The prototype. Northern Pacific purchased a total of 18 Alco RS-11s numbered 900 to 917. The railroad received the first 12 in 1958 and purchased six more in 1960. All but nos. 900 and 901 came equipped with dynamic brakes. The 1958 locomotives had 1,200 gallon fuel tanks, while those received in 1960 had 1,500 gallon fuel tanks. The RS-11s served into the 1970s after the Burlington Northern merger.
The model. The major dimensions of the Atlas model match those of the prototype given in the book The American Locomotive Company: A Centennial Remembrance (On Track Publishers).
Our review sample is painted in the NP’s simplified 1960s paint scheme. This includes light yellow end handrails and step edges.
The lettering is straight and opaque. Color separation between the yellow and black is is sharp.
The model’s mechanism is the same as the earlier release. However, this later RS-11 has better slow speed performance than the earlier model. It also has a top speed of 82 mph versus the earlier version’s 58.7 top speed. Both are close to the prototype, which were available geared for 65, 75, 80, or 92 mph.
Solid performance and easy conversion to DCC make this well-detailed Atlas RS-11 a worthy addition to an HO scale diesel roster.
Manufacturer
Atlas Model Railroad Co.
378 Florence Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.atlasrr.com
Era: 1956 to present
Road names (multiple road numbers): Northern Pacific; Central Vermont (black/red); Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific (black/red); Nacionales de Mexico. New road numbers for Nickel Plate Road, Pennsylvania, and Seaboard Coast Line. Undecorated version also available.
Features
- All-wheel drive and electrical pickup
- 8-pin DCC socket
- Five-pole skew-wound motor with dual brass flywheels
- AccuMate knuckle couplers at correct height
- Weight: 12.25 ounces
