Spotlight on Alco's RS32 / DL721 |
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A cloud of oily black smoke accompanies a quartet of NYC RS32s as they blast out of the Detroit River Tunnel and begin a race across Canada in February 1964. |
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| New: 1 October 2022 | |
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The locomotive horsepower race was in full stride by 1962; ALco's introduction of the 2400-hp RS27 (DL640) and 2000-hp RS32 (DL721) was an effort to stay ahead of competitors General Motors and General Electric. Powered by a new V16-251C prime mover, the two road units were precursors to Alco's soon-to-be-announced four-axle Century series C424 (DL640A) and C420 (DL721A). However, neither of the two four-axle models gained wide acceptance; combined sales reached a meager 62 units. The RS32 faired slightly better than its bigger cousin with eight more locos entered in the sales ledger. Slightly longer and more powerful than its RS11 predecessor, the 2000-hp unit measured 57 feet, 2 inches over couplers. The higher horsepower rating was attained by increasing engine rpm from 1000 to 1025, addition of a turbocharger with higher output, and installation of a large-capacity generator. The Type-E transistorized control system first employed successfully in the RS11 was retained. Only two railroads foresaw significant reason to purchase RS32s from the builder in Schenectady, New York: Southern Pacific added 15 units and New York Central placed orders for a total of 20. Although Alco's Canadian subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) was not at the time cataloging a 200O-hp model, a single RS32 was purchased second-hand by short line operator Roberval & Saquenay in eastern Canada. Initially, NYC assigned the RS32s to its trademark Flexi-van service or to hot NY-4/NY-2 meat trains. Similarly, SP's 2000-hp model could be found leading hotshot trains up and down the California coastline. Both railroads retired their RS32s during the late 1970s; a few loyal Alco customers were not hesitant to acquire small numbers. |
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Photos Many of the main and short line railroads that owned RS32s are depicted in this table. The left-hand column represents those units with a New York Central heritage, and the other column identifies locomotives with a Southern Pacific lineage. Btw, Espee units had an optional light package that included headlights on the nose and an oscillating light above the numberboards; those features help differentiate ex-NYC power from ex-SP.--- R. Craig |
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| New York Central
The "launch pad" at West Detroit was a frequent Alco hang-out. (Ray Sabo photo, March 1967)** | Southern Pacific
A system-wide renumbering late in 1965 had #7302 becoming the #4002. (Drew Jacksich at San Jose, CA in February 1966) |
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| Penn Central
PC's economy "13-D" black scheme did nothing for the RS32's looks. * (R. Craig photo at West Detroit, 25 July 1973) | Fillmore & Western
FWRY #4009 spent a lot of time in front of the TV camera making commercials. (Charles Freericks photo at Fillmore, California, 29 April 2012) |
| Conrail
Transition from Penn Central to Conrail involved no new paint, just a logo. (Photographer unknown at Rochester, New York on 10 April 1977)** | Eastern Tennessee Railway
The clock has struck 12-Noon and #211 has begun its daily routine. (R. Craig photo at Johnson City, Tennessee, 24 March 1983) |
| Chicago & North Western
C&NW #4249 was one of ten ex-Conrail DL721s acquired via a dealer. (Bill Johson photo at Green Bay, Wisconsin on 26 February 1983) | Chrome Crankshaft
Chrome owned seven ex-SP RS32s leaser units which were painted dip-red. (Ralph Back photo at Waseca, MN on 19 January 1980) |
| Eastern Tennessee Railway
ETRY #212 arrives with a load of coal for North American Rayon plant. (R. Craig photo at Elizabethton, TN on 13 July 1984) | J.R. Simplot
The #4004 was acquired for switching chores at large manufacturing plant. (Terry Baker photo at Pocatella, Idaho in May 1985). |
| Tishomingo Railway
At start-up in 1999, Tishomingo's power consisted only of RS32's #211 & 212. (Photo at Iuka, Mississippi in 1999 -- Bruce Crawford collection) | Delaware Valley
Besides its Southern Pacific years, RS32 #211 worked for five other owners. (Bob Wilt photo at Pocopson, Pennsylvania on 12 July 1997)** |
| Arkansas & Missouri
RS32 #32 was right-at-home working on A&M's all-Alco roster. (Photo at Springdale, Arkansas on 24 August 2010 by R. J. Duncan) | Fundidora Monterey
