estoniaman It's an Alco in all but name. Copied and built in Russia and improved from a 6 cylinder engine to a 8 cylinder inline engine rated a 1200 horsepower. I'd love to see about 50 or more imported into the U S. There are lots of them running all over the former East Bloc countries so parts must still be available. Often wondered if the parts for the Russian copy would fit a American production 539 engine. And there all 6 axle 6 motor locomotives.
That's an original Alco,you can tell how fast he was able to start it right after entering the cab and the unique sound the turbo makes on the cold start...excellent video!!. No draining the cylinders BEFORE startup.This is a EMD requirement.
αиσиумσυѕ James Normally you don't but on a cold day, you might have to open the test ports on 3 of the 6. And deactivate those three injection pumps too. If it has been sitting for a long time, it is a good idea to open all of them to make sure the cylinders are clear. They do leak water into them at times and a hydraulic lock will ruin your day.
There's an old Alco down around Sheridan, OR I'd love to see restored. My father remembers the exact same loco being used to haul lumber from the mills back in the late 50's and through the 60's. Last I saw it... in '02... it was still doing it.
Like others said, music to your ears for those of us that appreciate the old alcos. Yes they all had little tweaks here and there but these are real brutes. They'll take a beating in the short time rating all day long while all the new fangled electronic controlled BS cuts out or derates or just flat gives up and catches on fire. Say what you will naysayers, they may not have all the HP and creature comforts but these beauties were built to last.
***** Yes, for the ones that could/can maintain them they are almost bullet proof. I really enjoy them all. They (all models) just have that look to them that says "rock solid"!
In the past, we had early series ТЭМ2 shunter in our station (Piriatin, Ploltava region, Ukraine), and it sounds and smokes very same) Later I read about Alco, which was common Base for ТЭ1, ТЭ2, ТЭМ1, ТЭМ2 locomotoves, and Д50, ПД1 engines.
I don't know if it's true with locomotive engines, but semi truck engines will, on a cold start, get up to idle speed, then revert to firing on only three of its six cylinders, in order to make the engine work harder, to warm up faster. Yes, you get lots of unburned diesel fuel, and lots of smoke! Nice video, and nice catch!
Never heard of such a thing, the engine runs on all six after it starts. If it’s only running on 3, then there’s only half the heat being made and it takes longer to warm up, plus the only way something like that could even be done is with EFI. An EFI engine can go into high idle for faster warm up in cold weather because a computer is controlling the engine speed. My Duramax does just that below about 35*F, it runs slow until the oil is well circulated then after about 3 minutes the ECM speeds the engine up from 700 RPM to about 1200 until it’s warm or is put in gear to drive.
You know the engine is really cold when you have to open up three of the cylinder cocks and kill 3 of the injector pumps to get one running. Once it cranks, if the exhaust barely makes it out the stack, falls on the hood, rolls onto the walkways, and off onto the ground, then you know its cold. Then you get to start closing the cocks and putting the injector pumps cutouts back in.
gravelydon I helped the engine house forces restart an S-2 switcher that had died in February 1974 ran out of fuel. Showed up to use it and when I tried cranking it over with three cylinders cut out and open cocks still needed a jump start from another S-2 after they refilled the fuel tank with the fuel truck.took just over a 90 seconds of cranking before one cylinder fired and another 30 seconds or so before I could let go of the starter button with the throttle at half throttle. Then closed the three open cocks and kicked in the injector pumps one at a time 45 minutes or so was running smoothly on all 6 but didn't get any heat until I tied onto 30 loads of stone to make up a westbound freight. By the time I got a stop signal over the radio I was at 170 degrees and had plenty of heat but it was another hour before everything in the cab warmed up to a comfortable level in the cab. Most of the Alco S switchers were built during WW II and it is a testament to the design and men who built them on the fact there are so many still running today.
Reflex Photography NZ..... Starts a heck of a lot easier than most all British locomotive diesels I've ever witnessed.... at least the older ones from the same time era as this Alco. The British locomotive diesels of the era were some of the finest examples of complete overly complicated engine wizardry I've ever laid eyes on, Barr None!! lol ; )
1000 horsepower for traction,probably 1300 at the crankshaft. The other 300 horsepower being used for driving the compressor and other auxiallary devices.The six cylinder engine came in two types non-turbo and turbo.The non-turbo delivered 600 horsepower for traction and the turbo 1000 for traction. For example the Alco S1 600hp and the Alco S2 1000hp yet look at the loco's from the outside they are all most the same.
