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Light and Medium Diesel-Electric Road Switchers[Inhalt]
ALCO RS-1, RS-2 and RS-3
United States | 1941
2,270 produced
Milwaukee Road RS-1 No. 1678 before being drafted into the US Army in 1943
Milwaukee Road RS-1 No. 1678 before being drafted into the US Army in 1943
collection Taylor Rush

In 1940, Rock Island approached ALCO and ordered a new type of diesel locomotive that would be equally suitable for switching and road service. Instead of the cab units that were widespread at the time, a locomotive with a load-bearing frame and narrower hoods was developed, also known as the “hood unit”. The resulting design was characterized by the fact that there was an unobstructed field of vision when driving in both directions. This meant that it could be used without restrictions for switching, but also in road service without any cutbacks. It was usually running with the long hood ahead, even if this meant a poorer overview. Thus the new breed of road switchers was created, which was soon adopted by all North American manufacturers.

A total of 466 examples of the RS-1 were completed at ALCO and three more at the Montreal Locomotive Works by 1960. This is the longest production run of any diesel locomotive for the North American market to date, and also meant that they continued in production for several years after their successors were discontinued. The first locomotives, which were actually intended for Rock Island, were delivered to the US Army due to the USA entering the war.

Although a steam generator was available as an option, the RS-1 was rarely used in front of passenger trains. In freight service, with its 1,000 hp, it was primarily used on branch lines. The large six-cylinder ALCO 539T proved to be very durable, with many examples still being used in the 21st century. The RSD-1 and RSC-1 were developed as six-axle developments for lighter rails, with the latter only four axles being driven.

Southern Railway RS-3 No. 2027, together with a combined passenger and baggage car and an EMD FTB converted to a heating car, formed a commuter train in October 1967 in Warrenville, South Carolina
Southern Railway RS-3 No. 2027, together with a combined passenger and baggage car and an EMD FTB converted to a heating car, formed a commuter train in October 1967 in Warrenville, South Carolina
Roger Puta

The RS-2 was built between 1946 and 1950, with 368 examples being built at ALCO and nine in Montreal. It differed from the RS-1 mainly in the new 244 series V12 engine with 1,500 hp and a slightly more rounded body. The new prime mover did not prove to be as reliable in use as the old one. 64 pieces were delivered to Mexico and 46 to Brazil. The locomotives for Brazil had a gauge of 1,600 mm.

The RS-3 achieved the highest number of units, of which 1,272 were built between 1950 and 1956, with 146 units coming from Montreal. It was created at a time when Fairbanks-Morse and Baldwin were also bringing their road switchers from 1,500 to 1,600 hp to keep up with competitor EMD. 98 engines went to Canadian customers and 46 to Brazil. Here, too, a six-axle variant with four powered axles was developed as the RSC-3.

To overcome the reliability problems of the 244 series prime mover, 98 RS-3s were rebuilt between 1972 and 1978 with EMD 567 engines. The engines, including the fan system, came from decommissioned EMD E8s. These were named RS-3m to distinguish them. A few of these are still in use in 2022, although some RS-3s that have not been converted have survived into the 21st century.

VariantRS-1RS-2RS-3
General
Built1941-19601946-19501950-1956
ManufacturerALCO, Montreal Locomotive Works
Axle configB-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length55 ft 5 3/4 in56 ft56 ft 6 in
Wheelbase40 ft 4 in
Rigid wheelbase9 ft 4 in
Service weight247,500 lbs249,600 lbs247,100 lbs
Adhesive weight247,500 lbs249,600 lbs247,100 lbs
Axle load61,825 lbs62,400 lbs61,775 lbs
Boiler
VariantRS-1RS-2RS-3
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed65 mph
Starting effort40,425 lbf62,500 lbf61,775 lbf
EngineALCO 539TALCO 244BALCO 244D
Engine type6-cyl. dieselV12 diesel
Fuel1,300 us gal (diesel)667 us gal (diesel)1,200 us gal (diesel)
Engine output1,000 hp (746 kW)1,500 hp (1,119 kW)1,600 hp (1,193 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
last changed: 09/2022
ALCO RS-11
United States | 1956
431 produced
RS-11 No. 2301 of Ferrocarril Sonora-Baja California in September 2017 at Benjamín Hill
RS-11 No. 2301 of Ferrocarril Sonora-Baja California in September 2017 at Benjamín Hill
LIMO 5
General
Built1956-1964
ManufacturerALCO, Montreal Locomotive Works
Axle configB-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length56 ft 6 in
Wheelbase49 ft 8 in
Rigid wheelbase9 ft 4 in
Service weight257,300 lbs
Adhesive weight257,300 lbs
Axle load64,325 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed70 mph
Starting effort64,325 lbf
EngineALCO 251B
Engine typeV12 diesel
Fuel2,000 us gal (diesel)
Engine output1,800 hp (1,342 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
ALCO DL531 (RSD8)
New South Wales class 48 and South Australian class 830
Australia | 1959
212 produced
NSWGR 4807 in June 2022 in Bellambi
NSWGR 4807 in June 2022 in Bellambi
JenperTC

