Alco "RS11" Locomotives: Roster, Data Sheet, Photos

Last revised: December 27, 2024

The RS11 began a new class of road switcher for Alco. The model was the first offered with a low, short hood and came equipped with the manufacturer's newest prime mover.

Unfortunately, it could not recapture the market from Electro-Motive. By the time the RS11 debuted EMD was so backlogged with orders for the GP9, along with the fact that railroads had become somewhat distrustful of Alco due to its problematic prime movers, the model had little chance to offer strong competition.

Despite these issues the RS11 proved became Alco's best-selling late model Road Switcher (RS) design. It could be found in service far and wide, from the Great Northern and Missouri Pacific to New Haven and Chicago & North Western. Today, several examples remain preserved.

An American Locomotive photo featuring new Delaware & Hudson RS11 #5001 at the company's plant in Schenectady, New York circa 1960. Warren Calloway collection.

Overview

Alco was seemingly always racing to catch EMD in an attempt to remain competitive with the industry's leading locomotive manufacturer. Ironically, it had pioneered the road switcher design with its initial RS1 in 1941.

However, by the time EMD released the GP9 in 1954 Alco had fallen far behind in the market as the General Motors company was simply offering far superior products that were more rugged, reliable, and efficient. In 1956 the Schenectady builder released the RS11 model, listed by Alco as its DL701.

In many ways, perhaps the RS11 best described Alco's losing battle against EMD, and very soon against General Electric as well. Of course, releasing the model when it did nearly two years after the GP9 went on sale Alco was once again trying to catch up.

Maine Central RS11's #802 (ex-Portland Terminal #1082) and #801 at Rockport, Maine in the summer of 1964. American-Rails.com collection.

Some of its sales for the RS11 was the result of EMD being so backlogged with orders for the GP9 that some railroads went elsewhere to fill their locomotive shortage.

Interestingly, Alco's product in this case was actually a better locomotive than the GP9 in terms of specifications:

Whereas the GP9 featured 1,750 horsepower the RS11, using Alco's new model 251B engine, could produce 1,800 horsepower.

It offered a continuous tractive effort rating of 47,000 pounds compared to the GP9's 40,000 pounds.

Finally, the model could accelerate faster while spending less fuel than the GP9 thanks to its 12-cylinder prime mover (EMD's 567C used 16 cylinders). This last feature was a trademark of Alco engineering but unfortunately was not a considerable sales advantage in those days.

Pennsylvania RS11 #7624 (built as #8624) at Trenton, New Jersey, circa 1967. Fred Byerly photo. American-Rails.com collection.

Despite these improvements the RS11 really never offered serious competition for EMD, despite Alco's best attempts. The new 251B prime mover did, at least, give railroads more reason to trust the builder's reliability as the engine was not nearly as trouble-prone as the earlier model 244.

For the first time Alco began giving railroads the option to purchase road switchers with either low or high, short hoods (it was always an option before, but only via special request). Still, most continued to purchase them with high hoods although some like the Delaware & Hudson and Southern Pacific did order a few with low hoods.

Delaware & Hudson RS11 #5001 and GP38-2 #7323 roll through Eagle Bridge, New York with the "G&J Local" on September 28, 1980. Doug Kroll photo.

Beginning with the RSD7, Alco changed the appearance of its road switcher, making it truly a Schenectady product. The builder's RS1s, RS2s, RS3s, and their variants all featured cabs protruding well above both long and short hoods.

However, Alco changed its design so as the hood (particularly the long hood) mounted flush with the top of the cab.

While radiator housings, vents, and other minor various exterior elements could denote an EMD from Alco perhaps what truly set the latter apart was the notched corners housing number boards. This very small, yet classy touch makes for an easy spotting feature of Alco locomotives.

Nickel Plate RS11 #854 in Chicago in September 1963. K. C. Henkels photo, Rick Burn collection.