Oh hey, an RSM-1! What a surprise! I’m actually building an HO scale model of one right now. It’s going to look similar to 8652, but with the addition of ALCo trimount trucks.
ALCO 539T engine idle 275 rpm full throttle 740 rpm 12-3/4 inch bore by 13 inch stroke. Used to run one from first street Yard South Boston NHRR out to Andrew Square yard present Amtrak yard and shop Boston. Pull 25 or more loads from first st Due to heavily clogged radiator cores engine would run hot by the time you pulled into Andrew yard halfway down the lead reduce throttle to One half the put reverser into neutral keep throttle at one half till engine cooled down to 160 or so then close throttle to idle. If coolant was over 180 or higher would shut down if you went to idle hence the half throttle position 99% S-2/4 and on rare occasions one Alco HH-600 with a 531 engine would be our power for the day. I was 15 at the time 1965, Only thing I regret was an old passenger engine sitting in the dead line. After they Conrail scrapped did I discover it was the last DL-109 left and was completely intact but hadn't run in years! I believe it was scrapped in 1974.
James Shanks.... I believe you and I are the same age.... and from the same area, originally. I had a couple of my uncles that were train crew on the NHRR as well.... in that same time period. Definitely a crying shame about that DL-109!!.... some railroads just have No heart and No shame!
Sounds a bit like some of the Soviet era diesel engines that are still around. I do miss the sound of the old MLW FPA4s - essentially BB versions of PA’s. Nothing like hearing them accelerate uphill from a signal stop with 8 or more coaches behind.
As far as I know, Detroit series 60 did this for a few years only, more to save fuel at idle. It was a very limited time and they have been programed to not do it now. I know of no other domestic diesels that did this.
The last DL-109 left imagine if she had been saved and rebuilt NH's DL-109 were used for passenger by day and hauled freight at night they even leased some to Bangor & Aroostic Railroad Back in the mid 50's to haul potatoes during their rush the B&A was all EMD imagine the shop and engine crews With those units.
The white vapour is un-burnt diesel fuel. As the engine is not warm, some of the exhaust valves will blow by, and those cylinders will not fire. Sometimes hot gas from the cylinders that are firing, ignite the vapour and flames shoot from the exhaust port.
Ah. The North Alabama Railroad Museum, Basically up in Huntsville. Haven't been there before, but I can tell you that I've had some family members been there.
Nice video! I work at a railroad museum in Southern California that has 2 ex US army RSD1 locomotives I don't have any video of them starting up but I do have video up of them running in one video I show them running together. I will post a video response with for that video please approve thanks.
What I'm wondering is why they don't cut out the cold cylinders until it warms up a bit. You can do that on a 539 engine to reduce the smoking. Turbo sounds real good on her though!
It is due to mass of the motor one fire has enough power to speed up the motor enough that the one or more combustion cycles after have little to do causing the note to change. when forward is selected it often loads the motor enough to fire on every combustion cycle.
And here I go, worried about my 3.0TDI making a thumping sound when its cold (it's rather a paranoia). This is a pure hammer vs. metal, yet it's a healthy machine.
Classic Alco, rhythmic and smokey, A Diesel with the soul of a steam engine.
They rightfully earned the Title of honorary Steam Engines
The most beautiful sound in all of railroading. Nothing sounds like an ALCO 539T; thanks for posting!
Actually the British Rail class 20, 37 and 40 locomotives sound quite a lot like ALCOs. Very similar turbo sound.
You can't beat the sound of an Alco
ТЭМ2 могёт.
tramwayz
TEM2 basically is an ALCo :D
estoniaman
It's an Alco in all but name. Copied and built in Russia and improved from a 6 cylinder engine to a 8 cylinder inline engine rated a 1200 horsepower. I'd love to see about 50 or more imported into the U S. There are lots of them running all over the former East Bloc countries so parts must still be available. Often wondered if the parts for the Russian copy would fit a American production 539 engine.
And there all 6 axle 6 motor locomotives.
That is right.
Nope. EMD 16-645-E3 (SD40-2). Sounds just like a gigantic automotive V8.
That's an original Alco,you can tell how fast he was able to start it right after entering the cab and the unique sound the turbo makes on the cold start...excellent video!!. No draining the cylinders BEFORE startup.This is a EMD requirement.
That legendary turbo spool.
