The ALCO RS-11 is a class of

diesel-electric locomotive A diesel locomotive is a type of railway locomotive in which the prime mover (locomotive), prime mover is a diesel engine. Several types of diesel locomotives have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is conv ...

rated at , that rode on two-axle

trucks A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, but the vast majority feature body-on-frame construction ...

, having a B-B wheel arrangement. This model was built by both Alco (327 units) and Montreal Locomotive Works (99 units). Total production was 426 units.

Development

The first three RS-11s were produced by ALCO in February 1956 as a demonstrator set. This locomotive, classified by ALCO as model DL-701, was their first high-horsepower road switcher, intended to be a replacement for the very popular RS-3 road switcher. Featuring a V-12, 251B diesel engine, the RS-11 was ALCO's answer to EMD's very successful GP9. The turbocharged RS-11 accelerated faster, had a higher

tractive effort As used in mechanical engineering, the term tractive force can either refer to the total traction a vehicle exerts on a surface, or the amount of the total traction that is parallel to the direction of motion. In railway engineering, the term tr ...

rating and typically used less fuel than the competition. It was also quite versatile and could be found in heavy haul freight as well as passenger service. It was produced in high-nose and low-nose versions. Montreal Locomotive Works also built 351 nearly identical units, known as the

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, for the Canadian market. While the RS-11 benefited from the increased power and reliability offered with ALCO's new 251B engine, and was arguably a more advanced product than the GP9, its market acceptance was disappointing against the reputation EMD's locomotives had made for superior reliability.

Original purchasers

Preservation

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3612 is preserved as York-Durham Heritage Railway 3612 at the

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7282 is preserved at the Yucatan RR Museum in

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. *

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1402 is preserved at the

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* Toledo, Peoria and Western 400 is preserved at the

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References

* * Roster from The Diesel Shop http://www.thedieselshop.us/Alco_RS11.HTML * Waller, R. (1998). ''Locomotive Roster: 1976''. Conrail Cyclopedia . Retrieved November 22, 2022, from http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/misc/rosters/roster-76.html {{MLW diesels Diesel-electric locomotives of the United States B-B locomotives RS-11 RS-11 Railway locomotives introduced in 1956 Standard gauge locomotives of Mexico Standard gauge locomotives of the United States Standard gauge locomotives of Peru Diesel-electric locomotives of Mexico Diesel-electric locomotives of Peru

Development

Original purchasers

Preservation

See also

References