Last revised: December 28, 2022
By: Adam Burns
The Alco S3 was the third model of switcher in its "S" line that the company produced. It was virtually identical to the previous S1 model
that was built from 1940 through 1950 and its interesting that American Locomotive even elected to change the unit's
name given their striking similarities.
The S3 design was not quite as successful as the S1, selling about half as many units. However, it was purchased by several Canadian lines through Alco's Montreal Locomotive Works located in Montreal, Quebec.
The S1 was never offered in Canada while the S2 did witness several buyers, notably via Canadian National and Canadian Pacific. This continued with the S3 as both Class I's acquired even more of that particular model.
Today, the S3 is perhaps the least preserved of the switcher series but several are extant. At least three American-built examples are operational, Alexander Railroad #6 and #7 (of New York Central and Davenport, Rock Island & Western heritage) as well as Dardanelle & Russellville #18. In additional, several Canadian examples are preserved.
The Alco S3 model rolled into production in February, 1950, which was about four months before the final S1 rolled out of the builder's Schenectady, New York plant.
The model deviated a bit from its earlier counterpart in that it was equipped with the more standard AAR trucks, while the S1 and S2 designs featured Alco's very own Blunt trucks (the manufacturer was one of the only major builders of diesel locomotives to design its own trucks).
Like the S1, the S3 was a standard four-axle design featuring traction motors from General Electric and air components (brakes and compressors) from Westinghouse. Both featured dynamic braking, weighed 105 tons, and carried a length of just over 44 feet.
However, the S3 also differed in some other ways as well. While both models offered a continuous tractive effort rating of around 46,000 pounds the S3 featured more starting effort, 59,700 pounds (compared to the S1's 57,500 pounds).
Additionally, the most noticeable difference, internally, was that the S3 included 660 horsepower whereas the S1 was slightly less powerful at just 600 horsepower.
Most likely the S3 sold fewer units than the S1 for a few reasons; first, railroads were probably looking for a more powerful switcher, which was already available in the S2; and second, aside from the S2, those that wanted the extra power had a second chance at doing so with the S4 (which replaced the S2).
Entered Production | 2/1950 (Ford Motor Company #6605) |
Years Produced | 2/1950-11/20/1953 |
Model Specification | E1530A |
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 | 210,000 Lbs. |
Trucks | B-B |
Truck Type | GRS Rigid Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer (AAR Type-A) |
Truck Wheelbase | 8' |
Wheel Size | 40" |
Traction Motors | GE 731 (4) |
Traction Generator | GT553 |
Gear Ratio | 75:16 |
Tractive Effort Rating | 46,000 Lbs. at 5 MPH. |
Top Speed | 60 MPH |
During the course of production the S-3 switched from a short, to long-shank coupler so the locomotive could more easily negotiate curves while pulling a cut of cars.
The final short-shank variant appeared on La Salle Coke #4 (construction number 80986) on June 11, 1954. In Canada the first switcher to feature a long-shank coupler was Canadian Pacific #6523 (construction number 80987) completed on January 17, 1955.
