RSD 12 - MagnumMacKivler/RLCPT2 GitHub Wiki
Photo credit Mick Dagger
The RSD12 is a 6 axle, 1800 hp locomotive for road switching. While very similar to its RSD-15 cousin, the RSD-12 has a 12 cylinder prime mover compared to the 15's 16 cylinder prime mover. The RSD-12 is also shorter as well compared to the RSD-15. This locomotive was a slight improvement from the previously offered RSD-7.
Production on this locomotive ran from April 1956 to March 1963, with orders from the Chesapeake and Ohio (10), Lake Superior and Ishpeming (4), Nickel Plate (9), and the Pennsylvania Railroad (25). In addition, two Mexican railroads ordered from Alco as well: Ferrocarril del Pacifico (19), and Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico (73). Finally, there was one ordered built by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW, the Canadian arm of ALCo) for Brazilian railway Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (10) in 1.6m/5'3" broad gauge. In total, 171 units were built.
One notable railroad order for RSD12s was from the Southern Pacific; they sent in 21 RSD-5 locomotives that were converted/rebuilt from the frame up with a new carbody, cab, and engine.
Like a lot of first generation power, as well as ALCo products in general once all ALCo product support started to dry up around the 1970s, units soon started to be retired around the late 70s and early 80s. Some of the Pennsylvania Railroads, along with some of their RSD-15s, were turned into Conrail's MT6 yard slug units and are still in active service with later inheritors CSX and NS. Others were scrapped either by their parent companies or by further inheritors. There are at least 4 that are (somewhat) preserved:
- Nickel Plate's 329 is preserved at the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue, Ohio
- Southern Pacifics' 2954 and 2958 (ex SP 7004 and 7008 respectively) are preserved at the Southern California Railway Museum / Orange Empire Museum in Perris, CA.
- Paperton Junction Southern (Ex Southern Pacific 7012) is on display at the Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff, AR.
- Lake Superior and Ishpeming 1804 is in a shipyard with no prime mover in Escanaba, MI. There is not really an active preservation for this unit, but it still survives in shell form at Basic Marine Inc shipyard; the owners have hung around to it, but it is unknown for how long.
PT-Specific Information
| General Info | - |
|---|---|
| Prime Mover | ALCO 12 cyl 251B |
| Horsepower | 1800 |
| Truck Type | Alco Trimount C |
| Axles | 6 |
| Traction Motors | 6 |
| Minimum Weight | 285000 lbs |
| Maximum Weight | 360000 lbs |
| Model Base Speed | 65 MPH |
| Top Speed | 65, 75, 80 MPH |
| Electrical System | - |
|---|---|
| Generator Max Current | 5400 Amps |
| Max Traction Motor (TM) Current | 1800 Amps |
| Max Continuous TM Current | 1085 Amps |
| Traction Motor Type | DC |
| Factor of Adhesion | 25% |
| Transition Mode | Automatic with Selector |
| Transition Groups | 2, 2, 1, 1 |
| Transition Shunts | 1, 0.75, 1, 0.75 |
| Generator Transition | No |
| Traction Control | APR |
| Dynamic Braking (DB) Mode (if used) | Mechanical Blowers @ 50% |
| DB Max Current | 1800 Amps |
| DB Max Continuous Current | 830 Amps |
| Blended Braking | No |
| Miscellaneous | - |
|---|---|
| Head-End Power (HEP) | No |
| HEP Power Consumption | N/A |
| HEP Standby/Run Mode | N/A |
| Load Ramp Speed | 10 Amps/Tick |
| TM Overload Protection | No |
| Starter Mode | Latched Primer, Manual Start |
| Air Brake Schedule | 6SL or 24RL |
| Compressor CFM | 306 (Wabco 3CDB @ 1000 RPM) |
| Main Reservoir Volume | 35.2 Cubic Feet |
Notes
⚠: Not Verified or Educated Guess