555
| Owner | Road Number(s) | Serial Number(s) | Date Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Great Southern (Southern) | 6500-6502 | 69508-69510 | 10/1941 |
| Alameda Belt Line | D-1, D-2 | 69678, 69679 | 3/1942 |
| Alameda Belt Line | D-3 | 73915 | 8/1946 |
| Alco (Demonstrator) | 590 (Was originally Alco's 1940 World Fair exhibit; displayed as New York Central #590.) | 69193 | 3/1941 |
| Alco (Demonstrator) | 5 (Plant switcher) | 75225 | 5/1947 |
| Alco (Demonstrator) | 660 (became Tacoma Municipal Belt #905) | 77790 | 3/1950 |
| American Steel & Wire | 2 | 69402 | 1/1941 |
| Ann Arbor | 2, 3 | 70051, 71663 | 7/1944, 9/1944 |
| Armco Steel | E106 | 77106 | 10/1949 |
| Armco Steel | E107, E108 | 77980, 77981 | 5/1950 |
| Arthur G. McKee & Company | DPC-25-23, DP-25-24 | 69843, 69844 | 3/1943 |
| Santa Fe | 2303, 2304 | 71991, 71992 | 6/1944 |
| Baltimore & Ohio | 251 | 72694 | 9/1944 |
| Baltimore & Ohio | 252-253 | 72835-72836 | 11/1944 |
| Baltimore & Ohio | 254-255 | 72840-72841 | 11/1944 |
| Baltimore & Ohio | 250 | 70057 | 8/1944 |
| Belt Railway of Chicago | 304 | 69501 | 8/1941 |
| Belt Railway of Chicago | 305-306 | 69810-69811 | 7/1942 |
| Birmingham Southern | 100-101 | 69502-69503 | 8/1941 |
| Boston & Maine | 1163, 1164 | 70050, 71662 | 7, 8/1944 |
| Boston & Maine | 1165 | 72837 | 10/1944 |
| Boston & Maine | 1166-1167 | 75895-75896 | 8/1948 |
| Boston & Maine | 1168-1169 | 76153-76154 | 1/1949 |
| Boston & Maine | 1170-1171 | 76568-76569 | 3/1949 |
| Boston & Maine | 1172 | 76737 | 5/1949 |
| Broward County Port Authority | 410 | 71260 | 9/1943 |
| Canadian Car & Munitions | 5 | 69824 | 12/1941 |
| Central of Georgia | 4, 6 | 69380, 69512 | 9/1940, 10/1941 |
| Central Railroad of New Jersey | 1024-1025 | 69602-69603 | 12/1941 |
| Champlain Paper & Fibre Company | 25 | 75124 | 1/1947 |
| Chicago & Eastern Illinois | 103 | 69593 | 10/1941 |
| Chicago & Eastern Illinois | 104-105 | 69827-69828 | 8/1942 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1202, 1203 | 69203, 69460 | 11/1940, 5/1941 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1204, 1205 | 69480, 69601 | 5/1941, 11/1941 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1213 | 69829 | 9/1942 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1223-1224 | 70048-70049 | 8/1944 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1225-1226 | 71660-71661 | 8/1944 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1227, 1228 | 71669, 72693 | 10/1944 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1229 | 72838 | 10/1944 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1232 - 1235 | 72845-72848 | 12/1944 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1236 | 73084 | 1/1945 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1247-1248 | 73904-73905 | 6/1946, 8/1946 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1249-1250 | 73909-73910 | 8/1946 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1251-1252 | 73912-73913 | 8/1946 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1253, 1254 | 75648, 75884 | 4/1948 |
| Chicago & North Western | 1255 - 1258 | 75885-75888 | 5/1948 |
| Chicago Great Western | 11 - 15 | 75890-75894 | 6/1948 |
| Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha (C&NW) | 56-57 | 72842-72843 | 11/1944 |
| Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha (C&NW) | 69 | 75889 | 5/1948 |
| Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific (Southern) | 6000-6001 | 69506-69507 | 9/1941 |
| City of Prineville | 101 | 77079 | 4/1950 |
| Day & Zimmerman Company | 3-100 | 69469 | 6/1941 |
| Delray Connecting Railroad | 66, 68 | 73347, 73351 | 4/1945, 5/1945 |
| Delray Connecting Railroad | 70, 72 | 73354, 73575 | 6/1945, 9/1945 |
| Des Moines Union Railway | 1 - 3 | 69190-69192 | 5/1940 |
| Des Moines Union Railway | 4 | 73914 | 8/1946 |
| Detroit & Mackinac | 646 | 74437 | 6/1946 |
| Donner Hanna Coal Company | 2 | 69496 | 7/1941 |
| East St. Louis Junction Railroad | 100 | 75901 | 10/1948 |
| Elgin, Joliet & Eastern | 213-214 | 69208-69209 | 10/1940 |
| Elgin, Joliet & Eastern | 215 | 69391 | 12/1940 |
| Elgin, Joliet & Eastern | 216-217 | 69404-69405 | 1/1941 |
| Erie Railroad | 306 | 74959 | 9/1946 |
| Erie Railroad | 307-308 | 74962-74963 | 10/1946 - 11/1946 |
| Erie Railroad | 309 | 75119 | 12/1946 |
| Erie Railroad | 310-311 | 75121-75122 | 1/1947 |
| Erie Railroad | 312 - 316 | 75353-75357 | 8/1947 - 9/1947 |
| Erie Railroad | 317 | 77488 | 4/1950 |
| Erie Railroad | 318 - 320 | 77977-77979 | 4/1950 - 5/1950 |
| Erie Railroad | 321 | 77080 | 4/1950 |
| Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil | 3001 - 3005 | 69845-69849 | 11/1942 |
| Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México | 5000 - 5004 | 71664-71668 | 9/1944 |
| Ford Motor Company | 6601 | 74958 | 9/1946 |
| Ford Motor Company | 6602-6603 | 74960-74961 | 10/1946 |
| Ford Motor Company | 6604 | 74964 | 11/1946 |
| Great Lakes Steel | 32 | 73086 | 3/1945 |
| Green Bay & Western | 102 | 76152 | 1/1949 |
| Gulf, Mobile & Ohio | 661 - 664 | 69386-69389 | 12/1940 |
| Hunkin Conkey Construction | 1001-1002 | 69461-69462 | 5/1941, 4/1941 |
| Inland Steel | 53, 56 | 69392, 69513 | 10/1940, 10/1941 |
| Inland Steel | 61-62 | 71264-71265 | 4/1944 |
| Inland Steel | 64 - 66 | 73344-73346 | 4/1945 |
| Inland Waterway | 1 | 69681 | 3/1942 |
| Iowa Transfer Railway | 2 | 77441 | 4/1950 |
| Johns Manville | 1 | 69684 | 3/1942 |
| John Morrel Company | 7 | 72849 | 12/1944 |
| Kewaunee, Green Bay & Western (GB&W) | 103 | 69403 | 1/1941 |
| Kansas City Terminal | 40 | 69204 | 10/1940 |
| Kansas City Terminal | 41 - 43 | 69598-69600 | 11/1941 |
| Kansas City Terminal | 44 | 69606 | 12/1941 |
| Lehigh Valley | 117 | 77998 | 6/1950 |
| Lone Star Defense Corporation | 100 | 69514 | 11/1941 |
| Long Island Rail Road | 404 - 406 | 74434-74436 | 6/1946 |
| Long Island Rail Road | 407, 408 | 73906, 73911 | 6, 7/1946 |
| Long Island Rail Road | 413 - 420 | 76738-76745 | 6-7/1949 |
| Long Island Rail Road | 421 | 76327 | 7/1949 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 16-17 | 69516-69517 | 10/1941 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 18-19 | 69591-69592 | 10/1941 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 24 - 26 | 73586-73588 | 9/1945 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 27 - 29 | 74350-74352 | 10/1945 - 11/1945 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 34 - 37 | 74353-74356 | 11/1945 - 12/1945 