Data Sheet and Specifications

Alco Class	404-DL-240
Entered Production	2/1956 (Demos: To Southern Pacific)
Years Produced	2/1956-6/1961
Model Specification	DL701
Engine	251B, V-12
Horsepower	1,800
RPM	1,000
Carbody Styling	Alco
Length (Between Coupler Pulling Faces)	56' 11.75"
Weight	240,000 Lbs.
Dynamic Brakes	Optional
Trucks	B-B
Truck Type	Swing Bolster, Drop-Side Equalizer (AAR Type-B)
Truck Wheelbase	9' 4"
Wheel Size	40"
Traction Motors	GE 752 (4)
Traction Generator	GT581
Steam Generator	Optional
Gear Ratio	74:18 (65 MPH), 65:18 (75 MPH)
Tractive Effort Rating	46,500 Lbs. at 12 MPH
Top Speed	75 MPH

Production Rosters

Alco

Total Built = 356 (Including Export)

Owner	Road Number(s)	Serial Number(s)	Date Built
Alco (Demonstrator)	701 (became Southern Pacific #5720)	81456	2/1956
Alco (Demonstrator)	701A, 701B (became Southern Pacific #5721-5122)	81457, 81458	2/1956
Carolina & North Western	11	81464	3/1956
Delaware & Hudson	5000-5002	83504-83506	3/1960
Delaware & Hudson	5003-5005	83534-83536	3/1960
Delaware & Hudson	5006-5011	83685-83690	4/1961 - 5/1961
Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific	3600-3608	81934-81942	8/1956 - 9/1956
Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific	3609-3614	82026-82031	9/1956
Erie Mining	300, 301	81914, 81915	6/1956
Erie Mining	302, 303	81918, 81919	6/1956
Erie Mining	304, 305	81929, 81930	8/1956
Erie Mining	306, 307	81932, 81933	8/1956
Erie Mining	308-310	82036-82038	10/1956
Erie Mining	311, 312	82041, 82042	10/1956
Erie Mining	313, 314	82050, 82051	11/1956
Green Bay & Western	309	81931	8/1956
Lehigh Valley	400-403	83537-83540	3/1960
Maine Central	801	81916	6/1956
Missouri Pacific	4601-4612	83492-83503	10/1959 - 11/1959
Monongahela Connecting	700	82370	7/1957
New Haven	1400-1413	81781-81794	5/1956
New Haven	1414	81913	6/1956
New York Central	8000-8008*	82361-82369	6/1957 - 7/1957
Nickel Plate Road	558-562	81459-81463	2/1956 - 3/1956
Nickel Plate Road	563-567	82832-82836	3/1958
Nickel Plate Road	568-572	82863-82867	3/1958
Nickel Plate Road	573-575	83541-83543	5/1960
Nickel Plate Road	576, 577	83580, 83581	5/1960
Nickel Plate Road	850-863	83014-83027	1/1959 - 2/1959
Nickel Plate Road	864	83394	2/1959
Norfolk & Western	308-318	81465-81475	3/1956 - 4/1956
Norfolk & Western	319-324	81775-81780	4/1956
Norfolk & Western	325-333	82057-82065	1/1957
Norfolk & Western	334-340	82323-82329	1/1957-2/1957
Norfolk & Western	341-343	82340-82342	6/1957
Norfolk & Western	344	82358	6/1957
Norfolk & Western	345-350	82372-82377	11/1957
Norfolk & Western	351-364	82628-82641	11/1957 - 12/1957
Norfolk & Western	365-376	82956-82967	11/1958 - 12/1958
Norfolk & Western	377-380	83010-83013	1/1959
Norfolk & Western	381-392	83395-83406	2/1959 - 3/1959
Norfolk & Western	393-400	83435-83442	5/1959 - 6/1959
Norfolk & Western	401-406	83691-83696	5/1961 - 6/1961
Northern Pacific	900, 901	82830, 82831	1/1958
Northern Pacific	902, 903	82881, 82882	6/1958
Northern Pacific	904, 905	82948, 82949	7/1958
Northern Pacific	906-911	82950-82955	7/1958
Northern Pacific	912-917	83582-83587	6/1960
Pennsylvania Railroad	8617-8625	81920-81928	8/1956
Pennsylvania Railroad	8626-8633	82330-82337	2/1957
Pennsylvania Railroad	8634, 8635	82338, 82339	5/1957
Pennsylvania Railroad	8636-8639	82642-82645	11/1957
Pennsylvania Railroad	8640, 8641	82646, 82647	11/1957
Pennsylvania Railroad	8642-8644	82817-82819	11/1957
Pennsylvania Railroad	8645-8647	82820-82822	11/1957
Pennsylvania Railroad	8648	82823	11/1957
Pennsylvania Railroad	8649-8654	82824-82829	12/1957
Portland Terminal (Maine)	1082	81917	6/1956
Seaboard Air Line	100-106	83588-83594	6/1960
Seaboard Air Line	107-109	83681-83683	6/1960
Southern Pacific	5723-5729	82043-82049	11/1956
Southern Pacific	5845-5856	83407-83418	4/1959 - 5/1959
Southern Pacific	5857-5859	83432-83434	5/1959
Southern Pacific	5860-5866	83445-83451	8/1959
Southern Pacific	5867-5871	83487-83491	8/1959 - 9/1959
Toledo, Peoria & Western	400, 401	83008, 83009	11/1958
Toledo, Peoria & Western	402	83444	6/1959

