| ALCO RSC-2 | |
| Powertype: | Diesel-electric |
| Builder: | ALCO |
| Buildmodel: | E-1661A, E-1661B, E-1661C |
| Builddate: | – |
| Totalproduction: | 91 |
| Aarwheels: | A1A-A1A |
| Gauge: | (CP) |
| Length: | 53feet |
| Width: | 10feet |
| Height: | 14feet |
| Wheeldiameter: | 400NaN0 |
| Locoweight: | 242500lb |
| Fuelcap: | 800usgal |
| Poweroutput: | 1500hp later models 1600hp |
| Primemover: | Alco 244 |
| Enginetype: | V12 Four-stroke diesel |
| Cylindercount: | 12 |
| Transmission: | Electric |
| Generator: | DC generator |
| Tractionmotors: | 4 of DC traction motors |
| Maxspeed: | 65mph |
| Tractiveeffort: | 40425lbf |
The ALCO RSC-2 was a diesel-electric locomotive that rode on three-axle trucks, having an A1A-A1A wheel arrangement.
91 locomotives were produced - Used in much the same manner as its four-axle counterpart, the ALCO RS-2, though the wheel arrangement lowered the axle load for operation on light rail such as are found on branch lines.
The Milwaukee Road was the first railroad to take delivery of the RSC-2, initially assigning them to their Valley Division (headquartered near Wausau, Wisconsin) in November 1946. This was done in order to study the effects of an all-diesel roster (i.e. no steam locomotives available as a backup). The experiment was deemed a success and soon all steam locomotives were gone from the Valley Division. RSC-2s would faithfully serve the Milwaukee Road for many years, until being replaced in turn by the EMD SDL39.
ALCO also exported these units to the state railway of Portugal, where Portuguese Railways (CP) designated them Série 1500. These locomotives were built for the Iberian track gauge of . The last units in Portugal served in regular passenger service into the first decade of the 21st century. Of these, five are still running today, 70 years after their arrival (one is a museum locomotive, while the other four are owned by track maintenance companies). Five units were exported to the Algerian National Railways where they were used in passenger train service.
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1501-1512 | Designated Série 1500 by CP. Uprated from to in 1976. Top speed was then, the track gauge . Four still in service. | ||
| Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad | 22 | 975–996 | renumbered to 580–597, 490–493 series, not in order Milwaukee Road 988 survives today at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum and is under restoration. [1] | |
| 5 | 040DD1–040DD5 | |||
| 37 | 1500-1536 | 1532-1536 rated at 1600hp | ||
| 4 | 368–371 | Soo had RS2 locos, which 368-371 were, no RSC2 locos were rostered. | ||
| 11 | 1180–1190 | 1190 was originally ALCO demonstrator 1190, all units later renumbered 1280-1290 | ||
| Total | 91 |