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 38 | 74358 | 1/1946 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 39-40 | 74359-74360 | 4/1946 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 41-42 | 74363-74364 | 5/1946 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 43 - 46 | 74428-74431 | 5/1946 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 47 | 76570 | 4/1949 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 48 - 51 | 76328-76331 | 8/1949 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 52, 53 | 76921-76922 | 8/1949 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 54 - 56 | 76923-76925 | 9/1949 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 57-58 | 77114-77115 | 11/1949 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 59-60 | 77116-77117 | 12/1949 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 61 - 64 | 77782-77785 | 2/1950 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 65-66 | 77788-77789 | 3/1950 |
| Louisville & Nashville | 67-68 | 77442-77443 | 4/1950 |
| Maine Central | 953, 954 | 69411, 73085 | 1/1941, 1/1945 |
| Maine Central | 955-956 | 73589-75350 | 10/1945, 7/1947 |
| Maine Central | 957 - 960 | 77107-77110 | 10/1949 |
| Margam Steel Works | 801 | 77120 | 10/1949 |
| Margam Steel Works | 802 - 805 | 77776-77779 | 2/1950 |
| Massena Terminal | 8, 9 | 69385, 69869 | 10/1940, 7/1943 |
| Minnesota Transfer | 60, 61 | 69482, 69485 | 3/1941, 5/1941 |
| Minnesota Transfer | 62 | 69499 | 7/1941 |
| Minnesota Transfer | 63-64 | 74956-74957 | 9/1946 |
| Missouri Pacific | 9007-9008 | 69197-69198 | 8/1940 |
| Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis | 1, 2 | 69470, 69478 | 7/1941 |
| Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis | 3, 4 | 74362, 74432 | 4/1946, 5/1946 |
| Newburg & South Shore Railroad | 3, 4 | 69382, 69383 | 11/1940 |
| Newburg & South Shore Railroad | 5-6 | 69489-69490 | 6/1941 |
| Newburg & South Shore Railroad | 7 | 69493 | 6/1941 |
| Newburg & South Shore Railroad | 9-10 | 69862-69863 | 10/1942 |
| New Jersey, Indiana & Illinois Railroad | 1 | 69196 | 2/1940 |
| New Orleans & Lower Coast (Missouri Pacific) | 9013 - 9015 | 75525-75527 | 10/1947 |
| New York Central | 693, 694 | 69825, 69826 | 9/1942 |
| New York Central | 695 - 698 | 69830-69833 | 10/1942 |
| New York Central | 699 - 703 | 69834-69838 | 7/1943 - 8/1943 |
| New York Central | 704 - 707 | 69839-69842 | 10/1943 |
| New York Central | 708-709 | 71262-71263 | 1/1944, 2/1944 |
| New York Central | 710-712 | 71266-71268 | 4/1944 |
| New York Central | 713-714 | 72172-72173 | 4/1944 |
| New York Central | 715, 716 | 71270, 71990 | 2/1944, 5/1944 |
| New York Central | 717 - 719 | 71993-71995 | 6/1944 |
| New York Central | 720 - 724 | 70042-70046 | 7/1944 |
| New York Central | 725 - 729 | 70052-70056 | 8/1944 |
| New York Central | 730 | 73082 | 1/1945 |
| New York Central | 731 - 736 | 73087-73092 | 2/1945 - 3/1945 |
| New York Central | 737 - 741 | 73338-73342 | 4/1945 |
| New York Central | 742 - 744 | 73348-73350 | 5/1945 |
| New York Central | 864 - 868 | 77791-77795 | 3/1950 |
| New York Central | 869 - 873 | 77074-77078 | 3/1950 |
| New York Central | 685 | 69200 | 8/1940 |
| New York Central | 686-687 | 69458-69459 | 4/1941 |