I agree
MrMjsmith626 This isn't a EMD locomotive This engine was made By Alco. So there are no Draining cylinder requirement
αиσиумσυѕ James That's what MrMjsmith626 said
αиσиумσυѕ James Normally you don't but on a cold day, you might have to open the test ports on 3 of the 6. And deactivate those three injection pumps too. If it has been sitting for a long time, it is a good idea to open all of them to make sure the cylinders are clear. They do leak water into them at times and a hydraulic lock will ruin your day.
That turbo is godlike.
Yes it is godlike
Indeed it is :)
@@Texan_red_pandayes yes it is. I have been brakeman on this engine multiple times.
Boy ALCO knew how to build em !! Good old Schenectady know how !! Used to live 15 minutes from where she was built
....and she wakes up with that asthmatic wheeze all Alcophiles die for!
+James Pendergrass that is NOT a she it's an it
+Thomas Ninan Go be politically correct somewhere else....
Rebel N. Coltrane amen!!
@@thomasninan947 if the locomotive identifies as a "she" who are you to tell her she's an "it"
Doesn't get any better than this. Old Alco RS units rock on in daily use for some 70 years.😊
There's an old Alco down around Sheridan, OR I'd love to see restored. My father remembers the exact same loco being used to haul lumber from the mills back in the late 50's and through the 60's. Last I saw it... in '02... it was still doing it.
Aaaahhhhhhhh...... I love the smell of diesel in the morning!
Thanks for posting the vid!
Like others said, music to your ears for those of us that appreciate the old alcos. Yes they all had little tweaks here and there but these are real brutes. They'll take a beating in the short time rating all day long while all the new fangled electronic controlled BS cuts out or derates or just flat gives up and catches on fire. Say what you will naysayers, they may not have all the HP and creature comforts but these beauties were built to last.
Mark Reardon 539s are always nice to hear running.
***** Yes, for the ones that could/can maintain them they are almost bullet proof. I really enjoy them all. They (all models) just have that look to them that says "rock solid"!
A properly wired and tuned 244 is nice to hear also. But making a new wiring harness for an RS-3 is a pain.
Mechanical simplicity that just WORKED!
L'on ça nepolluePAS!!!!
Love it!Just like and ALCO should be.Cold or warm day,still nice and smoky.Long live ALCO,s.And great shot too.
Ah Nothing like an Alco coldstart to get your day going, Great catch!
The way the turbo pulses reminds me of a C-130 Hercules sounds like when the engines start
In the past, we had early series ТЭМ2 shunter in our station (Piriatin, Ploltava region, Ukraine), and it sounds and smokes very same) Later I read about Alco, which was common Base for ТЭ1, ТЭ2, ТЭМ1, ТЭМ2 locomotoves, and Д50, ПД1 engines.
SWEEEEET!!! Some Alcos always wanted to be steam engines, looks like this is one of them.
I don't know if it's true with locomotive engines, but semi truck engines will, on a cold start, get up to idle speed, then revert to firing on only three of its six cylinders, in order to make the engine work harder, to warm up faster. Yes, you get lots of unburned diesel fuel, and lots of smoke! Nice video, and nice catch!
What?
@@gregoryhodge9452 To what are you saying "what"?
Never heard of such a thing, the engine runs on all six after it starts. If it’s only running on 3, then there’s only half the heat being made and it takes longer to warm up, plus the only way something like that could even be done is with EFI. An EFI engine can go into high idle for faster warm up in cold weather because a computer is controlling the engine speed.
My Duramax does just that below about 35*F, it runs slow until the oil is well circulated then after about 3 minutes the ECM speeds the engine up from 700 RPM to about 1200 until it’s warm or is put in gear to drive.
...best cold start on youtube...chug...chug...chug...turbo screamin'...gotta luv it...
i can almost watch every cold start train.
Ah, gotta love ALCO 539's! Nice one sounds just like our ALCO
You know the engine is really cold when you have to open up three of the cylinder cocks and kill 3 of the injector pumps to get one running. Once it cranks, if the exhaust barely makes it out the stack, falls on the hood, rolls onto the walkways, and off onto the ground, then you know its cold. Then you get to start closing the cocks and putting the injector pumps cutouts back in.
gravelydon
I helped the engine house forces restart an S-2 switcher that had died in February 1974 ran out of fuel. Showed up to use it and when I tried cranking it over with three cylinders cut out and open cocks still needed a jump start from another S-2 after they refilled the fuel tank with the fuel truck.took just over a 90 seconds of cranking before one cylinder fired and another 30 seconds or so before I could let go of the starter button with the throttle at half throttle. Then closed the three open cocks and kicked in the injector pumps one at a time 45 minutes or so was running smoothly on all 6 but didn't get any heat until I tied onto 30 loads of stone to make up a westbound freight. By the time I got a stop signal over the radio I was at 170 degrees and had plenty of heat but it was another hour before everything in the cab warmed up to a comfortable level in the cab.