The Mexican steelmaker purchased RS32 #4001 and 4003 from Chrome Crankshaft. (STILL SEARCHING FOR A PHOTO OF THE TWO LOCOS) |
| Delaware-Lackawanna
The #211 is one of several "retreads" that has made D-L highly popular. (Darryl Rule photo at Moscow, Pennsylvania on 23 June 2010). | Short Line Enterprise
#4009 was acquired by SLE in the 1980s to wok w/ Hollywood film-makers. (John Benson photo) |
| Genesse Valley
While working on Falls River Railroad, GVT #2035 leads a westbound local. (Joseph Cermak photo at Albion, New York on 6 May 2020). | Roberval & Saquenay
Roberval & Saquenay was the only Alco RS32 to work on Canadian soil. (Ian Platt photo at Jon Quiere, Quebec on 24 August 1990) ** |
| ** R. Craig slide collection | * Coined by Don Dover, "13-D" are descriptors that tie mood to color and weather: Dark, dank, dull, dreary, dismal, deplorable, dreadful, depressing, deadly, displeasing, despicable, There are probably others if you really care. |
Ralph Back photo at Waseca, MN on 19 January 1980 |
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| New: 1 October 2022 | Compiled by R. Craig | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alco Serial Number | Original Owner & Subsequent Owners (date acquired) |
Alco Shop No. | Bldr Date |
| 83981 | NYC 8020 / 2020 | 3341-1 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2020 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
| 83982 | NYC 8021 / 2021 | 3341-2 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2021 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2021 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
--- Chicago & North Western 4247 (Fall 1979) |
-- | ||
| 83983 | NYC 8022 / 2022 | 3341-3 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2022 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2022 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
--- Chicago & North Western 4243 (Fall 1979) |
-- | ||
| 83984 | NYC 8023 / 2023 | 3341-4 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2023 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2023 (1 April 1976) | |||
--- Chicago & North Western 4249 (Fall 1979) |
-- | ||
| 83985 | NYC 8024 / 2024 | 3341-5 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2024 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2024 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
--- Chicago & North Western 4242 (Fall 1979) |
-- | ||
| 83986 | NYC 8025 / 2025 | 3341-6 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2025 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
| 83987 | NYC 8026 / 2026 | 3341-7 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
| 83988 | NYC 8027 / 2027 | 3341-8 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2027 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
| 83989 | NYC 8028 / 2028 | 3341-9 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2028 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
| 83990 | NYC 8029 / 2029 | 3341-10 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2029 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
| 83991 | NYC 8030 / 2030 | 3341-11 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2030 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2030 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
| 83992 | NYC 8031 / 2031 | 3341-12 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2031 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2031 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
--- Arkansa & Missouri 42 (--) |
-- | ||
| 83993 | NYC 8032 / 2032 | 3341-13 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2032 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2032 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
| 83994 | NYC 8033 / 2033 | 3341-14 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2033 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2033 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
| 83995 | NYC 8034 / 2034 | 3341-15 | 6/1961 |
--- Penn Central 2034 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2034 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
--- Chicago & North Western 4246 (Fall 1979) |
-- | ||
| 84025 | SP 7300 / 4000 | 3344-1 | 3/1962 |
--- Chrome Crankshaft 4000 (1978) |
-- | ||
--- Fundidora Monterey 4000 (1978) |
-- | ||
| 84026 | SP 7301 / 4001 | 3344-2 | 3/1962 |
--- Chrome Crankshaft 4001 (1979) |
-- | ||
--- Fundidora Monterey 4001 (May 1980) |
-- | ||
| 84027 | SP 7302 / 4002 | 3344-3 | 3/1962 |
--- Chrome Crankshaft 4002 (1979) |