| New York Central | 688-689 | 69462-69463 | 5/1941 |
| New York Central | 690-692 | 69466-69468 | 6/1941 |
| New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate Railroad) | 85 | 78139 | 6/1950 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0931, 0932 | 69472, 69473 | 4/1941 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0933, 0934 | 69476, 69477 | 4/1941 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0935, 0936 | 69483, 69484 | 5/1941 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0937, 0938 | 69487, 69488 | 6/1941 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0939, 0940 | 69491, 69492 | 7/1941 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0941 - 0947 | 69814-69820 | 6/1942 - 7/1942 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0948 - 0950 | 69821-69823 | 8/1942 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0951, 0952 | 69850, 69851 | 3/1943 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0953 - 0955 | 69852-69854 | 8/1943 - 9/1943 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0956 - 0960 | 69855-69859 | 11/1943 - 3/1944 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0961 - 0967 | 71983-71989 | 3/1944 - 5/1944 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0968-0969 | 71996-71997 | 6/1944 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0970 | 70047 | 7/1944 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0971 - 0976 | 75528-75533 | 11/1947 - 12/1947 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0977 - 0983 | 75539-75545 | 1/1948 - 3/1948 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0984 - 0987 | 75897-75900 | 9/1948 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0988, 0989 | 75902, 75903 | 11/1948 |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 0990 - 0995 | 76146-76151 | 12/1948 - 1/1949 |
| Northern Pacific | 131 | 73585 | 8/1945 |
| Northern Pacific Terminal | 30, 31 | 69199, 69201 | 7, 10/1940 |
| Northern Pacific Terminal | 32 - 34 | 69608-69610 | 12/1941 |
| Pennsylvania | 5661, 5662 | 77982, 77983 | 5/1950 |
| Pennsylvania | 5663 - 5668 | 77992-77997 | 5/1950 - 6/1950 |
| Pennsylvania | 5669, 5670 | 77984, 77985 | 5/1950 |
| Pennsylvania | 5954 - 5956 | 75231-75233 | 5/1947 - 6/1947 |
| Pennsylvania | 9100 | 76155 | 2/1949 |
| Pennsylvania | 9101 - 9103 | 76562-76564 | 2/1949 - 3/1949 |
| Pennsylvania | 9237 - 9239 | 76565-76567 | 3/1949 |
| Pennsylvania | 9240 | 76571 | 4/1949 |
| Pennsylvania | 9241 - 9246 | 76731-76736 | 4/1949 - 5/1949 |
| Point Comfort & Northern | 5 | 73583 | 8/1945 |
| Port Huron & Detroit | 51, 52 | 73352, 73578 | 5/1945, 8/1945 |
| Portland Terminal (Maine) | 1005, 1006 | 69494, 73083 | 7/1941, 1/1945 |
| Portland Terminal (Maine) | 1007-1008 | 77111-77112 | 10/1949 |
| Proctor & Gamble | 9 | 75534 | 1/1948 |
| Proctor & Gamble Defense Corporation | 500, 501 | 69486, 69680 | 5/1941, 2/1942 |
| Pullman Company | 20-21 | 69497-69498 | 7/1941 |
| Reading | 50 - 52 | 69205-69207 | 9/1940 |
| Reading | 53-54 | 69504-69505 | 8/1941 |
| Republic Steel | 15-16 | 69864-69865 | 5/1943 |
| Republic Steel | 17 | 69867 | 6/1943 |
| Republic Steel | 312-313 | 73576-73577 | 8/1945 |
| Republic Steel | 314 | 73584 | 9/1945 |
