Alco RS-3 and FPA-4 Diesel Locomotive Start-up
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- A 57 year old diesel locomotive comes to life after a multi-head change-out and liner/head re-lap. The unit originally was Delaware &Hudson (USA) 4099. The FPA-4's pedigree was from the Canadian National.
I'm a die hard 2 cycle diesel fan (Detroit & EMD, Cleveland, Winton)... but absolutely love that throbbing ALCO sound... especially at idle. Long live the ALCO's!! : )
Nothing like a good old sounding ALCO
we still have these locomotives but used for shunting and short roots. I love their blasting diesel engine sound 😍💓
Love the sound of Alco!
Some of you EMD fans should know that early 567 prime movers suffered from serious oil leaks when shut down and hot. EMD fixed that with the 567C block.
Wait wait... you mean a cousin of the Detroit 2-stroke diesel leaking oil??? Say it isn't so!!! lol. I love all the big diesel prime movers. Especially the 16-645
They don’t leak ,,, they mark there territory. Like a harly. 😂
@@ricksadler797.... However, they are FAR More reliable than a Harley. : )
Nothing more relaxing than a 244!!!!
I spent a few years in the cabs of the FPA 4s on the CN (and later VIA). Everyone loved the sound these beasts made. They pulled as good as they sounded and ran 90 mph plus on the Kingston and Halton Subs. Thanks
I just love how they seem to say, "bucket of bolts, bucket of bolts" when they idle! I enjoy working with the RS-3 the most out of our in service engines. I like the FL-9, but it's not too brakeman friendly especially if we have to switch with it! We've got a U-23C that's okay and reliable, but I hear the real beauty will be the Geep.
I remember these beasts on the Barreiro-Faro IR services in Portugal. Loved them to bits and still do.
Yeaaaaah! I worked on these engines when I was a machinist. They were a lot of work but I still like them.
Good. I'm glad to see they didn't scrap her and went ahead with the repairs. She was the line's pride and joy back in the day. Plus she's got a killer horn.
There's nothing like the sound of an Alco diesel is there.
The Random Aussie .....no there’s not
Great job what a clean shop and area and great looking units.
this sound can have a concert of its own!!!
Love those ALCO RS-3 Locomotives. The style and the operation of. Operated a few myself when working on the A&S RR.
wish I had the money I would buy a running RS3 and have it in the back yard just to hear it purrrr and chug! Music to my ears!
amazing sound!!! great Alcos! First Generation Diesels are not dead!!!!
Would love to see more video's of the RS3 in here Just at idle. She purrs!
Would love to see more videos from either of these classic locomotives!!!!
At Baldwin Depot there is an RS-3 with the original 244, and they told us they removed the turbo because they had a lot of problems with those engines as turbocharged. When accelerated the engine lets out big thumps from the exhaust pipe and lots of clag.
No. The FPA-4 uses a 251B and the RS-3 uses the 244. Both are 12-cyl.
She sounds very healthy
Wow, a 244 with a properly functioning governor. Rare. Considering the design screw-ups on the 244, it truly amazes me than ANY of them are still running.
+DeserT BoB Yes...it only took it a month before it started "loping" or "hunting" when at idle.
choirboyfromhell1 "ba-RUMP ba-RUMP ba-RUMP de RUMP"...that's the "normal" sound of a 244 at "idle." LOL That GE governor's a REAL piece of work, that's for sure! So's that RD-1 turbo. If anyone had the biggest hand in Alco's demise, it was GE.
We had a little trick, (and this one had a Woodward Governor btw). Use Dexron in the governors. Prevents loping, which is related to being gooy in cold weather, which Dexron isn't.
Put the Dexron in, and all loping issues gone!
choirboyfromhell1 I would think that ATF or any mineral-based hydraulic fluid would be a better choice than just plain motor oil, although Delo is listed as being suitable for various hydraulics. I had heard that many RS-3s got the Woodward treatment; those GEs were just plain goofy.
Very nice sound! I like those old diesels, the new full of electric diesels would never sounds like that!
Whouu...thats what I CALLD a real ALCO SOUND.. I love that sound. Great video.. Thanks wery much. I wish we have that sound here in Denmark.