To change secondary lines in New South Wales from steam to diesel, AE Goodwin built the DL531 under ALCO license. With six axles, this had a weight of only 74 tons and a six-cylinder with 1,050 hp. Until 1970, the NSWGR received a total of 165 locomotives in standard gauge, which it designated as class 48. Otherwise it was also known as RSD8.

The South Australian Railways also bought 45 DL531 in three different gauges and designated them as class 830. The Silverton Tramway bought three, and customers were also found in Brazil, Peru and Pakistan. In Australia, many were retired from the state railways in the nineties and sold to private railways, many of which are still in use today.

General
Built1959-1970
ManufacturerAE Goodwin
Axle configC-C 
Gauge3 ft 6 in (Cape gauge), 4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge), 5 ft 3 in (Irish broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length44 ft 3 in
Service weight171,584 lbs
Adhesive weight171,584 lbs
Axle load28,672 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed75 mph
EngineALCO 6-251B
Engine type6-cyl. diesel
Fuel841 us gal (diesel)
Engine output1,050 hp (783 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
last changed: 01/2024
Baldwin DRS-6-4-660NA, -750, -1000 and -1500
French State Railway A1AA1A 62000
United States | 1946
218 produced
DRS-6-4-1500 of the Columbus and Greenville Railroad in March 2011 in Columbus, Missouri
DRS-6-4-1500 of the Columbus and Greenville Railroad in March 2011 in Columbus, Missouri
Matthew Nichols

The DRS-6-4 series included road switchers that had a total of six axles, four of which were powered. The three less powerful variants each had a six-cylinder with 660, 750 or 1,000 hp, with only the most powerful variant having a turbocharger

SNCF A1AA1A 62030 in September 1983 at Bobigny depot
SNCF A1AA1A 62030 in September 1983 at Bobigny depot
Didier Duforest

The first variant with 660 hp was manufactured from 1946 and 100 of the 106 locomotives went to the SNCF. They were derived from the four-axle VO-1000 and had a carrying axle in each bogie to reduce the axle load. They were given the designation A1AA1A 62000 and remained in service until 1994. The remaining six went to Morocco.

Sectional drawing of the DRS-6-4-660NA
Sectional drawing of the DRS-6-4-660NA
Didier Duforest

The DRS-6-4-1000 received the same six-cylinder engine as the 660 hp variant, but here it delivered 1,000 hp thanks to a turbocharger. From 1948, 20 of this variant were delivered to Algeria on behalf of France. In 1949 a single naturally aspirated 750 hp locomotive was delivered to Morocco and used to transport phosphate.

The variant with 1,500 hp was powered by an eight-cylinder with turbocharger and was also available from 1946. In the USA it was replaced by the AS-416 in 1950. The DRS-6-4-1500E was manufactured for export until 1952. Ultimately, more than half of a total of 91 DRS-6-4-1500 were sold to Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

