Greetings All,
Locomotive Spotlight #1-2025
New Haven Alco RS3s
Welcome to the first Locomotive Spotlight of 2025!!! Today the spotlight will shine on the New Haven RR ALCO RS3s.
Prototype Information
New Haven Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (reporting marks NH), commonly known as the New Haven, was a railroad that operated principally in the New England region of the United States from 1872 to 1968. Founded by the merger of the New York and New Haven and Hartford and New Haven railroads, the company had near-total dominance of railroad traffic in Southern New England for the first half of the 20th century.
The remnants of the system now comprise Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line, much of the northern leg of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, Connecticut's Shore Line East and Hartford Line, parts of the MBTA, and numerous freight operators such as CSX and the Providence and Worcester Railroad.
The majority of the surviving system is now owned publicly by the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, with other surviving segments owned by freight railroads; many abandoned lines have been converted into rail trails.
Prototype Information
The ALCO RS3
The ALCO RS3 is a 1,600 hp four axle (B-B) diesel-electric locomotive manufactured from May 1950 to August 1956 by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and its subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW). A total of 1,418 were produced: 1,265 for American railroads, 98 for Canadian railroads, 48 for Brazilian railroads, and 7 for Mexican railroads.
The RS-3 greatly resembled the RS-1 and RS-2, but it had 100 more horsepower thanks to its 12-cylinder, 1,600 hp ALCO Model 244 engine. It also had some changes to the fuel system and body shape.
Much like the RS-1, many RS-3s served for decades; some may still in use.
New Haven Railroad ALCO RS3s
Between 1950 and 1952 the New Haven RR under the presidency of Frederic C. Dumaine with his son and successor Frederic C. Dumaine Jr (Buck) achieved total dieselization of their power fleet. The NH's regular builder ALCO couldn't fulfill the total order for new motive power but did deliver the first of forty five (45) RS3s numbered 517-561. ALCO also delivered five FB2s and the last of the sixty five S1 switchers.
Continuing the precedent set by the ALCO DL109 which gained fame for its ability to haul heavy WWII passenger and freight trains the NH RS3s were dual purpose units at home with varnish or tonnage and geared for 80 MPH.
In 1954 the Dumaine era ended and the McGinnis era begun. When McGinnis took over the NH was completely dieselized but the RRs electric roster was elderly. With 10 EP-5 electric motors and 100 m.u. cars ordered by Dumaine and under construction McGinnis elected to reduce electric operations.
In 1956 the New Haven ordered from EMD 20 SW1200s, 30 GP9s and 30 FL9s From ALCO came 15 RS11s along with 15 H16-44s from Fairbanks-Morse. The locomotives would arrive in the new color schemes created by Herbert Matter of Knoll and Associates.
The arrival of the new 1956 power would bump the ALCO RS3s to secondary trains but the continued policy of eliminating the electric motors saw them running many trains under wire.
In 1960 the New Haven now being run by president George Alpert a number of ALCO RS3s, FA1s, FB1s and an FB2 were sent to ALCO for rebuilding. All returned from ALCO capable of multi unit operation with the 1956 road switchers and FL9s and with a simpler red-orange and black paint scheme known as the Alpert scheme.
According to Scott Hartley in his book "New Haven Railroad The Final Decades" the 45 RS3s performed outstandingly in freight, passenger and local service. Well liked by crews most remained in service until the railroad's end.
Many of the New Haven RS3s were conveyed to Penn Central on January 1st, 1969. NH RS3 #539 would be renumbered to PC #5566(2nd) replacing ex PRR #8916, PC #5566(1st) on the roster. PC #5566 shows on the opening day Conrail roster.
New Haven RS3 #552 doesn't look to have made the Penn Central roster.
Model Information
The two models we're focusing on are Athearn Sound and DCC ready RS3 locomotives.
Out of the box both units ran great.
The engines are numbered 539 and 552.
Final Thoughts and Comments
The sale price for these two New Haven RS3s made this one of those locomotive purchases I couldn't pass up and adds two great running units to my NH roster.
Some of the New Haven Fleet in Action
Additional Photos and Links
NH ALCO RS3 #539 at South Braintree, Mass. on 09-29-1963 in As Delivered Paint Scheme.
NH ALCO RS3# #539 possibly at Providence on an unknown date in the As Delivered Paint Scheme.
NH ALCO RS# #552 at Putnam CT on 05/20/1956 in As Delivered Paint Scheme.
NH ALCO RS3 #553 at Fall River, Mass. 10-1969 (PC) in Alpert Paint Scheme.
NH ALCO RS3 #559 at Oak Point, NY. 05-1957 in McGinness Paint Scheme.
Thanks for reading and watching!!!
See you soon!!!