| Republic Steel | RSCX-D840, RSCX-D810 | 71261, 71269 | 10/1943, 4/1944 |
| Republic Steel | RSCX-D841 | 71271 | 2/1944 |
| River Terminal | 52 | 69409 | 1/1941 |
| St. Louis & O'Fallon | 51 | 73908 | 7/1946 |
| Sanderson & Porter Company | 100-101 | 69594-69595 | 8/1941 |
| Seaboard Air Line | 1201 | 69406 | 1/1941 |
| Sheffield Steel Corporation | 11, 12 | 69866, 71259 | 7/1943, 4/1944 |
| Sheffield Steel Corporation | 13 | 77119 | 10/1949 |
| Sherwin-Williams Defense Corporation | 40-41 | 69812-69813 | 4/1942 |
| Solvay Process Company | 1, 2 | 74357, 74361 | 12/1945, 4/1946 |
| Solvay Process Company | 3 | 74433 | 8/1946 |
| South Buffalo Railway | 51, 52 | 69202, 69384 | 10/1940, 12/1940 |
| South Buffalo Railway | 60, 61 | 69390, 69410 | 1/1941 |
| Southern Pacific | 1017, 1018 | 69465, 69471 | 4/1941 |
| Southern Pacific | 1019, 1020 | 69474, 69481 | 4/1941 |
| Southern Railway | 2000-2001 | 69378-69379 | 5/1940 |
| Southern Railway | 2006 | 69511 | 10/1941 |
| South Omaha Terminal | 1 | 73353 | 4/1945 |
| South Omaha Terminal | 2-3 | 73355-73356 | 4/1945 |
| South Omaha Terminal | 4, 5 | 73579, 75358 | 8/1945, 10/1947 |
| Spokane, Portland & Seattle | 10-11 | 69596-69597 | 10/1941 |
| Studebaker Corporation | 2-3 | 73581-73582 | 9/1945 |
| Tennessee Central Railway | 51 | 69515 | 11/1941 |
| Tennessee Coal & Iron | 700, 701 | 69682, 69683 | 3/1942 |
| Tennessee Coal & Iron | 702 | 73916 | 8/1946 |
| Tennessee Copper | 104, 105 | 75120, 75123 | 1/1947 |
| Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis | 521-522 | 69194-69195 | 6/1940 |
| Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis | 523-524 | 69604-69605 | 12/1941 |
| Texas & New Orleans (SP) | 10 | 69475 | 4/1941 |
| Texas Company (Texaco) | 19 | 77113 | 11/1949 |
| Texas City Terminal | 30-31 | 75125-75126 | 1/1947 |
| Texas Pacific-Missouri Pacific Terminal | 3, 4 | 69381, 69500 | 11/1940, 8/1941 |
| Timken Rolling Bearing Company | 5911, 5912 | 77486, 77487 | 5/1950 |
| Toledo, Angola & Western | 101 | 77118 | 10/1949 |
| Traux Truer Coal Company | 10 | 72844 | 11/1944 |
| Union Railroad | 451, 452 | 75234, 75349 | 6/1947 |
| Union Railroad | 453, 454 | 75351, 75352 | 8/1947 |
| Upper Merion & Plymouth | 54 | 73580 | 8/1945 |
| U.S. Army | 7135, 7136 | 69860, 69861 | 5/1943 |
| U.S. War Department | 10042, 10041 | 69407-69408 | 1/1941 |
| U.S. War Department | GT1304 | 69868 | 10/1942 |
| Wabash | 151, 152 | 69495, 69607 | 7/1941, 12/1941 |
| Wabash | 153-154 | 72695-72696 | 9/1944 |
| Wabash | 155 | 72839 | 10/1944 |
| Wabash | 156-157 | 75127-75128 | 1/1947 |
| Wabash | 158-159 | 75646-75647 | 4/1948 |
| Weirton Steel | 200 | 73343 | 4/1945 |
| Weirton Steel | 203, 204 | 73907, 74965 | 7/1946, 11/1946 |
| Western Maryland | 102 | 69479 | 7/1941 |
| Western Pacific | 504 - 511 | 69685-69692 | 4/1942 - 5/1942 |
| Youngstown Sheet & Tube | 661 - 665 | 75226-75230 | 5/1947 |
Sources
- Foster, Gerald. A Field Guide To Trains. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.
- Kirkland, John F. Diesel Builders, The: Volume Two, American Locomotive Company And Montreal Locomotive Works. Glendale: Interurban Press, 1989.
- Pinkepank, Jerry A. Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee: Kalmbach Publishing Company, 1967.
