The Alco S-6 (specification DL 430) was a series of diesel-electric switcher locomotives built by the American Locomotive Co. of Schenectady, New York; 126 units in total were built between May 1955 and December 1960.
The S-6 was an improved version and visually indistinguishable from the preceding model S-5; the S-6 used an ALCO 251A or 251B prime mover rated at 900 horsepower (670 kW), and rode on two-axle AAR trucks, giving a B-B wheel arrangement. ALCO produced a cow-calf variant for the Oliver Iron Mining Company designated SB-8/SSB-9.
As of 2019, several S6 locomotives remain operating at tourist railroads and industrial yards.
Trivia[]
- In Back to the Future Part III, two S-6 locomotives #7, and #9 destroyed the DeLorean time machine, when it returned to 1985. After filming Back to the Future Part III, the two S-6 locomotive were sold to the Fillmore and Western Railway where they reside today.
- They also appear in the film "Who's That Girl?", and even have appearances in the "Ghost Dad" movie while wearing the same colors from Back to the Future Part III.
- The Alco S6 was the sixth model of switcher series the company produced and debuted in 1955 and built until 1960.
Gallery[]
SP No. 1231 at El Centro, California, in 1970.