GREAT..
Alco RS-3: very good engines!
SD80MACs have supplemental air start to aid cranking that big 20 cylinder engine if needed.
@Polybun Well yes, there's nothing delicate about straining on your back to replace a connecting rod cap, but they are worthy of a museum and probably not still be thrashed around in revenue service. They are actually built quite rugged, but parts availability makes us aware of treating them carefully.
We have an ex-CP RS-18 that is the same internally (except gear ratios and no steam generator) and they've all been the most reliable units on the property.
Awesome alco! I live in the cleveland area and hope i can see those sometime!
Good with the doors open. And there fans as well, and they do the job.
That'd do it. I'm with the Railroad Museum of New England. We've got ex-New Haven RS-3 529. We've got a head off right now and plan on pulling the rest for same services. She's got a couple of exhaust leaks herself. We'll be replacing her wheels later this year as well. All of this while refurbishing an ex-Metro North EMD 567 spare to go in our B&M GP-9 1732!
@rockguitarist946 IAIS? I don't do alphabets. The unit was originally D&H, it could have come via anybody, but the blue cards (DOT/FRA inspections) are incomplete.
I remember these trains back in 60"s on the LIRR.
Fantastic
@UCSPanther20 No, main generator in reverse polarity from the batteries. Only the late model C-636 used air start. Of course 251's in marine service are air started (can't have batteries in enclosed spaces).
I wanna drive one of these cuz u can chill at those front handrails.
Engine sounds very healthy.
Idle speed around 300-350 RPM. 1000 RPM full load.
Reminds me of when my Dad's 1951 Cat D8 is fired up.
I'm guessing the big 12 and 16 cylinder diesels are cranked pneumatically.
Glad you like them. They are worthy museum pieces that are starting to get delicate and need love and attention. Are the Goodwin's still running in Australia?
Wasn't that FPA4 George Hockaday's old engine?
I rode behind that unit on the last trip of the season back in '95 or so on the OMid. I remember Mr Hockaday letting me in to the engine room and the cab after he'd shut it down for the winter. I asked him how come he didn't use it for revenue service on the OMid, and he said they mostly did switching-type moves, which aren't so easy with a cab at only one end.
Great ambient noise. Should submit it to the collection that's used by the "Ambience" app for iPhone.
I wish the RS-3 still ran there, glad AOSR has her though
@Fireheart528 Thank you. We try to keep these old, increasingly delicate relics alive!
How long had 4099 been out-of-service before these repairs were made? I haven't seen her running in a few years.
@seagraver Have fun lapping that head...leaks are common in ALCO's. That what it stands for All Liguids Coming Out, or Always Leaks COnstantly..
Actually the RS-3 is one of the more reliable, but has a 6RL brakestand from which I gather is tricky to use, so doesn't get used much. Quite a collector's item.
That's an Alco for you.
Were these two Alco's formerly on the Western and Maryland Scenic? Looks like the 4099 might have been WM 199 and the Alco FPA4 WM 305 at one point.
WM 199 is now Naugatuck 1508. WM 305 is now CVSR 6771
thats pure sound unfiltered or silenced straight from the motor!!
Where did 4099 come from? Did this engine run on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad as 199?
D&H
Sounds like she still has a little exhaust leak?
Are the specs available? Would it be viable to hire a machinist or a CNC shop to custom fabricate them?
LOVE that horn! Got any other videos of that horn?
Yes there are more, Its on a different locomotive now though.
@@RailroadStreet is it the RS3L on 4241?
The locomotive sounds old from the old fashion boom, boom sound!
Delaware & Hudson for the RS-3 and CN/VIA for the FPA-4
At least four years. It's hard to get heads for 244's these days.
I hear sweet music!
What's the idle speed on one of those things. You can pretty much hear each cylinder fire, so they must run pretty slow!
Trains mag gave this line good reviews.
@seagraver Might have had a loose exhaust strongback or two.
@DeserTBoB93535 I've never understood why Alco never went with one-piece liners and heads...would make servicing these beasts a hell of a lot easier. Lapping heads/liners is a p.i.t.a., not to mention time-consuming. Of course GE's slave/master connecting rod system had to get it's bugs worked out as well.....