-- | ||
--- ETWN 211 (--) |
-- | ||
--- ETRY 211 (--) |
-- | ||
--- Delaware Valley 211 (--) |
-- | ||
--- Tishmigo 211 (--) |
-- | ||
--- Delaware - Lackawanna 211 (--) |
-- | ||
| 84028 | SP 7303 / 4003 | 3344-4 | 3/1962 |
--- Chrome Crankshaft 4003 (1979) |
-- | ||
--- Chrome Crankshaft 1002 (May 1980) |
-- | ||
--- Fundidora Monterey (May 1980) |
-- | ||
| 84029 | SP 7304 / 4004 | 3344-5 | 3/1962 |
--- Chrome Crankshaft 4004 (1979) |
-- | ||
--- J.R. Simplott 4004 (1981) |
-- | ||
--- Feather River RR Society (March 1990) |
-- | ||
--- Pacific Southwest Rwy Museum as 7304 (July 2005) |
-- | ||
| 84030 | SP 7305 / 4005 | 3344-6 | 3/1962 |
--- Chrome Crankshaft 4001 (scrapped) |
-- | ||
| 84031 | SP 7306 / 4006 | 3344-7 | 4/1962 |
--- Proler Int'l (scrapped) |
-- | ||
| 84032 | SP 7307 / 4007 | 3344-8 | 4/1962 |
--- Proler Int'l (scrapped) |
-- | ||
| 84033 | SP 7308 / 4008 | 3344-9 | 4/1962 |
--- Proler Int'l (scrapped) |
-- | ||
| 84034 | SP 7309 / 4009 | 3344-10 | 4/1962 |
--- Chrome Crankshaft 4009 (1979) |
-- | ||
--- Short Line Enterpriset (--) |
-- | ||
--- Fillmore & Western 4009 (--) |
-- | ||
--- Southern Cal. Rwy Museum (--) |
-- | ||
| 84035 | NYC 8035 | 3344-11 | 6/1962 |
--- Penn Central 2035 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2035 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
--- Delaware Valley 212 (--) |
-- | ||
--- Tishmingo 212 (--) |
-- | ||
--- GVT/Falls River RR 2035 (--) |
-- | ||
| 84036 | NYC 8036 | 3344-12 | 6/1962 |
| 84037 | NYC 8037 | 3344-13 | 6/1962 |
| 84038 | NYC 8038 | 3344-14 | 6/1962 |
--- Penn Central 2038 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2038 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
--- Chicago & North Western 4241 (Fall 1979) |
-- | ||
| 84039 | NYC 8039 | 3344-15 | 6/1962 |
| 84183 | NYC 8040 | 3349-1 | 6/1962 |
| 84184 | NYC 8041 | 3349-2 | 6/1962 |
--- Penn Central 2041 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2041 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
--- Chicago & North Western 4240 (Fall 1979) |
-- | ||
| 84185 | NYC 8042 | 3349-3 | 6/1962 |
--- Penn Central 2042 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2042 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
--- Chicago & North Western 4248 (Fall 1979) |
-- | ||
| 84186 | NYC 8043 | 3349-4 | 6/1962 |
--- Penn Central 2043 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2043 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
--- Chicago & North Western 4244 (Fall 1979) |
-- | ||
| 84187 | NYC 8044 | 3349-5 | 6/1962 |
--- Penn Central 2044 (1 February 1968) |
-- | ||
--- Conrail 2044 (1 April 1976) |
-- | ||
--- Chicago & North Western 4245 (Fall 1979) |
-- | ||
Reference sources:
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Additional info from:
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| Production Roster
Craig Garver photo collection |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revised: 21 March 2018 | -- | |||
| Original owner | Road Numbers | Quantity | Builder Numbers | Builder Dates |
| New York Central | 8020-8034 | 15 | 83981-83995 | 6/61 |
| 8035-8039 | 5 | 84035-84039 | 6/62 | |
| 8040-8044 | 5 | 84183-84187 | 6/62 | |
| Southern Pacific | 7300-7305 | 6 | 84025-84030 | 3/62 |
| 7306-7309 | 4 | 84031-84034 | 4/62 | |
| Technical Data | ||
|---|---|---|
Robby Gragg photo at Scranton, Pennsylvania on 2 January 2004
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| Engine: Alco 2000 hp (4-cycle Model 251C V12) | Bore & Stroke: 9" X 10.5" | |
| Generators: Main(GE - GT581D2) / Auxilary (GE 566-E1) | RPM: (Maximum 1025 / Minimum 40) | |
| Gear Ratio: 74:18 / 64:19 | Speed: 70 mph / 80 mph | |
| 4-Wheel Trucks with GE 752 Traction Motors(Four) | Air Brake: Westinghouse (Model 26L) | |
| Tractive Effort (starting) 66,000 lbs @ 25% | Tractive Effort (continuous): 35,000 lbs @ 8 mph | |
| Compressor: Westinghouse (Model 3CDC) | Multiple Unit: Yes | |
| - | - | |
| Lengths: (Locomotive 57'-02") and (Pilot to Pilot 52'-06") | Widths: Cab (10'-00") / Engine Hood (6'-10") | |
| Truck Wheel Base (9'-04") with 40" diameter wheels | Minimum Turning Radious (30 degrees) | |
| Height to Top Engine Hood (14'-06") | Height to Top Cab Roof (15'-00" | |
| Distance between Truck Centers (45'-11") | Center Bolster (31'-00" | |
| - | - | |
| Oil: Fuel (1200 gal.) and Lubricating (200 gal.) | Engine Cooling Water (250 gal.) / Sand capacity: 28 cu. ft. | |
Reference Sources:
Additional info / corrections from Duncan Richards Original uploading: 12 May 2006
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