1:1 ALCO PA REPRO?

Look at it from this perspective; one if so inclined and financially endowed could probably do anything they wanted with the right amount of money.

The answer is likely yes. It may be difficult and nearly improbable however you throw enough money at anything $15,000,000,000 for example I think you could build another Queen Mary; oh wait they already did that.



Or a hotel underwater or one shaped like a sail in the Gulf of Arabia.



How about matching yacht and Bugatti?

Train a PA you say.. That's child's play. (Insert here): Evil laugh from a Bond villain.

Or a building that defies gravity and all logical engineering!

Okay ...let's start logically here.  We have about 1/3 of an FM Train Master, up on B.M.&R. IIRC.  This is a slug that N&W chopped decades ago.  It gives you a great start because you have the trucks and frame more or less already done.  CP has the 8905, which can be used to get a ton of useful info that might be available on the erection drawings.  Can't say that this machine lacks for popularity either, so donations should not be too tough to get. An original prime mover might still be lurking around somewhere as well.  Want to get a more challenging project? Rebuilt UP #26 at Ogden. She's pretty much gutted out, so you'll have to add tons of stuff...including a new Turbine power plant.  If you're a real glutton for punishment, how about a scratch built PRR BP20 Shark....or a Lima Transfer centercab LS25?? !   Saving the best for last...we belly up to the bar with.....you guessed it:  The Engalls 4S , Hey who needs a BL2 when you can cruise the deep south with this contraption !   I'll supply the paint, and some of the beer!

 

Well, scuttlebutt has it that the Arkansas and Missouri is retiring some of their Alco Centuries, so one of those could provide a prime mover and trucks... ;-)

 

http://www.amrailroad.com/news...s-worth-their-weight

If you are talking about an actual replication of an Alco-GE PA1, I would say no.  There are so many obsolete components -- especially electrical -- that the entire locomotive would have to be constructed from hand-made parts.  And an actual 244-series 16-cylinder engine would be out of the question.  If you are talking about constructing a new carbody to 1946 blueprints and powering it with an Alco diesel engine of recent manufacture and modern electrical components and auxiliaries, so that it looks and sounds like a vintage locomotive but has the maintenance advantages of a modern one, well, yes, that could actually be done, though at a very high price*.  Essentially that's what you see when you watch Union Pacific's E-units. The big difference is that the E-unit carbodies were intact and there are still parts for the trucks.  To build a faux PA1 would require manufacturing new trucks from new castings, casting new windshield frames and fan housing, and a lot of other work that was unnecessary in the case of the UP "replica E9's".

 

*  Provided a waiver for emissions compliance could be obtained.  Remember that you asked about building a new locomotive.  The UP units were remanufactured rather than newly constructed, and were done before Tier IV locomotive emissions rules became effective.

OR,you could donate some money to Doyle so he can finish his Bluebird real PA-1.

These local ALCos, Indian Railway designation WDM2, put on a good smoke show when they start to move & I could feel the vibration, waiting at a busy train station before you get to see them. The government of India, owned locomotive maker also exports these locomotives to other countries that use the Indian Broad gauge.

These are just my opinion,

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

Yes there are guys out there that have reproduced 1910's-1930's race cars mostly European in exacting perfection where the originals destroyed often prototypes like aircraft where no two are alike have been made; "by hand -and one at a time" every part to original drawings. Yes- at an enormous cost in excess of hundreds of millions of dollars. If I can get the time I will see if I can find some links to demonstrate what these men have done and are doing.

Goodwood Festival of Speed is great place to visit. I'm sure a train equivalent could be arranged.

Here is a fun video: http://youtu.be/bsdWgmp4TaQ


I guess at the end of the day ultimately the decisions lands in the lap of the billionaire or billionaires that would want to bank roll such an endeavor.. I tend to lean towards Tom's summation that Indeedy it would be impossible because we just don't have this kind of fianancial backing in the hobby; despite the B man in Nebraska whom owns BNSF we would need many more of these guys that are not corporate level with the desire to support such a act of courage to recreate a locomotive from scratch. I have seen aircraft and race cars come to life from blueprints; once a proud machine gone to be rebuilt from scratch by passionate extremely wealthy hobbyists. Maybe to you and I this would seem impossible but believe it or not there are men out there that defy logic and manage to accomplish what we would consider impossible. We have lost that "can do" attitude today for many reasons beyond our control. This doesn't mean someone else doesn't have it.

Well, I did say "new" but what I should have said, having read the responses, build it to look exactly like the original but all new internally to meet all the EPA regulations, etc. Use modern electronics, engines and brake systems. Externally it would be an exact replica of an old diesel. Thank you for your interesting responses. 

It's possible to build a replica PA with contemporary innards.  (After all Dave Kloke built two reproduction 19th Century 4-4-0's that are up to contemporary standards.) 

 

It just takes organization, someone willing to build it and funding.

 

Rusty

 

Scuttlebutt is just that: Scuttlebutt.

 

The big new power has helped tremendously on the A&M. Their fuel savings alone have been exceptional. There is no argument whatsoever about it being a sound decision to purchase them. They also freed up some of the overworked Alco's to receive some much needed extensive work. (Read: Long down time that's not possible when strapped for power.)

 

However, I do feel that there is some regret in being a bit too quick to sell off some of the C class Alco's after the big power arrived. This lesson was painfully learned after the two of the three big motors were put out of commission by that catastrophic washout we had last year that damaged two of them: We didn't have enough Alco's to run the through trains and still cover the switch jobs, so I ended up running a leased KCS GP40-2 for about 6 months, and we also had a pair of leased D&E GP40's.

 

The Alco's are all paid for, and have been for a long, long time. Even at 50 or so years old, they still work their guts out for us. According to the CMO, we will be running those we still have for quite a few more years.

 

When I go to work in the morning, I'll likely climb aboard Alco C-420 #50, which was built in something like 1963, and it will work like a champ all day long, as it has done for the past several weeks it has been assigned to me. It will load n' go when I tell it to, and squeal to a stop when needed. It will pull more weight when called upon than it should be expected to bear.  The cab will be toasty warm, and my thermos of coffee will taste great.  All will be good.

 

No, the remaining Alco's aren't in immanent danger just yet.

 

 

That is good news to hear Laming. Keep em runnin!

What would be the proposed use for such a unit? If for passenger excursion service, then what about HEP and what railroad would operate it?

There's at least one PA carcass in Brazil that had a restoration started but never completed - the most critical parts (the trucks, frame, carbody) were still intact, and the trucks would need to be regauged.  Trying to liberate it might be problematic...

 

As for the Trainmaster frame and trucks - a non-running display would certainly be a feasible project from a cost standpoint.

And I'll continue to thrill to their roar as they pass by! 

 

Mitch

Whoever builds it should have a use for it. That would be the reason for building it. Today's HEP systems could be used if passenger trains are involved. The unit(s) would be FRA tested as a new locomotive so any railroad could use it. The builder must have plenty of money too.