* Alco constructed six additional RS11's for the New York Central, road numbers 8009-8011 (construction numbers 83504-83506) and 8012-8014 (construction numbers 83534-83536), between March 24-31, 1960.

As John Kirkland points out in his book, "The Diesel Builders: Volume Two," after delivery it was determined an Authority For Execution (AFE) was never completed and New York Central rejected the locomotives.

The units were returned to Alco and stored; they were eventually acquired by the Delaware & Hudson between January 31-February 17, 1961 and given road numbers 5000-5005.

Seaboard Air Line RS11 #104, one of ten the road owned, is seen here in Jacksonville, Florida, circa 1961. Warren Calloway photo.

Export

Owner	Road Number(s)	Construction Numbers	Completion Dates
Ferrocarril del Pacifico (Mexico)	1501	82371	11/1957
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico)	7200-7204	82052-82056	12/1956
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico)	7205-7217	82868-82880	4/1958 - 5/1958
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico)	7218	83684	4/1961
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico)	7219-7253	84414-84448	6/1963 - 12/1963
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México (Mexico)	7254-7293	84449-84488	1/1964 - 4/1964
Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Obras Públicas (S.C.O.P.)/Mexico	7123-1 thru 7123-3	82032-82034	10/1956
Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Obras Públicas (S.C.O.P.)/Mexico	7123-4	82035	10/1956
Southern Peru Copper Mine (Peru)	3, 4	82039, 82040	10/1956
Southern Peru Copper Mine (Peru)	5, 6	82359, 82360	6/1957
Southern Peru Copper Mine (Peru)	8	83443	6/1959

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.

Missouri Pacific "RS11" #952 is seen here in St. Louis, circa 1970. This unit was built as #4609 and later wore #72. It had already been reengined with an EMD prime mover by this date and listed as a "GP16." American-Rails.com collection.

In the end, despite the Alco RS11's smaller sales volume it could be found on a number or railroads across the US from the Norfolk & Western and Pennsylvania to the Northern Pacific and Southern Pacific.

Production of the Alco RS11 ended in May of 1964 with a total of 462 units produced in the US and Canada. Several foreign lines picked up examples of the locomotive including the Ferrocaril del Pacifico, National de Mexico, Secretarias Communicaciones de Obras Publicas, and Southern Peru Copper.

Unfortunately, the rest of Alco's road-switcher series cataloged at the time would not see sales reach numbers anywhere near the RS11.

Photos

An aging Norfolk & Western RS-11, another one of which is showing its Nickel Plate heritage, has rescued a Conrail freight, led by ex-Penn Central F7's, on July 27, 1976. The train stalled on the grades over the former Erie Lackawanna's Niagara Falls Branch, bound for the Black Rock Branch in Buffalo, New York. Doug Kroll photo.

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