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| ALCO RS-3m | |||||||||||
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 A formerConrail RS-3m locomotive now owned by theCape May Seashore Line Railroad. May 6, 2009 | |||||||||||
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TheALCO RS-3m is adiesel-electric locomotive rebuilt from anALCORS-3road switcher. These 98 locomotives were rebuilt to replace their original ALCO prime mover with the more reliable EMD 567B engine and fan assemblies taken from retiredE8s.[1] Many of these rebuilds were performed by the ex NYC DeWitt shop with 56 completed at the ex PRR Juniata shop. The RS3m rebuild program started in 1972 and continued until 1978 under Conrail.[2][3][4]
Perhaps one of the earliest examples of the RS3m is the formerMissouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad's RS3m fleet. Built in the early 1950s by ALCO, the Katy had them rebuilt in the late 1950s by ALCO competitor, EMD, who rebuilt them withGP9 long hoods to make room for the largerEMD 567prime movers.[5]
TheChicago and North Western Railway had a pair of RS-3ms (1613 & 1624) that were rebuilt by ALCO in March 1960 using an 1,800 hp 12 cylinder ALCO 251-B engine and schedule 26L air brake components.[6] These featured long hoods from ALCO RS-11 road switchers.[7]
TheMissouri Pacific Railroad had a fleet of RS-2s and RS-3s that were rebuilt in their North Little Rock shops, receiving the GP12 designation after rebuilding with EMD 567 engines. These look like normal Alco RS-3s with the addition of more exhaust stacks.[8][9]
By the year 1958, the New Haven RR needed renewed power but couldn't afford new. They decided to rebuild the RS-3 fleet "in kind" as they were ten years old by that point. For first-generation diesels, ten years was considered middle-aged.[10] Twenty one rebuilds were done by Alco in three groups. All the Alco rebuilds had the black cab/orange hood paint scheme and were able to Multiple Unit aka MU with later engines. Nose MU was added as well.[11] These rebuilds kept the original Alco 244 engines. The New Haven didn't have the problems that other roads did with their 244 engined locos.[citation needed]
The first rebuilds:Type I — kept their steam generator, and single bulb reflector headlights; #526 & #529 kept their buffer plates for diaphragms. #518, 526, 529, 549, & 553 were rebuilt May 1958 - June 1958.Type II — kept the steam generator but got twin sealed beam headlights. #533, 551, & 559 were rebuilt in October 1959.Type III — The steam generator and water tank were removed and got a concrete block instead. Headlights were replaced with a twin sealed beam headlights. They all received a raised area around the stack. Units rebuilt in early 1962 - #517, 520, 523, 527, 528, 534, 535, 537, 538, 545, 548, 557, & 558.
The New Haven RR itself rebuilt two units at their Lamberton Street Shop, numbers #542 & 543. These units kept their steam generators and single-bulb headlights but were not upgraded to nose-mounted Multiple Unit capability. Repainted in the black cab/orange hood paint scheme. The remaining 21 New Haven RS-3's were never rebuilt.[12]
There were RS-3ms working for thePenn Central Transportation Company. These locomotives were called the "DeWitt Geeps". One of the locomotives, PC #9950, was rebuilt with the short hood removed and left with what is known by railfans as an end-cab. A cab type similar to that of theS1,HH Series, or theEMD SW/SC/NW series of locomotives. This was the only end-cab RS-3m built.[citation needed]
In 1975, theGreen Bay and Western Railroad started rebuilding their four RS-3 units numbers 306, 307, 308 & 309.[13] They lowered the nose and raised the long hood for the Alco 251e 2,000 hp engines. These rebuilds are called RS-20s.[14]
TheDelaware and Hudson Railway had eightRS3u locomotives that were rebuilt byMorrison-Knudsen between December 1975 and March 1976. They received ALCO 12-251C prime movers, boosting horsepower from 1,600 to 2,000 hp (1,200 to 1,500 kW). M-K raised the long hood six inches (152 mm), moved thedynamic brake to behind the cab and cut-down the short hood.[15]
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As of 2021, rebuilt RS-3s can be found in museums, on shortlines and as industrial switchers.
Major differences include: The built up boxy structure added to end of the long hood; offset cooling fan; Built up "camel hump" 3-stack exhaust manifold, usually capped off by spark arresters; and removal of the old protruding number boards.