Most of the Alco S switchers were built during WW II and it is a testament to the design and men who built them on the fact there are so many still running today.
....great sound.... calling bullshit on the "cold winter morning" part LOL! From Wisconsin here... We'd still be golfing in that type of weather!!!
Exactly my thought lol cheers from New York.
You can't beat the clunky, basey sound of an ALCo! Only about 1000 horse power but takes a licking and keeps on ticking!
Streamlined Steamroller so, your 2017 veyron needs a W16 to get 1000 horsepower? How cute!
love the 539's, we would warm ours 30 min at least before installing block heat(the way to go if you want to save money)
Clags like an old British diesel. Old school engineering at its finest
Reflex Photography NZ..... Starts a heck of a lot easier than most all British locomotive diesels I've ever witnessed.... at least the older ones from the same time era as this Alco. The British locomotive diesels of the era were some of the finest examples of complete overly complicated engine wizardry I've ever laid eyes on, Barr None!! lol ; )
@@Romans--bo7br That opposed piston jigsaw puzzle.
@@Romans--bo7br this locomotive is older than all British diesels. (Excluding the early shunters)
class 37 thrash 👌
Wow alco is a excellent engine i love these alcos i wish i had a alco
One reason why I love ALCO's !
1000 horsepower for traction,probably 1300 at the crankshaft.
The other 300 horsepower being used for driving the compressor and other auxiallary devices.The six cylinder engine came in two types non-turbo and turbo.The non-turbo delivered 600 horsepower for traction and the turbo 1000 for traction.
For example the Alco S1 600hp and the Alco S2 1000hp yet look at the loco's from the outside they are all most the same.
Im a professional skydiver and I go on RUclips for videos like this. Thank you. Train woody!!!
@scobrown1 it does make loud hammering noises when it idles even when it's warm but not near as violently as it does when cold
Love the sounds ALCOs make!
Love the sound of a old alco!
Love hearing the old girl turnover! Great video!
Oh hey, an RSM-1! What a surprise! I’m actually building an HO scale model of one right now. It’s going to look similar to 8652, but with the addition of ALCo trimount trucks.
The sweet sound of reliability.
ALCO 539T engine idle 275 rpm full throttle 740 rpm 12-3/4 inch bore by 13 inch stroke. Used to run one from first street
Yard South Boston NHRR out to Andrew Square yard present Amtrak yard and shop Boston. Pull 25 or more loads from first st
Due to heavily clogged radiator cores engine would run hot by the time you pulled into Andrew yard halfway down the lead reduce throttle to
One half the put reverser into neutral keep throttle at one half till engine cooled down to 160 or so then close throttle to idle. If coolant was over
180 or higher would shut down if you went to idle hence the half throttle position
99% S-2/4 and on rare occasions one Alco HH-600 with a 531 engine would be our power for the day. I was 15 at the time 1965,
Only thing I regret was an old passenger engine sitting in the dead line. After they Conrail scrapped did I discover it was the last
DL-109 left and was completely intact but hadn't run in years! I believe it was scrapped in 1974.
James Shanks.... I believe you and I are the same age.... and from the same area, originally. I had a couple of my uncles that were train crew on the NHRR as well.... in that same time period. Definitely a crying shame about that DL-109!!.... some railroads just have No heart and No shame!
best listened to with good headphones loudly!!
I can't get over how similar this sounds to an english electric engine. It even smokes like one from a cold start.... NICE!!!
Ahhh, music to my ears!
I love trains I live by a railroad track I see them everday
Bet she runs like a dream once she warms up.
Really sounds similar to an English Electric Class 20 starting up.
Sounds a bit like some of the Soviet era diesel engines that are still around. I do miss the sound of the old MLW FPA4s - essentially BB versions of PA’s. Nothing like hearing them accelerate uphill from a signal stop with 8 or more coaches behind.
beautiful noises !!!...I love it !!!
Fantastic train video. Greetings Joe 😊
As far as I know, Detroit series 60 did this for a few years only, more to save fuel at idle. It was a very limited time and they have been programed to not do it now. I know of no other domestic diesels that did this.
