The Alco RS2 is a 1,500–1,600 horsepower (1,100–1,200 kW) B-B diesel-electric locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) from 1946 to 1950. Between 1946 and 1950, 377 examples of the RS-2 were built, primarily for American and Canadian customers.
377 locomotives were produced — 368 by the American Locomotive Company, and 9 by ALCO subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works in Canada. Eight of the ALCO RS-2s were exported to Canada. The RS-2 has a single, 12 cylinder, model 244B engine, developing 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW). Thirty-one locomotives built by Alco between February and May 1950 were instead powered by a 12 cylinder 244C 1,600 horsepower (1,200 kW) engine.
EMD produced 2,734 GP-7s. ALCO/MLW produced 377 RS-2s, and 1,418 RS-3s. Fairbanks-Morse produced 30 H-15-44s, and 296 H-16-44s. Baldwin produced 32 DRS-4-4-1500s, and 127 AS-16s.
The Delaware and Hudson Railway rebuilt 13 of its RS-2s for passenger service, including on the Laurentian. The D&H added a steam generator and 1,600-US-gallon (6,100 l; 1,300 imp gal) water tank.
There is a small handful of RS-2s left in the world today.
Trivia[]
- Alco introduced the model after World War II as an improvement on the Alco RS1.
- ALCO discontinued the RS-2 in 1950 in favor of the very similar RS-3, which was significantly more popular.
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