VariantDRS-6-4-660NADRS-6-4-750DRS-6-4-1000DRS-6-4-1500
General
Built1946-194819491948-19491946-1952
ManufacturerBaldwin
Axle configA1A-A1A 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length58 ft 1 1/2 in58 ft
Wheelbase43 ft 9 in
Rigid wheelbase11 ft 2 in
Service weight241,400 lbs280,000 lbs
Adhesive weight161,000 lbs187,000 lbs
Axle load40,300 lbs46,750 lbs
Boiler
VariantDRS-6-4-660NADRS-6-4-750DRS-6-4-1000DRS-6-4-1500
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed60 mph65 mph
Starting effort58,200 lbf
EngineBaldwin 606NABaldwin 606SCBaldwin 608SC
Engine type6-cyl. diesel8-cyl. diesel
Fuel900 us gal (diesel)
Engine output660 hp (492 kW)750 hp (559 kW)1,000 hp (746 kW)1,500 hp (1,119 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
passenger
switcher
last changed: 07/2023
Electro-Motive Division G8, GA8 and GL8
United States | 1954
625 produced
BB 200 23 of Indonesian Railways KAI in July 2002
BB 200 23 of Indonesian Railways KAI in July 2002
Joachim Lutz
VariantG8G8 A1A-A1AGA8GL8
General
Built1954-19681957-19681960-1965
ManufacturerElectro-Motive Division, General Motors DieselElectro-Motive Division
Axle configB-B A1A-A1A B-B 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)3 ft 6 in (Cape gauge)5 ft 3 in (Irish broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length45 ft 11 7/16 in39 ft 10 in36 ft 2 in
Rigid wheelbase8 ft10 ft 6 in8 ft
Service weight148,370 lbs164,900 lbs104,000 lbs136,686 lbs
Adhesive weight148,370 lbs109,350 lbs104,000 lbs136,686 lbs
Axle load37,093 lbs27,337 lbs26,000 lbs34,172 lbs
Boiler
VariantG8G8 A1A-A1AGA8GL8
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed62 mph68 mph45 mph77 mph
Starting effort26,200 lbf22,900 lbf44,000 lbf34,200 lbf
EngineEMD 8-567CEMD 8-567C oder EEMD 8-567CR
Engine typeV8 diesel
Fuel750 us gal (diesel)500 us gal (diesel)750 us gal (diesel)500 us gal (diesel)
Engine output875 hp (652 kW)800 hp (597 kW)875 hp (652 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
passenger
Electro-Motive Division G16
Spanish State Railways series 1900 (later series 319), Victorian Railways class X, Yugoslav Railway class 661 and Croatian Railways class 2061
United States | 1958
543 produced
ŽRS 661-314 in November 2014 in Sabac
ŽRS 661-314 in November 2014 in Sabac
Srdan Popovic

The G16 is a type of road switcher designed by EMD specifically for export to operators whose axle load is restricted to less than 20 tonnes. Their general layout resembled the standard road switchers offered for the domestic market at the time. Introduced in 1958, it had the 16-cylinder variant of the 567 series engine with an output or originally 1,800 hp. Several rail gauges between 1,000 and 1,668 mm were offered. Production initially started directly at EMD and at GMD in Canada, but as usual, soon licenses were granted for production in other countries.

The biggest customer were the Yugoslavian State Railways which received 218 locomotives, with two more supplied to the “Nikola Tesla” power plant in today's Serbia. The JŽ operated them as class 661 and they became the most numerous Yugoslavian diesel locomotive, nicknamed “Kenedi” in reference to the American president. Later they were used in most of Yugoslavia's successor states, for example becoming class 2061 of the Croatian HŽ. Most were retired by 2013, but Kosovo rebuilt them starting in 2008 with the more modern 8-710 engine and two cabs.

Egypt received 128 locomotives, 17 of which were the wide-nose G16W model. Spain initially got ten G16 in 1965 directly from EMD, but soon started licensed production at MACOSA. These were initially series 1900 and later became series 319, together with newer EMD J16 and J26. Brazilian customers got 41 locomotives, with 37 still being operated by the Vitória-Minas Railway (EFVM). In Australia, Clyde Engineering built six G16 which were used by Victorian Railways as class X. Additionally, 24 were built for Mexico, 20 for Iran and four for Hong Kong.

Variantlightest variantheaviest variant
General
Built1958-1972
ManufacturerElectro-Motive Division, General Motors Diesel, Clyde Engineering, MACOSA
Axle configC-C 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge), 4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge), 5 ft 3 in (Irish broad gauge), 5 ft 5 11/16 in (Iberian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length64 ft 1 11/16 in
Wheelbase37 ft 10 13/16 in
Service weight231,485 lbs255,736 lbs
Adhesive weight231,485 lbs255,736 lbs
Axle load38,581 lbs42,549 lbs
Boiler
Variantlightest variantheaviest variant
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed77 mph
Starting effort57,326 lbf
EngineEMD 16-567C
Engine typeV16 diesel
Fuel800 us gal (diesel)
Engine output1,800 hp (1,342 kW)1,923 hp (1,434 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
passenger
last changed: 09/2024
View on YouTube
Electro-Motive Division G22
United States | 1967
1,161 produced
Línea Belgrano Sur MF701, a G22CU-2, with a commuter train at Libertad near Buenos Aires in February 2018
Línea Belgrano Sur MF701, a G22CU-2, with a commuter train at Libertad near Buenos Aires in February 2018
Falk2

By upgrading the G12 with the new 645 series engine, the G22 was born, which was again built in a wide variety of variants for customers in the first, second and third worlds. Using a non-turbocharged engine has increased reliability and simplified maintenance. The locomotives were available with different gauges and with two- and three-axle bogies. The six-axle variants were available with either the “C” model designation with six traction motors or the “4” model designation with the (A1A)(A1A) wheel arrangement. Steam heating was available as an option. In later variants, the modular electronics of the “Dash 2” were installed, these can be recognized by the suffix “-2”.