Owner | Road Number(s) | Quantity | Date Built |
---|---|---|---|
Aluminum Company Of America (Alcoa) | 8 | 1 | 1952 |
Ann Arbor Railroad | 4-7 | 4 | 1950 |
Boston & Maine | 1173-1188 | 16 | 1950-1952 |
Brooks-Scanlon Corporation | 101-102 | 2 | 1952 |
Champion Paper Company | 2104 | 1 | 1952 |
Chicago & North Western | 1262-1267 | 6 | 1951 |
Davenport, Rock Island & Northwestern | 1-7 | 7 | 1952-1953 |
Davison Chemical, W.R. Grace & Company | 101 | 1 | 1951 |
El Dorado & Wesson Railway | 18 | 1 | 1952 |
Ford Motor Company | 6605-6611 | 6 | 1950 |
Frederick Snare Corporation | 7 | 1 | 1951 |
General Portland Cement | 1 | 1 | 1951 |
Graysonia, Nashville & Ashdown Railroad | 51 | 1 | 1951 |
Greater Portland Public Development Corporation | 661 | 1 | 1950 |
Humble Oil & Refining Company | 997 | 1 | 1950 |
Louisville & Nashville | 69-75 | 7 | 1953 |
Maine Central | 961-962 | 2 | 1953 |
Manistique & Lake Superior Railroad | 1 | 1 | 1950 |
Mount Hood Railroad | 50 | 1 | 1950 |
New York Central | 874-916 | 43 | 1950-1951 |
Pennsylvania | 8873-8885 | 13 | 1950-1951 |
Solvay Processing | 2 | 1 | 1952 |
Southern Pacific | 1023-1032 | 10 | 1951 |
Swift & Company | 664 | 1 | 1951 |
Texas & Northern | 3-4 | 2 | 1952 |
Texas City Terminal | 32 | 1 | 1950 |
Texaco | 21-22 | 2 | 1952 |
Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway | 30 | 1 | 1950 |
West Pittston-Exeter Railroad | 6 | 1 | 1950 |
Owner | Road Number(s) | Construction Number(s) | Completion Date |
---|---|---|---|
Canadian National | 8484-8493 | 76433-76442 | 3/1954-6/1954 |
Canadian Arsenals | 1 | 77280 | 5/1952 |
Bathurst Power & Paper | 3 | 77281 | 1/1954 |
Essex Terminal | 103 | 77282 | 6/1952 |
Canadian National | 8462-8468 | 77283-77289 | 1/1953-4/1953 |
Price Brothers | 106 | 77634 | 9/1950* |
Canadian Pacific | 6500-6505 | 77635-77640 | 4/1951-5/1951 |
National Harbours Board | D2-D4 | 77641-77643 | 6/1951 |
National Harbours Board | D5-D9 | 77752-77756 | 8/1951-10/1951 |
Canadian Pacific | 6506-6512 | 77757-77768 | 11/1951-3/1952 |
Canadian Pacific | 6513-6517 | 79116-79120 | 6/1952-8/1952 |
Canadian National | 8469-8483 | 79129-79143 | 5/1953-11/1953 |
Canadian Pacific | 6518-6522 | 79164-79168 | 9/1953-10/1953 |
Canadian National | 8494-8498 | 80981-80985 | 6/1954-8/1954 |
La Salle Coke | 4 | 80986 | 6/1954 |
Canadian Pacific | 6523-6526 | 80987-80990 | 1/1955 |
Canadian Pacific | 6527-6535 | 81072-81080 | 2/1955-3/1955 |
Canadian Pacific | 6536 | 81171 | 3/1955 |
Canadian Pacific | 6537-6547 | 81193-81203 | 7/1955-8/1955 |
Canadian Pacific | 6548-6557 | 81505-81514 | 3/1956-4/1956 |
Canadian Pacific | 6558-6561 | 81545-81548 | 5/1956-6/1956 |
Canadian Pacific | 6562-6571 | 81663-81672 | 2/1957-3/1957 |
Canadian Pacific | 6572 | 82158 | 3/1957 |
Canadian Pacific | 6573-6600 | 82159-82186 | 4/1957-9/1957 |
* First S-3 built by the Montreal Locomotive Works. It wore "Canadian Pacific #7004" as a demonstrator.
In the end the Alco S3 sold just 292 units. Interestingly, though, a wide range of railroads and industries purchased the model like the Pennsylvania, Chicago & North Western, Southern Pacific, Ann Arbor, New York Central, and others.
The Montreal Locomotive Works built S3s for Bathhurst Power & Paper, Canadian Arsenals, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Essex Terminal, LaSalle Coke, and National Harbours Board.
The MLW demonstrator was purchased by the Price Brothers (it was later picked up by CP). Overall, MLW constructed 163 S3's with CP and CN buying the majority of these (140).
Jan 30, 23 11:31 AM
Jan 30, 23 11:29 AM
Jan 29, 23 11:15 PM
Jan 29, 23 11:14 PM
Jan 29, 23 10:10 PM
Wes Barris's SteamLocomotive.com is simply the best web resource on the study of steam locomotives.
It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website.
It is quite staggering and a must visit!