ALCO S-2 and S-4
Encyclopedia
The ALCO S2 and S4 were 1000 hp switcher
diesel locomotive
s produced by ALCO
and Canadian licensee Montreal Locomotive Works
(MLW). Basically, the two locomotives differed only in trucks
, with the S-2 using ALCO's own Blunt trucks, and the S-4 riding on standard AAR type A switcher truck
s. Both were powered by ALCO 539 turbocharged, 6 cylinder diesels. The S-2 was built between August 1940 and June 1950, with a total of 1502 completed, while the S-4 was constructed between June 1949 and August 1957 (MLW until 1957) with total sales of 797. Canadian production of the S-4 started more than a year before U S production of the S-4. ALCO did not start building the S-4 until August 1950. A modified version, the S-7, was built by MLW only; 29 were built between June and August 1957.
.
The carbody and cab of late S-2s are nearly indistinguishable from those of S-4s. Hence, a truck swap can cause many to mis-identify a unit.
SP1474 is in operation, in rotation, at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA, pulling a tourist train on weekends.
Western Pacific
563, one of 2 S4s purchased by that railroad, is today preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
at Portola, California
.
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
S2 #206 sits cosmetically restored at Maywood Station in Maywood, New Jersey
.
The Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad
operates a pair of restored ex-Canadian National units. S4 #3051 and S7 #3052 are both in regular tourist passenger and maintenance of way service between Milford and Cooperstown, NY.
Muskogee, Oklahoma
at the Three Rivers Museum a S-2 #63-138 sits outside in the back of the Midland Valley Station.
The Houston Railroad Museum in Houston, Texas have two S-2's; Ex Santa Fe, #2350 and Ex Houston Belt and Terminal, #14.
Louisville & Nashville rebuilt many of their Alco switchers with 12-567 EMD prime movers in an effort to standardize their switching fleet. One of these, S4 (or S4m as rebuilt) #2326 survives at Gerdau Ameristeel in Cartersville, GA. Ameristeel recently donated the locomotive to the Southeastern Railway Museum at Duluth, GA.
The Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad operates S-2s #75 and #85 on its tourist
/freight railroad.
The Virginia & Truckee Railroad acquired an S-4 from PPL Montana in 2010. The locomotive is in operable condition & slowly being repainted to the railroad's diesel colors.
Class III railroad Toledo, Lake Erie, and Western uses 3 ALCO S-2 locomotives, most commonly used, #5109 on passenger service. One S-2 is used as a parts locomotive, along with a Ex-Penn Central S-2 as a parts locomotive as well. Currently as of October 2011, TLEW isn't running due to vandalism of at least $75,000 of its equipment.
Switcher
A switcher or shunter is a small railroad locomotive intended not for moving trains over long distances but rather for assembling trains ready for a road locomotive to take over, disassembling a train that has been...
diesel locomotive
Diesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
s produced 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:...
and Canadian licensee 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...
(MLW). Basically, the two locomotives differed only in trucks
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
, with the S-2 using ALCO's own Blunt trucks, and the S-4 riding on standard AAR type A switcher truck
AAR type A switcher truck
The AAR type A switcher truck is a diesel locomotive truck introduced by EMD and installed as standard equipment on most EMD switcher locomotives and on those of other manufacturers. It was designed by Martin P Blomberg and its US Patent was filed on Jul 6, 1937 and approved Nov 15, 1938 under...
s. Both were powered by ALCO 539 turbocharged, 6 cylinder diesels. The S-2 was built between August 1940 and June 1950, with a total of 1502 completed, while the S-4 was constructed between June 1949 and August 1957 (MLW until 1957) with total sales of 797. Canadian production of the S-4 started more than a year before U S production of the S-4. ALCO did not start building the S-4 until August 1950. A modified version, the S-7, was built by MLW only; 29 were built between June and August 1957.
Identification
The S-2 and S-4 are distinguishable externally from the very similar S-1 and S-3 660 hp (490 kW) switchers in that they have a larger exhaust stack with an oblong base and a larger radiator shutter area on the nose sides. The S-1/S-3 radiator shutter area is taller than it is wide, while the S-2/S-4 radiator area is wider. The larger stack is due to turbochargingTurbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
.
The carbody and cab of late S-2s are nearly indistinguishable from those of S-4s. Hence, a truck swap can cause many to mis-identify a unit.
Survivors
A few S4s are still in service on shortline railroads around the United States. Several more are preserved in US and Canadian railroad museums.SP1474 is in operation, in rotation, at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA, pulling a tourist train on weekends.
Western Pacific
Western Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
563, one of 2 S4s purchased by that railroad, is today preserved at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum
Western Pacific Railroad Museum
The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California, formerly known as the Portola Railroad Museum before , is a heritage railroad that preserves and operates historic American railroad equipment. The museum's mission is to preserve the history of the Western Pacific Railroad and is...
at Portola, California
Portola, California
Portola is the only incorporated city in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 2,104 at the 2010 census, down from 2,227 at the 2000 census...
.
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also known as the Susie-Q, or simply the Susquehanna, is a Class II American freight railway operating over 500 miles of track in the northeastern states of New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was formed in 1881 from the merger of several...
S2 #206 sits cosmetically restored at Maywood Station in Maywood, New Jersey
Maywood, New Jersey
Maywood is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 9,555.Maywood was incorporated as a borough on June 29, 1894, from portions of Midland Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day, at the height of the...
.
The Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad
Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad
The Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad Company is a heritage railroad in New York operated by the Leatherstocking Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society since 1996.-History:...
operates a pair of restored ex-Canadian National units. S4 #3051 and S7 #3052 are both in regular tourist passenger and maintenance of way service between Milford and Cooperstown, NY.
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
at the Three Rivers Museum a S-2 #63-138 sits outside in the back of the Midland Valley Station.
The Houston Railroad Museum in Houston, Texas have two S-2's; Ex Santa Fe, #2350 and Ex Houston Belt and Terminal, #14.
Louisville & Nashville rebuilt many of their Alco switchers with 12-567 EMD prime movers in an effort to standardize their switching fleet. One of these, S4 (or S4m as rebuilt) #2326 survives at Gerdau Ameristeel in Cartersville, GA. Ameristeel recently donated the locomotive to the Southeastern Railway Museum at Duluth, GA.
The Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad operates S-2s #75 and #85 on its tourist
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
/freight railroad.
The Virginia & Truckee Railroad acquired an S-4 from PPL Montana in 2010. The locomotive is in operable condition & slowly being repainted to the railroad's diesel colors.
Class III railroad Toledo, Lake Erie, and Western uses 3 ALCO S-2 locomotives, most commonly used, #5109 on passenger service. One S-2 is used as a parts locomotive, along with a Ex-Penn Central S-2 as a parts locomotive as well. Currently as of October 2011, TLEW isn't running due to vandalism of at least $75,000 of its equipment.