- Solomon, Brian. Alco Locomotives. Minneapolis: Voyageur Press, 2009.
El Dorado & Wesson Railway S1 #19 lays over at the engine house in El Dorado, Arkansas. This unit was built as Messena Terminal #8 in 1940. Ed Lewis photo. American-Rails.com collection.Reception
A reliable and agile locomotive, railroads found the S1 incredibly useful. In all, the locomotive would sell more than 500 examples to numerous Class I companies, smaller railroads, and a handful of private industries.
Alco itself even used an S1 for switching duties at its plant, #5. While the Montreal Locomotive Works also produced the S1 few were built, just one was constructed for the Canadian Car & Munitions located in Quebec.
Additionally, foreign lines purchased the model
including Central do Brazil, National de Mexico, Polish State Railway,
and Margam Steel Works of Britain although amongst all four only 55 were
built. For more information about the S1 please refer to the chart above, which provides a full production roster of U.S. sales.
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VIA Rail completed a four-year modernization of its Toronto Maintenance Centre on November 2, 2026. The Government of Canada invested $310 million. The shop supports 32 Corridor trainsets and will sus… -
Brightline Suspends Orlando Service for High Water
Nov 04, 26 09:02 AM
Brightline suspended trains between Orlando and West Palm Beach on November 2, 2026, because of high water in Brevard County. A later post the same day kept the suspension until 2:00 p.m. on November… -
Hiawatha West Draws Federal Funding Toward Madison
Nov 04, 26 08:58 AM
Amtrak welcomed a CRISI selection for Hiawatha West, extending Chicago-Milwaukee service toward Madison, Watertown, and Pewaukee. Wisconsin said on October 16 that the award is over $218 million. -
Seattle's Train Maintenance Facility Opens for Airo Trains
Nov 04, 26 08:56 AM
Amtrak cut the ribbon October 23, 2026, on a $250 million Seattle shop for Airo trains on the Cascades route. The building came in on time and $50 million under budget and opens in phases through the… -
Aberdeen Carolina and Western Wins a $19.9 Million Grant
Nov 04, 26 08:46 AM
The Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway won a $19.9 million CRISI grant for about 30 miles of welded rail in Montgomery and Stanly counties. The railroad and NCDOT are putting up a 52 percent match… -
Chicago & North Western Iron Ore C628s
Nov 03, 26 10:50 PM
Chicago and North Western C628s 6701-6730, the ex-Norfolk and Western high-hoods, in Upper Peninsula iron-ore service from the mid-1970s until December 21, 1986, and what happened to each unit. -
Alco "C628" Locomotives: Roster, Data Sheet, Specs
Nov 03, 26 07:57 PM
Alco Century C628: 2,750 hp C-C road switcher, 186 built from December 1963 to December 1968. Production roster, specs, and where the high-hood Norfolk and Western units went. -
Santa Fe Railroad (AT&SF): Diesel Roster (All-Time)
Nov 03, 26 12:54 PM
Santa Fe diesel locomotives, each new frame once, with construction numbers and order numbers. The counted total is 3,964, from the 1935 boxcabs through the SD75Ms. -
Metra Holiday Trains Return on Six Lines
Nov 03, 26 11:40 AM
Metra holiday trains will run on six lines in December, with tickets on sale at noon November 16 for $10. The Chicago Transit Authority and Pace are fielding holiday buses in the same regional announc… -
Amtrak Encourages Early Booking for Thanksgiving
Nov 03, 26 11:39 AM
Amtrak is asking travelers to book Thanksgiving trips early. The railroad carried more than 1.2 million customer trips over the 2025 holiday and expects another record, with extra Northeast Regional s… -
Channel Pacific Keeps Its West Sacramento Exemption
Nov 03, 26 11:26 AM
The Surface Transportation Board denied a West Sacramento challenge to Channel Pacific Railroad’s exemption to operate about 2,132 feet of terminal track. The exemption took effect in June 2026. -
