For all the Delaware and Hudson Fans

Here's another video, jump to 24:00 to see some good run-bys.

We need a custom run of these! @MrMuffin'sTrains

@EricTrainMan posted:

We need a custom run of these! @MrMuffin'sTrains

You read my mind......😁😁😁

I gotta get back there and ride this train. As a kid I would here the horn and run down to the crossing to see the D&H go by. That was in Greenfield just north of Saratoga .

I was there on Saturday and had purchased the cab ride ticket - it was a great trip, and well worth the price to ride in a pair of RS-3s. Nothing sounds like a 244 engine. The dynamic brakes do still function on these two as well.

All pictures and videos below are my own:

~Chris

Your a lucky guy Chris.

Thanks for sharing.

Bob

Nice.

Here is another ex-D&H RS-3.

Used by the Adirondack Railroad for the 1980 winter Olympics in Lake Placid NY. Purchased and used by the Buffalo Southern Railroad in Western New York. Currently stored unserviceable…my photo.

Would love to see this in O scale!

Tom

Great video. Thank you!

Dan Weinhold

Here is another ex D&H RS3, with D&H 4075 as the 2nd unit on the Adirondack Railway on the inaugural run, Oct 9, 1979.  I took the photo on the way back from my honeymoon.  My wife still tolerates my stops to photograph trains!

@RSJB18 posted:

Here's another video, jump to 24:00 to see some good run-bys.

Thanks for posting these videos, Bob!  I just watched this one in its entirety and I'm so glad I did.  What a great story and dedication ceremony!  It was both informational and very touching.  I recommend it to all!

Guys....we need your help!!  We have had to delete / move / edit a half dozen posts here that are not about real trains.  If you want to start a thread concerning this topic showing pictures of your model D&H trains, please do so in the photos and video category/subforum.  We have the different categories for good reason AND because you requested a specifically focused real trains forum.  Thanks!

When I lived in Central Bridge NY in the 1970s on the Binghamton to Colonie line, I used to time my morning run to hopefully catch one of these passing through town.

You might see any variation from the old tuscan to lightning stripes to solid blue working together, still pulling mainly 40 ft boxcars. The age of dinosaurs!

There's just something about those Alco-GE diesel-electric locomotives that stirs the soul.  It's so nice to see a pair being given a new home.  (Coming from a different good home, I might add.)

The first thing one notices when approaching a pair of idling RS-3's is the uneven engine speed at idle, driven by the GE governor.  The engine hunts as it idles.  If you come in on the downwind side, you'll be enveloped in the Alco aroma of warm, raw, diesel fuel and lube oil.  That uneven idle -- as well as some vibration when working at higher RPM under load -- causes numerous small leaks, one of the routine maintenance items of these locomotives, but it definitely alerts your nose that an Alco is nearby.

And the Westinghouse Air Brake air compressor loads and unloads noisily.  It suddenly sounds like a hammer, pounding at machine gun speed, and then, when 140 PSI is reached in the main reservoir, it stops for a while.

When the throttle is moved to Run-1, there is instant movement of the locomotive.  The Amplidyne control system produces immediate traction motor current.  No waiting!

Then, there is the most famous Alco-GE characteristic -- the exhaust.  When the throttle is advanced under load, there is a raspy growl and visible black smoke erupts from the exhaust stack.  Depending on how well the injectors are performing on that particular unit, the amount of exhaust will vary from "visible" to "oil well on fire".  The engine sound will settle down to a raspy chugging sound, until the next throttle change.

In their heyday, these locomotives were neither universally liked or disliked.  Shops which were dedicated to proper maintenance of Alcos produced much better results that shops where everybody wanted to work only on EMD units and the Alcos were pariahs.  Aboard the locomotive, the raw fuel aroma was with you always, and generally the locomotives were not squeaky clean.  Depending on where you rubbed your hand, you might pick up a light oily feel, becoming visible throughout the day.  Or you could get black greasy stuff on your hands (and clothes, if you were not careful).

