ALCO RSD-1

ALCO RSD-1
Former US Army ALCO RSD-1, now owned by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Donated from the Eglin Air Force Base Railroad when that operation was abandoned.
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Model RSD-1 Build date November 1942 – May 1946 Total produced 150
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C  • UIC Co'Co' Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) – Russia Length 55 ft 5+3⁄4 in (16.91 m) Width 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) Height 14 ft 5 in (4.39 m) Loco weight 247,500 lb (112,300 kg) Fuel capacity 1,000 US gal (830 imp gal; 3,800 L) Prime mover Alco 244T, 539T Engine type Straight-6 Four-stroke diesel Aspiration Turbocharger Displacement 9,572 cu in (157 L) Generator DC generator Traction motors DC traction motors Cylinders 6 Cylinder size 12+1⁄2 in × 13 in (318 mm × 330 mm) Transmission Electric Loco brake Straight air Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 65 mph (105 km/h) Power output 1,000 hp (750 kW) Tractive effort 40,425 lbf (179,820 N)
Career Locale North America, Soviet Union, Iran, North Korea

The ALCO RSD-1 was a diesel-electric locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO). This model was a road switcher type rated at 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) and rode on three-axle trucks, having a C-C wheel arrangement. It was often used in much the same manner as its four-axle counterpart, the ALCO RS-1, though the six-motor design allowed better tractive effort at lower speeds, as well as a lower weight-per-axle. It was developed to meet the need to supply the Soviet Union over the Trans-Iranian Railway starting in mid 1943. On the other hand, due to the traction generator and appurtenant control apparatus being sized for four axles and yet having two additional powered axles, it had poorer performance at higher speeds.^[1]