DART Marks One Year of the Silver Line
Nov 03, 26 11:22 AM
DART marked one year of Silver Line service linking seven North Texas cities and DFW Airport. The 26-mile regional rail line opened October 25, 2025, as the agency’s first rail expansion in a decade. -
Massachusetts Breaks Ground for the Berkshire Flyer
Nov 03, 26 10:07 AM
Massachusetts broke ground October 29 in Pittsfield on track work meant to support permanent seasonal Berkshire Flyer service. MassDOT has $31 million for the project in its 2027-2031 capital plan. -
Cheraw Scrapyard Closed After a Search for CSX Rail
Nov 03, 26 10:02 AM
Chesterfield County deputies, CSX police, and state agents searched Cheraw Iron and Metal on October 27 and closed the yard after finding CSX rail and telephone wire. -
Union Pacific Urges the Board to Keep a Speech Video Confidential
Nov 03, 26 09:53 AM
Union Pacific on October 30 asked the Surface Transportation Board to keep a recording of Jim Vena’s shipper speech confidential while it appeals. BNSF on November 2 asked the board to deny that… -
Enfield Station Construction Begins on the Hartford Line
Nov 03, 26 09:39 AM
Connecticut has started a $125.3 million Enfield station on the Hartford Line, restoring passenger service for the first time since 1986. The state expects construction to finish in fall 2030. -
Santa Fe Steam Roster (Built Since 1900)
Nov 03, 26 09:30 AM
Featured here is the Santa Fe's all-time steam roster after 1900. The railroad operated a wide and varied collection of wheel arrangements. -
Santa Fe Railroad: Map, Logo, History, Rosters
Nov 03, 26 09:16 AM
History of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, from Cyrus Holliday’s 1859 charter to the Burlington Northern merger on December 31, 1996. The Warbonnet, the Super Chief, and the Chicago to Los An… -
Asheville Rail Corridor Gets $35.8 Million
Nov 03, 26 12:18 AM
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded North Carolina $35.8 million for development, design, and construction on the Salisbury to Asheville corridor, including more than 40 crossing-signal syst… -
Le Mars Transload Center Expands on Canadian National
Nov 03, 26 12:06 AM
Burlington Junction Railway has expanded the Le Mars Transload Center beside Canadian National and U.S. Highway 75. A zero-interest Iowa DOT loan paid for part of the work. The center and industrial p… -
Lehigh Gorge Trains Move to Nesquehoning
Nov 02, 26 11:48 PM
Reading and Northern has moved Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway trips to Nesquehoning after the October 31 rockslide west of Jim Thorpe. Trains leave at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. through Sunday, November… -
Texas Transit Agency Breaks Ground on TEXRail
Nov 02, 26 11:40 PM
Trinity Metro broke ground October 29, 2026, on a $270 million, 2.1-mile TEXRail extension from Fort Worth T&P Station to a new Near Southside station on land donated by Baylor Scott and White Hea… -
Lake Front Depot: The C&NW's Milwaukee Terminal
Nov 02, 26 09:40 PM
The Chicago and North Western Lake Front Depot at 915 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee. Charles Sumner Frost, 1889. Last train May 15, 1966. Clock tower down May 7, 1968. -
Canal Street Maintenance Plan Will Get an FRA Review
Nov 02, 26 01:48 PM
The Federal Railroad Administration will prepare an environmental assessment of Amtrak Canal Street maintenance plans in Chicago after adding 17 viaduct repairs to a project that had a categorical exc… -
Durango & Silverton Repairs Track After Continued Flooding
Nov 02, 26 01:40 PM
Durango & Silverton crews are repairing flood damage after the Animas hit 11,200 cfs on October 23. The Highline Express ran October 27 through November 1. Polar Express trains remain listed from… -
Middle Georgia Megasite Will Host the First Audi Plant in the U.S.
