ALCO S-2 and S-4

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ALCO S-2 and S-4
GU 1001 S4.jpg
Grafton and Upton Railroad #1001, an S-4, rests in Hopedale, MA on 11 May 2008
hideType and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderALCO and MLW
ModelS-2 and S-4
Build dateS-2: August 1940 (1940-08) – June 1950 (1950-06)
S-4: June 1949 (1949-06) – August 1957 (1957-08)
Total producedS-2: 1502, S-4: 797
hideSpecifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARB-B
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
TrucksS-2: Blunt
S-4: AAR type A
Wheel diameter40 in (1,016 mm)
Minimum curve50° or 118.31 ft (36.06 m)
Wheelbase30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
Length46 ft (14.02 m)
Width10 ft 2+1⁄2 in (3.11 m)
Height14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Loco weight230,000 lb (100,000 kg)
Fuel capacity635 US gal (2,400 L; 529 imp gal)
Prime moverAlco 539T
Engine typeInline 6 Four-stroke diesel
AspirationTurbocharged
Displacement1,595 cu in (26.14 L) per cylinder
9,572 cu in (156.86 L) total
GeneratorGE GT 553-A
Traction motors(4) GE 731
Cylinders6
Cylinder size12+1⁄2 in × 13 in (318 mm × 330 mm)
hidePerformance figures
Power output1,000 hp (746 kW) @ 740 rpm
Tractive effort57,500 lb (26,100 kg)
hideCareer
LocaleUnited States, Canada, Mexico, Australia

The ALCO S-2 and S-4 were 1,000-horsepower (746 kW) diesel electric switchers produced by ALCO and Canadian licensee Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW).[1]

Powered by turbocharged, 6-cylinder ALCO 539 diesel engines, the two locomotives differed mainly in their trucks: the S-2 had ALCO "Blunt" trucks; the S-4, AAR type A switcher trucks. A total of 1,502 S-2s were built from August 1940 to June 1950; 797 S-4s were built from June 1949 to August 1957. The S-4 was first produced in Canada, with ALCO production beginning in June 1949.

The S-2 and S-4 were designed as rail yard switchers, meant to replace older, less efficient, and more demanding steam switchers.[citation needed] They were a success, with many remaining in service today.[2]

The locomotives' exterior was styled by ALCO engineer Ray Patten, who used curves in a mild application of Art Deco principles.

The S-2 and S-4 are distinguishable externally from the very similar S-1 and S-3 660 hp (492 kW) switchers in that they have a larger exhaust stack with an oblong base and a larger radiator shutter area on the nose sides. The S-1/S-3 radiator shutter area is taller than it is wide, while the S-2/S-4 radiator area is wider. The larger stack is due to turbocharging. The carbody and cab of late S-2s are nearly indistinguishable from those of S-4s. Hence, a truck swap can cause many to misidentify a unit.

Survivors[]

A few S-2s and S-4s are still in service on short line railroads around the United States. Several more are preserved in U.S. and Canadian railroad museums.[2]

Operable[]

ALCO S-2 #224 CYDZ (Conrad Yelvington Distributors) in Orlando, FL.

Conrad Yelvington Distributors, an aggregate supplier in Orlando, Florida, owns and operates six S-2 locomotives and one S-4 locomotive. The S-2's include former C&O 5029, B&O 516 Ontario Northland 1202 and 1201, and Seaboard Air Lane 1428 and 1431. They are now Conrad Yelvington locomotives 224, 238, 239, 251, 317, and 366, respectively. The S-4, formerly C&O 5105, is now Conrad Yelvington locomotive 365.[2]

The Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad operates S-2s #75 and #85 on its tourist/freight railroad.[2][3]

The Toledo, Lake Erie, and Western owns three ALCO S-2 locomotives and one ALCO S-4. TLEW 62, a S-2 purchased in 2012, ex. 62, TLEW 112, a S-2 that was part of the original TLEW roster, now reduced to a parts unit as of 2010, TLEW 5109, a S-4, and the only operating ALCO on the line currently. 5109 recently was repainted into its original Chesapeake and Ohio colors in September 2013.[4]

An ALCO S-2 built in 1946 was serving the Columbia & Reading Railway as #2-26 in Columbia, Pennsylvania, during 2019 after first operating on the C&O as #5015 and later on six other railroads.