Ok, that's just great... impressive machines... do like!
do these locos both use same type of engine?
That thing did what ALCo's are the best at doing...smoking.
How's the ventilation in that shop?
Just curious.
great video
bela maquina !
@DeserTBoB93535
Aren't the newer F-M 251s better?
i like the video
its sound like its gonna blow up sorta
bust still nice video
is that 199 from the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad?
The _4_099 is from the D&H.
choirboyfromhell1 Western Maryland 199 was formally Delaware and Hudson 4075 historically was acquired in trade with the Boston and Maine Railroad for use of her steam generator for to power passenger trains leased to Amtrak. That engine along with sister engine 4082 were the only ALCO rs3s to power Amtrak trains
listen to that thing just purr.
Man I could listen to an ALCO idle all day. Must be a guy thing
That's Bad Ass.
Well you certainly get enough EMD sound up there...
We still find them with luck. I believe F-M has the license, and enough are in marine applications for a secondary market to exist.
Grandmother locomotive :)
Water in the fuel. Nobody screwed up.
How many horsepowers are sitting in that Alco?
Samuel Zelter
2000
You thought right.
Doing the ALCO cha-cha...
Sadly this loco no longer operates on this line.
Big Toys for Big Boys yeah but the place where she's at now she's going to be she'll be cared for for a long time
Where is she now
If I had a c636, I would take the original 251B diesel strip it down and put in brand new 251B engine parts
And your Class 50's as well....
The RS3 is 1600 hp
I was a bit concerned at first why these two locos were not outfitted with portable exhaust ducts as to allow exhaust to escape from building (then I didn't know they were going to be moved). PS-3s generator set sounds like ABC (Anglo Belgium Corp), Wärtsilä, or MAN/B&W, etc., though I assume must be from some American builder. Anyone knows who built engine or generator set for PS-3 (shunter)? I am marine engineer and this sound is all but too familiar for ship electrical generation. Also some smaller ships can use medium speed diesel as M/E (main engine(s) with gear reduction to shaft(s).
Technically I must state that as I do strongly feel that in this day and age North America and Australia MUST catch up to 21 century. That is to have railway firms spend the money (or petition their respective governments for fiscal funding) to fund the instalation of electrification infrastructure (switching gear, feeder lined, catenary, environmentally friendly powerplants or substations, or go 'online to the grid' for power, (25kV 50/60Hz single phase). Why is it that rest of industralised world can do such like Japan, Germany (and rest of Europe) and not North America? There seems to be this lingering 'black hole' hovering or 'moored' right over North America that is preventing mainline ('heavy') intercity railway electrification! All these excuses of lack of technology, money, etc. Just that -- EXCUSES! Look at Europe and Japan -- and now EVEN CHINA! Can't do it? RIGHT! Look again! Then to purchase electric locomotives of course as well.
Actually it is downright SHAMEFUL! (BUT! As marine engineer myself I DO indeed appreciate medium and low speed diesels FOR MARITIME APPLICATION underway at sea)! Especially their sound as well.
+Tatsuhiro Sato It's an ALCO (American Locomotive Company, and from a 1940's design. Four-cycle, 9.5 inches x 10 inch bore x stroke, single turbocharger. 1600 Horsepower (1200 KW). The second locomotive is a later model with a improved four-stroke engine. 1800 HP (1400 KW).
Electrification is impractical here, when you have trains that are 3-4 miles long and traveling 3000 miles between places, with tens of thousands of miles of rail and thousands of trains running at any given time, there would be so much power consumed that the eventual money saving would be outweighed by the obscene cost. Same for Australia, the US is absolutely MASSIVE, and china uses steam locomotives for freight in a lot of places. It’s not excuses, its impracticality.
Rip CVSR’s RS3’s
Sounds rough
DO YOU LIVE IN OHIO
Sorry, don't know anything about Mr. Hockaday.
Liners are a bitch!
My Alco can smoke your English Electric.
No they're making our world a little more sterile by using silencers on the newer jobs.
The Alco's had their charms but compared to an EMD they were junk!
@choirboyfromhell1 i have 4 alcos that i work on, pieces of junk!
wow!! a switcher and a rare diesel!