Alco RS11 announced

[buzz456]

*!!wink!!*

Yudaman!

[buzz456]

Yudaman!

Xdriver is da man!

Oops, I didn't notice that....................OK XDriver, Yudaman.

[TDHenderson]

Does anyone have a definitive list of those who operated the long-hood forward model?

Trevor

[buzz456]

Interesting derivation.

[johnmckenzie]

Wasn't 2344 a GP35?

[buzz456]

So far research indicates. N&W long hood forward, however the NKP one's were Short hood forward so when N&W got them they were also on the roster so both ways for N&W. PRR short hood forward. SP short hood forward. NP short hood forward.

[johnmckenzie]

So far research indicates. PRR short hood forward.

Are you absolutely sure about that one? The LV high hoods were second-hand PRR units and all photos I've seen of the ex-PRR units on Penn Central and Conrail look like they run long hood forward

[buzz456]

I should just wait til I get home tonight, but if you are in cab (view 1) can you spin that around so you are looking out the short hood end? Of course the controls are then behind you........I think I feel a migraine coming on.

[Chacal]

It is quite easy for the original developer to make a short hood variant.
I'm not sure I understand how this matters for repaints though.

[Rich_S]

Bob - I could never figure out the attraction to Alcos either - that is, until I saw them used on the Erie/LTV mining operations in MN. They're like Geeps on steroids.

Well maybe that is it, I have never seen one. The only really old engine I like is the U23B. I like it's looks.

Bob, If you like the GE U23B then you are already a ALCO fan and don't even realize it If you've ever seen a ALCO 251 prime mover, it looks very similar to the GE FDL series of prime movers. Also the ALCO's and GE's use the Main Generator and / or Alternator depending on unit to start the diesel engine. ALCO's used GE electrical parts until GE entered the US diesel market. Except for the outward body styles, GE's are almost the modern day version of ALCO's. I'm really not making this up, just look at a ALCO 251 power assembly compared to a GE FDL 16 power assembly, they are not identical, but you can see where GE got the idea for the FDL Also the only reason old ALCO's smoke like they do is poor maintenance. In the ALCO world, all that smoke is produced by what is known as turbo-charger lag, properly maintained ALCO's won't produce steam locomotive beaching smoke. Some of the best maintained ALCO's are on the A&M, which is a nice segway into my next comment. Great looking locomotive virtual RAILROADS, if you have a suggestion box, my vote is for a ALCO C420, L&HR or A&M paint or C430 Green Bay and Western paint.

Regards,
Rich S.

[artimrj]

Well then I guess I am a latent ALCO fan.

[Boldri]

Congrats and welcome aboard, Artimj..
But be aware, this ALCo-madness is incurable.

Oh btw, do someone know whether virtual RAILROADS plans to do short hood forward version?

[philmoberg]

... The LV high hoods were second-hand PRR units and all photos I've seen of the ex-PRR units on Penn Central and Conrail look like they run long hood forward

I can't speak to the ex-Pennsy units since my copy of Pennsy Power 2 isn't handy,, but PC did have a batch of ex-New Haven units set up for short hood forward. Originally, the New Haven had train heat boilers and passenger gearing as well, and at least for a brief time, would be found hauling the fastest passenger trains on the Shore Line.

BTW, I just found a photo on Northeast Railfan that clearly shows a Pennsy unit designated as long hood forward. The contemporary GP-9 cost $250,000 a copy, with an additional $10,000 a copy to set it up for short hood forward. No doubt the costs were similar for Alcos, and if you were buying more than a couple dozen of them, the tradeoff for additional units had to be tempting. Given Pennsy's Crash dieselization program at the time, they clearly were more interested in getting as much power as they could for the money the had (or could borrow).

(Edit: for additional information)

[Chacal]

This engine shines on short lines in road switching scenarios.
I'm swapping it into all scenarios for Colton Northern and for Rascal to Cottonwood and I'm having a ball.

[Chacal]

It is perhaps just a little bit unstable on curves.

Note to self: reduce speed when approaching a sharp bend in the track.

RS11-crash-40mph-02.jpg