ALCO S-2 in the North Alabama Railroad Museum in Huntsville, AL.

The North Alabama Railroad Museum in Huntsville, Alabama runs one S-2 in regular tourist excursions, Mercury & Chase #213. It also owns another S-2, Mercury & Chase #484, which returned to service with #213 in 2018. The museum also has ex-Santa Fe #1534, an ALCO S-4 that is not in service.[5]

The , the short-line railroad for the Port of San Francisco, operates S-2s #23 and #25 from the San Francisco Belt Line Railroad.[2]

An S-2 of D&RGW heritage survives on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway, as number 102. It was purchased in February 1964 for the , and is in operable condition in Stearns, Kentucky. This was one of the diesels that replaced Southern 2-8-2 #4501 on the K&T.

Southern Pacific 1474 is in operation, in rotation, at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, California, pulling a tourist train on weekends.[2]

The Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad operates a pair of restored ex-Canadian National units S-4 #3051 (formally CN #8181) and S-7 #3052 (formally CN #8223). In 2017, they had acquired the former Concord and Claremont Railroad ALCO S-4 units S-4 #102 (formally D&H #3050) and S-4 #104 (formally D&H #3036). As of 2020, all but #104 were operational on the tourist passenger and maintenance of way services between Milford and Cooperstown, New York. S-7 #3052 is thought to be the last S-7 built that is still in operation.[2][6]

The coal-hauling Beech Mountain Railroad in Alexander, West Virginia, rosters an S-2 (#113) and an S-4 (#115). Both were built new for Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company.[7]

The Minnesota, Dakota and Western Railway operates five S-2 locomotives, MD&W 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, which were formerly B&O 512, Y&N 220, Toledo Terminal 103, B&O 500, and Northern Pacific 716, respectively.[2]

In the mid-1960s, Hamersley Iron purchased an S-2 for use in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.[8]

Other[]

Western Pacific 563, one of two S-4s purchased by that railroad, is today preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola, California.[2]

New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway S-2 #206 sits cosmetically restored at Maywood Station in Maywood, New Jersey.[9]

In Muskogee, Oklahoma, at the Three Rivers Museum, a S-2 #63-138 sits behind the Midland Valley Station.

The Houston Railroad Museum in Houston, Texas, has two S-2s: ex-Santa Fe #2350 and ex-Houston Belt and Terminal #14.[2][10]

The Gold Coast Railway Museum possesses NASA S-2 #1,[11] which was used to switch freight at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.[12]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Alco "S4" Locomotives: Roster, Dimensions, Photos". American-Rails.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j "Preserved Diesels". thedieselshop.us. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad - Rolling Stock". www.octrr.org. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  4. ^ "TLEW.org :: Equipment". tlew.org. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Museum Equipment Roster – North Alabama Railroad Museum". Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad". Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Beech Mountain Railroad (WV): Map, Photos, Roster". American-Rails.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  8. ^ Exhibits Pilbara Railway Historical Society
  9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 May 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ "Houston Railroad Museum". www.kingswayrc.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  11. ^ "OUR RAILCARS". GCRM. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  12. ^ Leman, Jennifer (17 June 2020). "NASA's Famous Rocket Railroad Is Back in Business". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  • Dorin, Patrick C. (1972). Chicago and North Western Power. Burbank, California: Superior Publishing. p. 136. ISBN 0-87564-715-4.
  • Pinkepank, Jerry A. (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Kalmbach Publishing Co., Milwaukee, WI. p. 224. ISBN 0-89024-026-4.
  • Toppan, Andrew et al. Alco/MLW S-2 Roster. Retrieved on 29 December 2005.
  • Toppan, Andrew et al. Alco/MLW S-4 Roster. Retrieved on 29 December 2005.
  • Steinbrenner, Richard T. (2003). The American Locomotive Company: A Centennial Remembrance. On Track Publishers LLC, New Brunswick, NJ. ISBN 0-911122-07-9.
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