Want an Alco RS-3 - there is really only one choice.

Good choice...

I like the older Weaver model, with the centrally located motor, but that's just me...

Mark in Oregon

Sadly that most of us will agree with you.  Been a gripe of mine for years.  Crappy RS3 models and most can't even get the handrail mounting right.  Even AHM did this with their toy train set level HO models. 

I have several Weaver RS3’s but with China and I like them very much.When Weaver closed up did Lionel get the dies for them since they were made in U.S. or are they in limbo somewhere.Thanks

I like the K-line version... have had a few of them over the years and they run well. 

MR-150 posted:

I have several Weaver RS3’s but with China and I like them very much.When Weaver closed up did Lionel get the dies for them since they were made in U.S. or are they in limbo somewhere.Thanks

If I recall correctly - K-Line RS-3's were accurate and good - WBB has that tooling, and uses it. The Weavers RS-3's were very good (I like the later vertical 2-motor architecture).

Lionel has produced no outstanding RS-3's, though they have made a million of these (below), which had excellent body tooling and very good-looking AAR (mis-labeled "Alco" by many) trucks. They are good basic "cheap" power, but they run too fast (they will actually run fairly slowly, but you have to be careful), have pilot gaps the size of a gully, poor chassis/handrail detailing, and are just not in the same league as MTH/K-Line/Weaver. 

I did this in the 1980's, before almost anything was available. It had been LV; I found some GM&O decals (the GM&O had a bunch of RS-1's, RS-2's and RS-3's). Excellent body tooling and truck side frames. Oh, those pilot gaps. And that awful fuel tank. Easy upgrade. One day... 

I did this one only a few years ago. Should have sold it - don't know how I wound up with it...but I had the decals....

The MTH Railking model is RK Scale (from the older Premier molds). I have the Interstate model from a few years ago and it's one of my favorite engines in looks and sounds. I am prototypically challenged so the details don't mean a lot to me. As long as the unit looks nice, I'm good. I would not know if something was out of place or wrong anyway. Also, that GMO above looks really nice to me, looks like the real thing. 

I have the Atlas RS-1 and it's one of the best looking RS locos I have even though I'm a K-line guy. Atlas makes one fine engine. I admit I don't know the difference between RS-3 and RS-1. Is there a big difference? Also have a dummy MTH Milwaukee and they look good running together. Don

Nice work!

Weaver late offering. 

There are some big differences between the RS1 and the RS3.    The RS1 has more squared off corners on the hoods and a large cab roof overhang extending over the hoods on either side of the cab.    The hoods are shaped more like the Alco switcher hoods than the RS3.

The RS3 has more rounded ends to the hood and the cab roof rounds into the ends of the cab on both ends of the cab.

Those are the main obvious spotting differences.    The louvres and details on the hoods are also different.   

The prototype RS1 predated the RS3 by many years and was rated at 1000 HP.    I think the RS1 was offered prior to WWII but not sure.    The RS3 was rated at 1600 HP and came after WWII

There was also an RS2 that looked pretty much like the RS3 with some detail differences.  

Atlas RS1 

Weaver RS3 from above.

I want to get an RS-3 in Western Maryland Fireball someday.  I did get one of the WM RSD-5 that MTH came out with a few months ago.  Very nice look ing runs great!