ARCADE, N.Y. — The Arcade & Attica Railroad is set to replace its distinctive GE center-cab locomotives, a hallmark of the railroad for almost 80 years, with the arrival of Alco RS3U No. 406.
The Alco, acquired earlier in the year from the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad in Olean, N.Y., arrived on the Arcade & Attica on July 13. It is slated to become the A&A’s No. 114.
Locomotive 406 began life in 1952 as Delaware & Hudson No. 4112. In 1976, it was one of eight D&H RS3s rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen with a 2,000-hp model 251 engine, a raised long hood, and a lowered short hood. It became one of two D&H locomotives to wear a bicentennial paint scheme, and was still in that paint when it moved on to the now-closed Tioga Central Railroad. It then made its way to the WNY&P, where it acquired the number 406.
The unit will primarily be used to pull freight from Arcade Junction to the Reisdorf Brothers Mill in North Java, N.Y., at the end of A&A trackage.
Since 1944, the Arcade & Attica has operated with attractively painted GE 44-, 65-, and 80-ton center cabs in both freight and passenger-excursion service. The railroad still intends to use center cabs No. 112, a 65-ton unit, and No. 113, an 80-tonner, on passenger excursions and in lesser freight roles.
— Updated at 10:15 a.m. CDT with additional details on No. 406.
My question is that did those original RS3 Alcos still have a 32 volt lighting/starter motor electrical system as their RS2 predecessors? After taking a Title 5 buyout from Conrail, (E-L Rwy), I spent a year in 1982 working for Delaware-Otsego’s NYS&W, who had acquired a few RS2s, (probably from E-L Rwy who had many RS2s), and when their batteries went dead, they were able to charge and jump start them with a 30+V, 400 amp Lincoln arc welder. If the later RS3s had 64 volt electrical systems, were they originally factory made as such, or perhaps later upgraded from 32 volts to 64 volts as described above in various after-market upgrade projects???
That Alco will be awesome in the orange and black scheme. Number 114?
The ALCO RS-3m is a diesel-electric locomotive rebuilt from an ALCO RS-3 road switcher. These 98 locomotives were rebuilt to replace their original ALCO prime mover with the more reliable EMD 567B engine and fan assemblies taken from retired E8s. Many of these rebuilds were performed by the ex NYC DeWitt shop with 56 completed at the ex PRR Juniata shop. The RS3m rebuild program started in 1972 and continued until 1978 under Conrail.
As of 2023, rebuilt RS-3s can be found in museums, on shortlines and as industrial switchers.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
* Arcade & Attica 112: (GE 65-ton switcher) – Built in 1945 by General Electric at its Erie, Pennsylvania, plant, for the United States Navy. After used in the Navy, #112 went out to Colorado for switching work before being acquired by the ARA (Arcade and Attica Railroad) in 1988.
* Arcade & Attica 113: (GE 50-ton switcher shell with weighted trucks, making 113 an industrial 80 tonner) – Built in 1959 by General Electric at its Erie, Pennsylvania, plant. This locomotive operated at the Consolidated Edison plant on Staten Island before being acquired by the ARA in 2014, relegating aging #111 (GE 44-ton switcher) to backup duties for freight and passenger trains.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Short line railroads are always interesting lines to photograph and follow because of the diverse and interesting motive power they use to move freight and passengers. Whether it is an old steam locomotive or two and diesel locomotives that are no longer used in mainline service or by the Class 1s but find homes on these short line railroads and which play an important role and are a vital link in the movement of goods and merchandise. So many interesting and unique locomotives have found new homes and jobs on these short lines and kudos and credit must be given to the operating crews and shop personel who keep these senior citizens of the railroad working in good order especially when parts and componets for many of these locomotives are no longer manufactured or available and highly skilled workers to repair and maintain them are also small in number and who either no longer in the picture or have since retired. Let us always keep these short line railroads, their staff and their locomotives in respect and reconigition of the great work and roles they do and perform each day.
Joseph C. Markfelder
Not if California has its way!