Locomotive Spotlight #1-2024

 Greetings All,

Locomotive Spotlight #1-2024

Welcome to another installment of the locomotive spotlight series!!! The first spotlight of 2024 will shine on the Alco RS32 also known as a the Alco DL721. 

"New York Central Alco RS32 2038" by Digital Rail Artist is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/?ref=openverse.

Prototype Information

In 1960 the American Locomotive Company revamped its 1,800 HP DL701 (RS11) and introduced their new 2,000 horsepower DL721 (RS32) to compete with the EMD GP20 which produced similar horsepower and the new kid on the block the GE U25B. 

The Alco DL721, also known as an RS32, was powered by their turbo charged 251C prime mover and rode on B-B trucks. The RS32 had a 1961-1962 production run with weak sales of only 35 units to two railroads.

The New York Central signed up for fifteen RS32s (8020-8034) in 1961 and ten more (8035-8044) in 1962. These would be the last Alco products purchased by the NYC for six long years. In 1966 the RS32s were renumbered 2020-2044 for the pending merger.

After a few years of service on the hottest mainline trains the NYC ran the RS32 were relegated to secondary trains and perish the thought yard service.

The Southern Pacific purchased ten RS32s (7300-7309) in 1962. Originally assigned to mainline freight service they could later be found in local freight service in the San Francisco area. The SP RS32s were renumbered from 7300-7309 to 4000-4009. 

"Southern Pacific Alco RS32 4002" by Digital Rail Artist is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/?ref=openverse.

RS32 Survivors

The Southern Pacific 4002 nee 7302 became Delaware Lackawanna 211 and later DL 2002 after being painted in June, 2023 as shown in a photo on RR Picture Artchives..

"DL 211 Alco RS32" by eisenbahnstudio is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/?ref=openverse.

DL 2035, ex NYC 8035, PC 2035. Last photograph on RR Pictures Archives October, 2018 at Medina NY, "File:Alco RS-32 2035 Diamond Branch Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad in Scranton, Pennsylvania.jpg" by Montyvee at English Wikipedia is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/?ref=openverse.

Model Information

This purchase came about when I complimented a fellow modeler in one of the Penn Central Facebook Groups I belong to on the addition of an Atlas RS32 to his fleet. I commented that I was still kicking myself for not getting a pair when they were released.

A short time later another member of the group, Kris Kerr, commented on the post and alerted that MTM had some available using only initials as as not to potentially violate any of the group rules.

Knowing that MTM stood for Model Train Market, an online retailer where I have an account and have purchased items from over the years I promptly checked their website and found they still had two PC RS32s in different road numbers available. A 10% coupon and free shipping cemented the deal.

After opening the box this is what I saw making very happy. You only have one chance to protect a shipment and they certainly did that.

The new RS32s ready to be removed from their boxes. 

PC RS32 #2025 is looking good and was still new in the box upon arrival. The front and rear handrails are still in their plastic bag and will need to be installed.

PC 2033, also arriving new in the box is coupled to the 2025 and ready for testing. I'm happy to report both ran quietly and as smooth as silk. 

I have always appreciated that MTM inspects and includes an inspection certificate for the locomotives they sell. 

The RS32s are now basically layout ready. Dullcote applied, handrails painted yellow, fuel tank and trucks painted flat black.

The Alcos are in transfer service today and arrive in North Side Yard with freight traffic for the Empire Belt RR.

The RS32s head back to Terminal Yard caboose light.

Another day another transfer train. The RS32s get ready to depart Terminal Yard with another transfer run to North Side Yard.

These two engines are perfect for my yard to yard moves and are some of the smoothest running locomotives in my fleet.

Uh oh... The dynamic duo has been split up this day and both find themselves in yard service like the prototype. The 2033 is assigned to Terminal Yard and the 2025 Bedford Park Yard.

On the layout later in the week the RS32s with older sibling RS11 7608 bring a symbol freight train from Selkirk over the high line.  The Atlas/Kato RS11 is being tested in consist with the Atlas Trainman RS32s and they run together very well.

I know the NYC and PC had them in secondary and yard service but on my layout they will be at home leading hotshots, transfers and locals while performing occasional yard duties. That's versatility!!!

The RS32s are on the move in various assignments.

Final Thoughts and Comments

First I am very impressed with how quietly and smooth these locomotives run. Second their pulling power is awesome making them very versatile for layout operations. They performed very well with long symbol trains, transfer runs, locals and in yard service. 

On the downside the locomotives lack details like grab irons and the horn is wrong and in the wrong place. Modelers looking to add these parts can find most of them in Cal Scale kit #190-527.

All in all I'm happy with the purchase and happy to have these excellent running engines in the fleet. I may or may not get my drill bits out and order the Cal Scale parts somewhere down the road.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!!