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ALCO RS-27

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ALCO RS-27
Minnesota Commercial Railway 318 at Minneapolis, July 2009
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderALCO
ModelRS-27
Build dateDecember 1959 – October 1962
Total produced27
Specifications
Configuration:
 • AARB-B
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
TrucksAAR type B
Wheel diameter40 in (1,016 mm)
Minimum curve21°
Wheelbase40 ft 4 in (12.29 m)
Length57 ft 2+12 in (17.44 m)
Width9 ft 11+18 in (3.03 m)
Height14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Loco weight256,800 lb (116,500 kg)
Fuel capacity2,000 US gal (7,600 L)
Prime moverAlco 251B
RPM range1000
Engine typeFour-stroke diesel
AspirationTurbocharged
Displacement10,688 cu in (175.14 L)
GeneratorGE 5GT-581-B1
Traction motors(4) GE 5GE-752-E3
CylindersV16
Cylinder size9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm)
Performance figures
Power output2,400 hp (1.8 MW)
Tractive effort64,200 lb (29,100 kg)
Career
LocaleU.S.A.

The ALCO RS-27 (specification DL-640) was a diesel-electric locomotive built by ALCO between December 1959 and October 1962.

Only 27 examples were manufactured.[1] With ALCO's introduction of the Century Series line in 1963, the C-424 (specification DL-640A) replaced the RS-27 in the builder's catalog. Today, the Minnesota Commercial Railway has the only two RS-27s left in existence; however both have been placed into storage.[2]

Original owners

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Railroad Quantity Road numbers Notes
American Locomotive Company (demonstrator) 5 640-1 to 640-5 640-1 rebuilt as C424 for Pennsylvania Railroad, 640-2 through 640-5 to Union Pacific Railroad 675–678; 678 wrecked 1969, 675–676 sold 1971 to Montreal Locomotive Works and used as lease fleet on Roberval and Saguenay Railway and British Columbia Railway, sold to Devco Railway 1974, renumbered 214-215, scrapped 1984
Chicago and North Western Railway 4 900–903 One sold to Peabody Coal, three sold to Green Bay and Western 316–318; GBW 317 scrapped, 316 and 318 to Minnesota Commercial Railway
Green Bay and Western Railroad 1 310
Pennsylvania Railroad 15 2400–2414 to Penn Central and Conrail (same numbers)
Soo Line Railroad 2 415–416
Total 27

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lustig, David (Winter 2022). "Alco RS27 - a diesel that dadn't". Classic Trains. Vol. 23, no. 4. Kalmbach_Media. pp. 7–9.
  2. ^ Franz, Justin (2023-08-21). "Alco Era Drawing to a Close on Minnesota Commercial". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  • Dorin, Patrick C. (1972). Chicago and North Western Power. Burbank, California: Superior Publishing. p. 145. ISBN 0-87564-715-4.
  • Hayden, Bob (1980). Model Railroader Cyclopedia Volume 2, Diesel Locomotives. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89024-547-9.
  • Pinkpank, Jerry A (1973). The Second Diesel Spotter's Guide. Kalmbach Books. pp. 208, 252. LCCN 66-22894.
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