ALCO RS-27
Encyclopedia
The ALCO RS-27 is a diesel-electric locomotive
built by ALCO
between December 1959 and October 1962. Only 27 examples were manufactured. With ALCO's introduction of the Century Series
line, the C-424
(specification DL-640A) replaced the RS-27 in the builder's catalog. Today, the Minnesota Commercial Railway
has the only two operating RS-27s left.
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
built by ALCO
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
between December 1959 and October 1962. Only 27 examples were manufactured. With ALCO's introduction of the Century Series
ALCO Century Series locomotives
The ALCO Century Series locomotives were a line of locomotives produced by Alco,the Montreal Locomotive Works, and A. E. Goodwin Ltd under license in Australia. Production of the Century Series began in 1963 and ended in 1972. MLW and Goodwin continued to build Century locomotives after Alco...
line, the C-424
ALCO Century 424
The Century 424 was a four-axle, 2400 horsepower diesel locomotive of the road switcher type. 190 were built between April 1963 and May 1967. Cataloged as a part of Alco's Century line of locomotives, the C424 was intended to replace the earlier RS-27 model and offered as a lower-priced...
(specification DL-640A) replaced the RS-27 in the builder's catalog. Today, the Minnesota Commercial Railway
Minnesota Commercial Railway
The Minnesota Commercial Railway is a short line railroad in the United States.This railroad operates out of the St. Paul area with service to Minneapolis, Bayport, Hugo, Fridley and New Brighton. It is considered a terminal and switching line. It is based out of a roundhouse on Cleveland Ave. in...
has the only two operating RS-27s left.
Original Owners
| Railroad | Quantity | Road Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Locomotive Company American Locomotive Company The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:... (demonstrator) |
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640-1 rebuilt as C424 ALCO Century 424 The Century 424 was a four-axle, 2400 horsepower diesel locomotive of the road switcher type. 190 were built between April 1963 and May 1967. Cataloged as a part of Alco's Century line of locomotives, the C424 was intended to replace the earlier RS-27 model and offered as a lower-priced... for Pennsylvania Railroad, 640-2 through 640-5 to Union Pacific Railroad Union Pacific Railroad The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman.... 675–678; 678 wrecked 1969, 675–676 sold 1971 to Montreal Locomotive Works Montreal Locomotive Works Montreal Locomotive Works was a Canadian railway locomotive manufacturer which existed under several names from 1883–1985, producing both steam and diesel locomotives. For a number of years it was a subsidiary of the American Locomotive Company... and used as lease fleet on Roberval and Saguenay Railway Roberval and Saguenay Railway The Roberval and Saguenay Railway is a small railway company, wholly owned by Rio Tinto Alcan. It carries raw materials in portions of northern Quebec province, Canada. With about of track in total, it touches on such spots as Chicoutimi and Arvida and connects to the Canadian National Railway.... and British Columbia Railway, sold to Devco Railway Devco Railway The Devco Railway was a Canadian railway. Devco Railway operated as an unincorporated department within the Coal Division of the Cape Breton Development Corporation, also known as DEVCO; as such there is no formally incorporated entity named "Devco Railway"... 1974, renumbered 214-215, scrapped 1984 |
| Chicago and North Western Railway Chicago and North Western Railway The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s... |
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Three sold to Green Bay and Western 316–318, one to Peabody Coal |
| Green Bay and Western Railroad Green Bay and Western Railroad The Green Bay and Western Railroad served the transportation and freight haulage needs of northern Wisconsin for almost 100 years before it was absorbed into the Wisconsin Central in 1993... |
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| Pennsylvania Railroad Pennsylvania Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... |
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to Penn Central and Conrail (same numbers) |
| Soo Line Railroad Soo Line Railroad The Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , controlled through the Soo Line Corporation, and one of seven U.S. Class I railroads. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste... |
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| Total | 27 |
External links
- Sarberenyi, Robert. Alco RS27 Original Owners.