Nov 02, 26 01:35 PM
Audi will build its first U.S. plant at the Norfolk Southern-served Middle Georgia Megasite in Peach County, about $4 billion and about 4,500 jobs. Audi and Norfolk Southern publish different construc… -
Union Pacific No. 844 Returns Beside Big Boy on November 21
Nov 02, 26 01:30 PM
Union Pacific 4-8-4 No. 844 is back under steam and will trail Big Boy 4014 from Greeley to Denver on November 21. The pair will then stand on free display at Denver Union Station. -
Norfolk Southern Abandonment in the Shenandoah Valley Is Stayed
Nov 02, 26 01:19 PM
The Surface Transportation Board on October 22, 2026, postponed a Norfolk Southern exemption to abandon 48.5 miles from Front Royal to Broadway, Virginia. A response is due November 3. -
Reading & Northern Sets a November 23 Start in Luzerne
Nov 02, 26 01:13 PM
Reading and Northern expects to begin operating about 59.65 miles of Luzerne County rail line on November 23, 2026. The package is $7 million in cash plus $3 million in track work. -
Second Daily Pennsylvanian Begins November 18
Nov 02, 26 12:19 PM
A second daily Pennsylvanian round trip between New York and Pittsburgh begins November 18, 2026, after 46 years with one round trip. Each city gets a morning departure and an afternoon departure. -
MBTA Sets November Meetings on Regional Rail
Nov 02, 26 12:10 PM
The MBTA will hold virtual meetings on November 4 and November 17, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., on a plan to turn Commuter Rail into Regional Rail with more frequent servic -
Wisconsin Central Diesel Roster (Soo Line Years)
Nov 01, 26 11:31 PM
Diesels built new for the Wisconsin Central in the Soo Line years. 97 locomotives, Alco 24 and Electro-Motive 73. These 97 are already inside the Soo Line roster of 786. -
Wisconsin Central Ltd. Diesel Roster
Nov 01, 26 11:22 PM
Wisconsin Central Ltd. diesels, 1987 to 2001. Thirty locomotives with a number fixed by another roster on this site or by a photograph. The fleet stood at 244 units. More than 100 were SD45s. -
Wisconsin Central Steam Roster (Built Since 1900)
Nov 01, 26 11:20 PM
Wisconsin Central steam locomotives built since 1900. The quantity column is 156. Consolidations, Mikados, Atlantics, Ten-Wheelers, Pacifics, and Mountains. The Soo 4-8-4s stay on the Soo roster. -
Wisconsin Central Railway: Map, History, Logo, Roster
Nov 01, 26 11:15 PM
Two railroads kept the Wisconsin Central name. The 1871 line was leased to the Soo on April 1, 1909 and merged January 1, 1961. Wisconsin Central Ltd. ran from October 11, 1987 until Canadian National… -
Watchmen Talks Extended at Los Angeles and Long Beach
Nov 01, 26 10:41 PM
Suggested meta description: The Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26 extended their contract through 5 p.m. Pacific Time on November 4, 2026, moving a November 1 deadline at the ports of Los… -
LIRR September Ridership Tops the 2019 Mark
Nov 01, 26 10:39 PM
The Long Island Rail Road carried 102 percent of its September 2019 ridership in September 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul said on October 28. Metro-North carried 323,423 riders on October 24 and 25. -
North Carolina Awards the Rogers Road Bridge in Wake Forest
Nov 01, 26 10:22 PM
NCDOT on October 28, 2026 awarded a contract to Blythe Construction for a bridge over the CSX S-Line on Rogers Road in Wake Forest. Work can start as early as November 30, with opening aimed at fall 2… -
Trinity Books 2,190 Railcar Orders in the Third Quarter
Nov 01, 26 10:17 PM
Trinity Industries on October 29, 2026 reported 2,190 new railcar orders and 2,030 deliveries in the third quarter. The company expects industry deliveries below 25,000 railcars in 2026. -
New York Central's Jade Green E Units
Nov 01, 26 09:25 PM
In 1961 the New York Central tried Century Green, called Jade Green, on E8As 4053 and 4083 and E7B 4107. Dark gray became the passenger scheme. The green stayed on freight cars.
