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ALCO S-1 and S-3
Mid-Continent Railway No. 7, an S-1, rests between trains on October 10, 2004
Type and origin Power type Diesel Builder American Locomotive Company Montreal Locomotive Works Build date April 1940–June 1950 (S-1) February 1950–November 1953 (S-3) Total produced 543 (S-1) 300 (S-3)
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Trucks Blunt (S-1) AAR type A (S-3) Wheel diameter 40 in (1,016 mm) Minimum curve 50° (118.31 ft or 36.06 m) Wheelbase 30 ft (9.14 m) Length 45 ft (13.72 m) Width 10 ft 2+1⁄2 in (3.112 m) Height 14 ft 4+3⁄8 in (4.378 m) Loco weight 199,000 lb (90,000 kg) Fuel capacity 635 US gal (2,400 L; 529 imp gal) Prime mover Alco 539T Engine type Four-stroke diesel Aspiration Natural Displacement 9,572 cu in (156.86 L) Generator GE GT 552-A Traction motors 4 × GE 731 Cylinders Straight 6 Cylinder size 12+1⁄2 in × 13 in (318 mm × 330 mm)
Performance figures Power output 660 hp (490 kW) Tractive effort 49,790 lb (22,580 kg)
Career Locale North America, Brazil, United Kingdom

The ALCO S-1 and S-3 were 660 horsepower (490 kW) diesel-electric switcher locomotives produced by ALCO and their Canadian subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW). The two locomotives differed only in trucks, with the S-1 using ALCO's own Blunt trucks, and the S-3 using AAR type A switcher trucks. The S-1 was built between April 1940 and June 1950, with a total of 543 completed, while the S-3 was constructed between February 1950 and November 1953 (MLW until 1957) with total sales of 300. A modified version, the S-10, was built by MLW only; 13 were built between January and June 1958.

Identification

The S-1 and S-3 are distinguishable externally from the very similar S-2 and S-4 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) switchers in that they have a smaller exhaust stack with a round base and a smaller radiator shutter area on the nose sides. The S-1/S-3 radiator shutter area is taller than it is wide, while the S-2/S-4 radiator area is wider. The smaller stack is due to the lack of turbocharging.

The S-10 is not externally distinguishable from later Canadian-built S-3 locomotives; it differed mostly in electrical equipment.

Original owners

The S-1 and S-3 models were sold to an extensive list of railroads and industrial operators, as detailed below. Major owners of the S-1 included the New York Central Railroad (NYC), with 71 locomotives; the New Haven with 65 locomotives; the L&N with 45 locomotives; the C&NW, with 29 locomotives; and the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) with 27 locomotives. Major customers for the S-3 included the CP, with 101; the CN, with 49; the NYC, with 43 locomotives; the B&M, with 16; and the PRR, with 13. The MLW S-10 was sold only to the CP.

The totals below include export orders and MLW-built locomotives.

S-1

ALCO constructed approximately 535 S-1s for the US market between 1940 and 1950.

S-3

ALCO and the Montreal Locomotive Works constructed approximately 300 S-3s for the North American market between 1950 and 1957.

S-10

MLW constructed 13 S-10s in 1958, all for the Canadian Pacific Railway, numbered 6601–6613. These units were essentially similar to late-built S3s, though with minor updates to the electrical gear.

S-11

In 1959, MLW built a final order of 660 horsepower switchers for the Canadian Pacific, as model S-11, numbered 6614–6623. The internal machinery of these units was essentially the same as that of the S-10, but the car body was radically redesigned, with the radiator on the front end of the hood instead of on the sides.

Preservation

Numerous S-1 and S-3 locomotives remain in use, and several are preserved:

• Ex-U.S. Army S-1 No. 7372 is at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum and painted in Western Pacific colors.
• Ex-Canadian Pacific MLW S-3 No. 6568 is at the Saskatchewan Railway Museum.
• Two Ex-Steel Company of Wales S-1s are preserved and are being restored to working order at the Nene Valley Railway in England.
• Ex-Erie Railroad S-1 No. 307 is preserved at Riverside Park, Manhattan and painted in New York Central colors.

See also

• List of ALCO diesel locomotives
• List of MLW diesel locomotives

References

1. ^ Foster, Gerald L. (1996). A Field Guide to Trains of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 6. ISBN 0-3957-0112-0.
2. Dorin, Patrick C. (1972). Chicago and North Western Power. Burbank, California: Superior Publishing. pp. 134–135. ISBN 0-87564-715-4.
3. ^ Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing. pp. 221–222. ISBN 978-0-89024-026-7.
4. Kirkland, John, "The Diesel Builders, volume 2: Also" Interurban Press, 1989
5. "Western Pacific 512". Western Pacific Railroad Museum. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
6. "Locomotives". Saskatchewan Railway Museum. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
7. "Locomotive Lawn". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
8. "BEDT #25 - Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal - American Locomotive 74962 - built: October 1946". members.trainweb.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.

External links

• Alco/MLW S-1 Roster
• Alco/MLW S-3 Roster

• B-B locomotives
• ALCO locomotives
• MLW locomotives
• Railway locomotives introduced in 1950
• Railway locomotives introduced in 1940
• Diesel–electric locomotives of the United States
• Standard gauge locomotives of the United States
• Standard gauge locomotives of Canada
• Standard gauge locomotives of Great Britain
• Standard gauge locomotives of Mexico
• Diesel–electric locomotives of Mexico
• Diesel–electric locomotives of Great Britain
• Diesel–electric locomotives of Canada
• Shunting locomotives