One thing nobody complained about was the "git 'er done" performance of these locomotives.  They had terrific dynamic braking, too.

Let's hope that the new owners give these two RS-3's loving care and work them hard when possible.

Well written Tom. Sounds like you've been there done that.....

Hi Tom, That was a wonderful description of what an RS-3 sounded like. I live about a quarter of a mile above the Youngs Road grade crossing on the D&H's main line from Schenectady to Binghamton in Delanson NY. The main line is double tracked there and is used as a passing track. During the early 80's, the D&H  used pushers to come east up out of Central Bridge and then back the other way to push south up the Richmondville Hill. Many times the pushers were Alco's and of course sometimes RS-3's were mixed in. The 244 engines sitting there did just what you described and your descriptions brought back quite a few memories. With the right atmospheric conditions I could stand in my yard and listen to them. Many times they were parked there idling until they were needed and a crew would park their truck there to operate them. Thanks for  a very good post

Bill

Thanks for posting the videos Bob......I'm sitting here in my study at the front of our house on this beautiful Sunday morning (Fathers Day here) enjoying the sights and sounds of those RS-3s!!!

Like Tom said....the amount of exhaust will vary from "visible" to "oil well on fire".  I love it!!!

Peter.....Buco Australia.

@Number 90 posted:

There's just something about those Alco-GE diesel-electric locomotives that stirs the soul.  It's so nice to see a pair being given a new home.  (Coming from a different good home, I might add.)

The first thing one notices when approaching a pair of idling RS-3's is the uneven engine speed at idle, driven by the GE governor.  The engine hunts as it idles.  If you come in on the downwind side, you'll be enveloped in the Alco aroma of warm, raw, diesel fuel and lube oil.  That uneven idle -- as well as some vibration when working at higher RPM under load -- causes numerous small leaks, one of the routine maintenance items of these locomotives, but it definitely alerts your nose that an Alco is nearby.

And the Westinghouse Air Brake air compressor loads and unloads noisily.  It suddenly sounds like a hammer, pounding at machine gun speed, and then, when 140 PSI is reached in the main reservoir, it stops for a while.

When the throttle is moved to Run-1, there is instant movement of the locomotive.  The Amplidyne control system produces immediate traction motor current.  No waiting!

Then, there is the most famous Alco-GE characteristic -- the exhaust.  When the throttle is advanced under load, there is a raspy growl and visible black smoke erupts from the exhaust stack.  Depending on how well the injectors are performing on that particular unit, the amount of exhaust will vary from "visible" to "oil well on fire".  The engine sound will settle down to a raspy chugging sound, until the next throttle change.

In their heyday, these locomotives were neither universally liked or disliked.  Shops which were dedicated to proper maintenance of Alcos produced much better results that shops where everybody wanted to work only on EMD units and the Alcos were pariahs.  Aboard the locomotive, the raw fuel aroma was with you always, and generally the locomotives were not squeaky clean.  Depending on where you rubbed your hand, you might pick up a light oily feel, becoming visible throughout the day.  Or you could get black greasy stuff on your hands (and clothes, if you were not careful).

One thing nobody complained about was the "git 'er done" performance of these locomotives.  They had terrific dynamic braking, too.

Let's hope that the new owners give these two RS-3's loving care and work them hard when possible.

What a great description and explanation based on your firsthand experiences operating these classic ALCO locomotives, Tom!  Almost makes me feel like I’m there!  I always enjoy your posts.  Thanks for sharing.

Yes, indeed, I worked aboard Alcos on the Santa Fe in my first few years in engine service, before the railroad traded them on new power, or sold them on the second had market to railroads like the Utah Railway or the Escanaba & Lake Superior.

I don't want to hijack this thread, so I'll post a story later this weekend.

Not an Alco, but saw this when I stopped by Steamtown this morning…