ALCO RS-11 (DL-701) diesel-electric locomotive - RAPIDO TRAINS DCC/SOUND
Brief history.
The road-switcher Alco RS-11 is a diesel-electric locomotive designed for light freight services, local and regional merchandise trains. Equipped with a V-12 cylinder diesel engine rated at 1.800 HP with an effective tractive effort of 64,325 lb (29,177 kg), this Alco model named DL-701 was built in 531 units from February 1956 to Aprile 1964 (the last 75 machines built by the canadian company MLW - Montreal Locomotive Works for the canadian market). Very few units (4) were built with "low-hood" and acquired by Lehigh Valley.
The road-switcher Alco RS-11 is a diesel-electric locomotive designed for light freight services, local and regional merchandise trains. Equipped with a V-12 cylinder diesel engine rated at 1.800 HP with an effective tractive effort of 64,325 lb (29,177 kg), this Alco model named DL-701 was built in 531 units from February 1956 to Aprile 1964 (the last 75 machines built by the canadian company MLW - Montreal Locomotive Works for the canadian market). Very few units (4) were built with "low-hood" and acquired by Lehigh Valley.
Very similar externally to the EMD GP7 and GP9 series (with which they were completely replaced in the early 1980s), the RS-11 are powerful and reliable locomotives suitable for performing numerous tasks. They served with 23 U.S. and mexican railroads. The main railway companies were Norfolk & Western with 99 units and Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México with 94 units purchased. Pennsylvania Railroad purchased 38, almost all of which were put in service with the subsequent Conrail.
As of 2019, around thirty locomotives remain in service with smaller and private companies.
As of 2019, around thirty locomotives remain in service with smaller and private companies.
Specifications / Technical data
Builder: Alco
Wheels: B-B
Gauge: 4 ft 8,5 in
Loco weight: 250.000 lb
Lenght: 56 ft 11 in (17,10 meters)
Engine power: Diesel
Prime mover: Alco 251B V12 (McIntosh/Seymore)
Horsepower: 1.800 Hp
Speed: 65 mph
Build date: 1956-1961
Units built: 531 (75 units by MLW from 6/63 to 4/64)
Alco RS-11 #7647 in Conrail Penn Central's patch livery.
Alco RS-11 "low-hood" #7612 in Lehigh Valley "cornell red" livery with CR patch.
Alco RS-11 #7644 in Conrail blue livery.
Conrail RS-11 number #7638.
Conrail put in service 63 engines type RS-11, nine from Lehigh Valley and the others from Penn Central. Some units were scrapped between late 1977 and early 1978. Four RS11's were painted in CR blue livery: 7630, 7644, 7651 and 7652. The road numbers 7640, 7644 and 7648 are RS-11M improved variant with a power of 2.000HP. All Alco production units (including the remaining RS-11 locos) have been removed from service by Conrail between late 1979 and early 1980. Some locomotives were converted into MT-4 slugs.
Engine number #7638 operates by Conrail in former Penn Central totally black dress, until its transformation in MT-4 slug. Has been received the CR patches during 1976.
Engine number #7638 operates by Conrail in former Penn Central totally black dress, until its transformation in MT-4 slug. Has been received the CR patches during 1976.
Alco RS-11 Conrail #7638 data
Road Number: 7638
Model: RS-11
Built: 11-1957
Serial Number: 82644 (Block 4th)
Serial Number: 82644 (Block 4th)
Year on Roster: 1976 (Conrail)
Builder: ALCO
Horsepower: 1.000
Notes: ex-PRR 8638. From 1980, CR-1002 as MT-4 slug.
Assignment: =
Alco RS-11 #7638 in Conrail Penn Central's patch livery.
RAPIDO TRAINS ALCO RS-11 Conrail No.7638
Produced by Rapido Trains in a new line presented at the end of the 2019, this RS-11 HO scale replica is almost perfect. All the characteristic details of the prototype are faithfully reproduced and present on the model, but some elements are reproduced incorrectly, such as the oversized main fuel tank. Some parts are to be installed, such as, for example, the sunshades, not used on all units in service. The road numbers #7638 is factory equipped with a realistic DCC and Sounds decoder ESU LokSound.