The last DL-109 left imagine if she had been saved and rebuilt NH's DL-109 were
used for passenger by day and hauled freight at night they even leased some to Bangor & Aroostic Railroad
Back in the mid 50's to haul potatoes during their rush the B&A was all EMD imagine the shop and engine crews
With those units.
Model 539T 1000 BHP turbocharged (Elliott built Busch designed) straight 6, 4 stroke engine putting out the signature ALCO smoke
Love that sound!
The white vapour is un-burnt diesel fuel. As the engine is not warm, some of the exhaust valves will blow by, and those cylinders will not fire. Sometimes hot gas from the cylinders that are firing, ignite the vapour and flames shoot from the exhaust port.
You ain't heard nothing until you start one of those things with an air starter. First time I ever did that it scared me out of a years growth....
Now that a typical ALCO sound.
Beeeeutiful.Long may they run.
So AWESOME! Love the dirty diesel.
Yep. That's an old alco for sure. man those things are a pain on cold days...but once they start pulling....look out!
Good Job.
I wish our RS-1 could sound like this. It currently runs on 5 cylinders and no turbo.
99% vapor? You think? More like 99% unburnt fuel. Hate to live downwind from this set of tracks.
Ah. The North Alabama Railroad Museum, Basically up in Huntsville. Haven't been there before, but I can tell you that I've had some family members been there.
A favorite work horse of THE NEW HAVEN RR
Great sound Borenkd, sounds like the British railways Class 40. Has that same whistle sound to it. RUclips BR Class 40, sure you will agree.
Nice video! I work at a railroad museum in Southern California that has 2 ex US army RSD1 locomotives I don't have any video of them starting up but I do have video up of them running in one video I show them running together. I will post a video response with for that video please approve thanks.
Música para mis oídos!
i like the video and i like the sound of the locomotive
Love the chugging sounds it makes!
Ich liebe es wenn ein Groß Diesel gestartet wird und der Turbo langsam Hochläuft.
Daumen hoch für Große Diesel Motoren.
Ooooh, that turbo whistle!
I subscribed. Joe's train world videos 😀😀😀😀
Give it some ether, boys!
also the way it was skiping sounds like it could use a new set of spark plugs and plug wires or maybe the distributer is out of time.
Um, it's a diesel.
yes I know.I was trying to be funny.I am actually a diesel mechanic(retired from ryder truck)
didn't have the choke pushed all the way in :)
Or maybe the float in the carb is sticking.I told him to go with a holley 780 double pumper and there would not be a problem.LMFO
Alcos are the detroit diesel on rails . They have a certain music to play.
I'd say the EMD 567 is the Detroit of the railroad
*CLUNK*
*CLUNK*
*CLUNK*
*CLUNK*
*CLUNK*
Edit: now that I think of it, this old diesel chugs like a steamer- and smokes like one too lol
That knocking sounds like my washing machine when I put too much cloths in it .
Yes, it is Dunkirk, NY. You must have been in Pa then, maybe Warren?
4 stroke,six cylinders in line,turbo-charged 1000 horsepower.
@251CE Those are equipped with Swiss made Buchi turbochargers. They're about 2 feet in diameter!
I ran lots of alcos on the BCRAIL
The last steamers..... I saw 1 in a railyard with a steam generator, paired up with an sd-40
Impressive. Thanks for sharing. Joe
What I'm wondering is why they don't cut out the cold cylinders until it warms up a bit. You can do that on a 539 engine to reduce the smoking. Turbo sounds real good on her though!
nice cold start
nice video like
Absolutely AWESOME, man!
Great beat!
great sound
Fantastic.
There's just no sound in the world quite like an Alco 539T.
Great video
It is due to mass of the motor one fire has enough power to speed up the motor enough that the one or more combustion cycles after have little to do causing the note to change.
when forward is selected it often loads the motor enough to fire on every combustion cycle.
Affectionately called cabbage choppers.
And here I go, worried about my 3.0TDI making a thumping sound when its cold (it's rather a paranoia). This is a pure hammer vs. metal, yet it's a healthy machine.
Turbo whine and clag. It don't get better than that.
Start this bad boy beside the EPA and watch them start freaking out! Best way to give the bird
0:38 Best industrial sound.
At least ya know one cylinder is firing good..lol
I love it old school diesel.
Espectacular. Muchas gracias.
Different kind of music :D ..sounds great
Wonderful......
Very good !