VariantB-BC-CA1A-A1A
General
Built1967-2001
ManufacturerElectro-Motive Division, General Motors Diesel, Đuro Đaković, Kalmar Verkstad, NoHAB, MACOSA, Clyde Engineering, Hutt, Astarsa, EVSA, Henschel, Villares
Axle configB-B C-C A1A-A1A 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge), 3 ft 6 in (Cape gauge), 4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge), 5 ft 6 in (Indian broad gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length46 ft 5 7/8 in
Rigid wheelbase8 ft 0 in
Service weight156,528 lbs185,188 lbs176,370 lbs
Adhesive weight156,528 lbs185,188 lbs134,923 lbs
Axle load39,132 lbs30,865 lbs33,731 lbs
Boiler
VariantB-BC-CA1A-A1A
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed65 mph
EngineEMD 12-645E
Engine typeV12 diesel
Fuel1,700 us gal (diesel)
Engine output1,649 hp (1,230 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
passenger
last changed: 04/2023
Electro-Motive Division G26 and GL26
Australia | 1969
449 produced
CC 203 03 of Indonesian Railways KAI in November 2020 on the Rejosari-Branti route
CC 203 03 of Indonesian Railways KAI in November 2020 on the Rejosari-Branti route
Muhamad Gabriel Miolo
Variantlightest variantsheaviest variants
General
Built1969-2008
ManufacturerElectro-Motive Division, General Motors Diesel, Clyde Engineering, Đuro Đaković
Axle configC-C 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length55 ft 7 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft 6 in
Service weight214,950 lbs260,145 lbs
Adhesive weight214,950 lbs260,145 lbs
Axle load35,935 lbs43,430 lbs
Boiler
Variantlightest variantsheaviest variants
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed77 mph15 mph
Starting effort54,400 lbf
EngineEMD 16-645E
Engine typeV16 diesel
Fuel750 us gal (diesel)1,922 us gal (diesel)
Engine output2,000 hp (1,491 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
passenger
Electro-Motive Division GP15-1
United States | 1976
310 produced
GP15-1 of the Ventura County Railroad, a subsidiary of Genesee and Wyoming
GP15-1 of the Ventura County Railroad, a subsidiary of Genesee and Wyoming
Fettlemap

As an alternative to the reconstruction measures of older road switcher locomotives, EMD has been offering the GP15-1 since 1976. It was a short four-axle vehicle with a 1,500 hp twelve-cylinder prime mover that did not have a turbocharger. These locomotives could be used inexpensively for light road or switching service and a total of 310 were built by 1982. Of these, 160 went to the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which was bought by the Union Pacific shortly thereafter. Another 100 went to Conrail and 25 each to the Chicago and North Western and the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway.

After the end of production, the GP15T was presented, which was identical in dimensions and power to the GP15-1. The difference was that the prime mover used was a smaller turbocharged eight-cylinder. Due to the same power with a smaller displacement and a lower number of cylinders, this engine could be used more economically. Chessie System with 25 engines and Apalachicola Northern with three more were found as buyers. As the lower maintenance costs and higher reliability of a non-turbocharged engine were more important to many operators at the time, no further GP15Ts were built.

General
Built1976-1982
ManufacturerElectro-Motive Division
Axle configB-B 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length54 ft 11 in
Wheelbase41 ft
Rigid wheelbase9 ft
Service weight246,000 lbs
Adhesive weight246,000 lbs
Axle load61,500 lbs
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed65 mph
Starting effort47,000 lbf
EngineEMD 12-645E
Engine typeV12 diesel
Fuel2,400 us gal (diesel)
Engine output1,500 hp (1,119 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
last changed: 03/2022
Fairbanks-Morse H-12-46
Canada | 1951
30 produced
General
Built1951-1953
ManufacturerFairbanks-Morse
Axle configA1A-A1A 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Boiler
Power Plant
Power
Power sourcediesel-electric
Top speed60 mph
EngineFairbanks-Morse 38D-8 1/8
Engine type6-cyl. opposed diesel
Engine output1,200 hp (895 kW)
Calculated Values
diesel locomotive
freight
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