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Uncataloged O Scale Rail King RS-3 Diesel Locomotives Announced

August 3, 2023 - announced two exclusive and uncataloged Rail King O Scale RS-3 Diesel locomotives in unique Michigan Northern and Jersey Central liveries for M.T.H. Authorized Retailer Patrick's Trains of Wheeling, West Virginia. The locomotives will be available in very limited quantities for order on a first-come, first-served basis. The anticipated delivery is October 2023.

Item No. 30-21194-1 Michigan Northern RS-3 Diesel Engine With Proto-Sound 3.0
Cab No. 2037
Early Order Price: $389.95
Click HERE to order from Patrick's Trains.

Item No. 30-21195-1 Jersey Central RS-3 Diesel Engine With Proto-Sound 3.0
Cab No. 1701
Early Order Price: $389.95
Click HERE to order from Patrick's Trains.

Item No. 30-21196-1 Jersey Central RS-3 Diesel Engine With Proto-Sound 3.0
Cab No. 1709
Early Order Price: $389.95
Click HERE to order from Patrick's Trains.

ABOUT THE RAILKING O SCALE RS-3 DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE

By the time the first RS-3's rolled off the assembly line in 1950, Alco had refined its road switcher concept to create "a truly universal locomotive which could do anything and go almost anywhere," in the words of author J.W. Swanson in New Haven Power. In contrast with its predecessor, the 1000 hp RS-1, the 1600 hp RS-3 had all the power of a road diesel of its time and could boil along at up to 80 mph.

For a while in the early 1950s, ALCO looked like a true contender in the burgeoning road switcher market. RS-3's could be found on a majority of class one railroads doing everything from switching and transfer duties to mainline freight and even passenger and commuter service.

Ultimately, however, the RS-3 took a distant second place to Electro-Motive's GP7 and GP9 in sales volume. Perhaps what doomed Alco was EMD's already-commanding lead in the road diesel market - in part because EMD's FT was the only road diesel allowed to be produced during World War II, when diesels began their takeover of American railroads. Other builders were relegated to producing diesel switchers until the conflict ended.

There was also talk that Alcos were less dependable. In hindsight, however, that seems to have been a result of EMD's sales lead. Perhaps shop crews were simply less familiar with Alco's model 244 prime mover and how to service it. In fact, roads with primarily Alco fleets, such as the New Haven, found Alco products to be very reliable when maintained properly. With their power and flexibility, RS-3's proved their worth so successfully that many railroads kept them on active duty after other first-generation diesels had been retired. They survived on class 1 railroads until the Delaware & Hudson retired its last RS-3 in 1986 and remained active in shortline and industrial service for years afterward.

EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE THRU

Patrick's Trains
142 29th Street
Wheeling, West Virginia 26003
(304) 232-0714
www.patstrains.com
patstrains@aol.com

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Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.


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Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.


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Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

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6660 Santa Barbara Road - Suite 20, Elkridge, MD 21075 (410)381-2580
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