RI Alco DL 109

One of my library books is "Rock Island Railroad Photo Archive - Travel on the Rockets" by John Kelly.  It has one photo of a DL109 in service on the Rocket in Des Moines, Iowa on May 30, 1948.

Like many roads, I would hazard to guess that the DL109 started on mainline trains like the Rocket and as newer more reliable EMD power came to the road, the Alcos got bumped to lesser duty.

Some quick research also finds a RI Dl109 #621 repowered with an EMD prime mover on train #21 late in its life.  https://www.american-rails.com/103579.html

In spite of my affection for the late, lamented, Rock Island, I must inform you that it was not a paragon of consistency.  You can see it in the many shop modifications of its locomotives, no two ever seeming to come out looking exactly like each other.

One of its inconsistencies was the assignment of passenger diesels on through passenger trains, beginning around 1950, with the exception being the two EMC AB6's, which usually were used on the Colorado trains, but even these two custom-designed units sometimes wandered from their regular routes.  And this started with Rocket paint in the early 1950's.  Most of the long distance trains could have E3, E6, E7, or E8 locomotives as first-choice power (in any combination), followed by the FP7s and boiler-equipped F7B's, and the DL 109's.  In 1952 and in 1956, I rode the Twin Star Rocket.  In 1952, a back to back pair of E7A's did the work, and in 1956, it was an E8A-E7B-E6A consist in full Rocket.

Although often used on the Peoria trains in the 1940's, the Alco-GE DL107's have been everywhere on the system at one time or another, often as a single unit on a secondary train, but sometimes in back-to-back pairs and also sometimes mu-ed with E-units.  Even the two best Rock Island trains (the Twin Star Rocket and the Golden State) occasionally were pulled by a DL109.  Our humble Memphis to Tucumcari trains that used to stop downtown here have had the big Alcos back in Rocket dress days.

So, the inconsistency started when full Rocket paint was still being applied and only increased with time.

@Number 90 posted:

In spite of my affection for the late, lamented, Rock Island, I must inform you that it was not a paragon of consistency.  

From a railfan standpoint, I find the inconsistency to be the interesting and charming part of "The Rock".  I can't imagine that would be the perspective from anyone who was affiliated with the road in some way.

DL107 #622 in Full Rocket by OGR member Jefferson  

This is a finished Overland Models o scale Rock Island DL107 #622 in 40s full rocket.

What do you think Scott, or Jonathan? Sunset game for DL107-110? So far this OMI run 1983 is the only one I’m interested in and it could be improved greatly.

That could be an interesting project Erik.  I suppose ATSF DL107 #50 and DL108 #50A would be pretty interesting for my collection.  My reference book on Alco PAs also covers the DL series Alcos.  New Haven fans would rejoice as that road rostered 60 of them.  In other words, nearly all of the ones produced!

The CRIP only rostered 4 DL units total which comes in 2nd place for number ordered. 

Some fun historical documents

If WWII had not placed restrictions on diesel electric development, I wonder where ALCo may have been today?  They had some decent innovation even if their prime mover blocks had issues early on.  I sometimes wonder if they would have worked that out faster in an alternate reality and were actually able to compete with EMD on a more level playing field. 

This is the part where Jack chimes in and rightfully tells me that I am about 1999 hp short of an ALCo 538T

It would have been interesting to see an A-B-B consist, as shown in your Alco publication.  

However, the most likely carrier to have ordered such a consist -- Union Pacific -- being aware of the disastrous single 1941 trip of the Santa Fe's pair on the Super Chief, managed to resist any temptation to order.  Santa Fe 50L and 50A had serious traction motor overheating problems on their trip across Raton, Glorieta, and Cajon Passes, and were never again allowed west of La Junta.

The prewar DL's had two straight-6, 1000 horsepower, 539 engines, which were as tough as nails, but they did not have electrical capacity for mountain territory.  The postwar PA's, however, outperformed F3's electrically, but had the well documented early turbocharger and crankshaft issues with the engines.