The ALCO RS-1 was a 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by Alco-GE between 1941 and 1953 and the American Locomotive Company from 1953 to 1960. ALCO subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works built an additional three RS-1s in 1954. This model has the distinction of having the longest production run of any diesel locomotive for the North American market. The RS-1 was in production for 19 years from the first unit Rock Island #748 in March 1941 to the last unit National of Mexico #5663 in March 1960.

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Quick Facts Type and origin, Power type ...

ALCO RS-1
DSSA #101 of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum near French River, Minnesota
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder American Locomotive Company Montreal Locomotive Works Model RS-1 Build date March 1941 – March 1960 Total produced 469
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm), Brazil Trucks AAR type B Wheel diameter 40 in (1,016 mm) Minimum curve 57° (116.14 ft or 35.40 m) Wheelbase 40 ft 5 in (12.32 m) Length 55 ft 5+3⁄4 in (16.91 m) Width 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) Height 14 ft 5 in (4.39 m) Loco weight 247,500 lb (112,300 kg) Fuel capacity 1,000 US gal (3,800 L; 830 imp gal) Prime mover Alco 244T, 539T Engine type In line Four stroke diesel Aspiration Turbocharger Displacement 1,595 cu in (26.14 L) per cylinder 9,572 cu in (156.86 L) total Generator GE GT-553-C DC generator Traction motors (4) GE 731 DC traction motors Cylinders 6 Cylinder size 12+1⁄2 in × 13 in (318 mm × 330 mm) Loco brake Independent air Train brakes Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 65 mph (105 km/h) Power output 1,000 hp (746 kW) Tractive effort 40,425 lbf (179.82 kN)
Career Locale North America, Brazil, Saudi Arabia

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In 1940, the Rock Island Railroad approached ALCO about building a locomotive for both road and switching service.^[1] To meet the Rock Island's request, ALCO created the RS-1. Their new design was a hood unit, in contrast to most existing locomotive designs at the time which were predominantly carbody units. The hood unit design allowed for improved visibility, especially to the rear. Rear visibility is very important for switching, which often involves reverse movements. Unlike carbody units, hood units such as the RS-1 can be operated in reverse without much difficulty, eliminating the need to turn them around at the end of a line.^[2] For these reasons, most North American locomotives built since have followed this basic design, which is known as the road switcher locomotive.

Though the locomotive could operate in either direction, the "long" hood was officially designated as the front.^[2]

The first thirteen production locomotives were requisitioned by the US Army, as U.S. involvement in World War II began shortly after ALCO began production. The five railroads affected had to wait while replacements were manufactured. The requisitioned RS-1s were remanufactured by ALCO into six axle RSD-1s for use on the Trans-Iranian Railway to supply the Soviet Union during the war.

RS-1s were primarily operated in freight service, though in some cases they were also assigned to passenger trains. A few railroads equipped their RS-1s with steam heading equipment for passenger trains.^[2] Many RS-1s were stationed in train yards for switching duties, assembling and taking apart trains to be hauled by mainline locomotives. True to their designation as 'road switchers', RS-1s could also be frequently found hauling mainline trains, especially on branch lines.

The RS-1 enjoyed a long service life, despite its manufacturer ALCO shutting down in 1969, just 9 years after the last locomotive was produced. Despite ALCO's closure, spare parts have been produced and marketed by other manufacturers for the RS-1 and other ALCO products.^[3] Many served for decades, and even in the 21st century a number of examples can still be found in freight service on shortline railroads, or on excursion trains at railroad museums.

The RS-1 was succeeded by two improved versions in ALCO's catalogue, the RS-2 and RS-3. Despite this, the RS-1 remained in production even after both of its successors were discontinued.

Several examples exist at tourist railways and railway museums, including:

• Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad's RS-1 purchased in 1951 by the Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad as #1002, sold to the Calumet & Hecla Railroad in 1967 as #205. Later purchased by Continental Grain Company, Marshalltown, IA c. 1975. Donated to the Iowa Railroad Historical Society, Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad in 1996, painted and lettered as Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway #244.
• Consumers Power (CPOX) 401 1951 built RS-1 #79350 former Rutland 401 spent her final years of service switching coal cars at Consumers Energy's Essexville, MI power plant on the Saginaw River the unit is now at the Saginaw Railway Museum.
• Grand Trunk Western 1951 (last domestic RS-1 produced serial number 82356) at the Illinois Railway Museum
• Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 745 (believed to be the oldest existing RS-1, and one of the replacements for the 13 taken by the U.S. Army) at the Louisiana Steam Train Association yard in Jefferson, LA
• Eastman Kodak Company 9 (built as Chicago & Western Indiana 260, sold to Genesee & Wyoming in 1971 and then to EKC) is preserved at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum.
• Livonia Avon & Lakeville 20 (built as Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion 20, sold to Livonia Avon & Lakeville) is preserved at the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum.
• Green Mountain Railroad 405 (former Rutland Railway 405, serial number 79575)
• Catskill Mountain Railroad #400 (out of service & under repair) and #401 (operating) tourist train in Kingston NY.
• Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway #101, previously the only known locomotive existing from that railroad, is at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum and has been restored for occasional use on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.
• Algers, Winslow and Western Railway #4 - Built as Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway #103, it is currently in service on the French Lick Scenic Railway, a line operated by the Indiana Railway Museum^[4]
• Ann Arbor Railroad #20 is owned by the Southern Michigan Railroad Society in Clinton, MI and on loan to Shepherd, MI Railroad Depot Museum and Display
• Ann Arbor Railroad #21 is owned by the Southern Michigan Railroad Society in Clinton, MI. #21 is set to undergo cosmetic and operational repairs and a return to operational status by the end of 2015.
• Soo Line 350 survives on display at the Whippany Railway Museum in New Jersey as Morristown & Erie 21.
• Former Washington Terminal 57 is privately owned and undergoing mechanical restoration on the Allentown and Auburn Railroad in Topton, Pennsylvania.
• Great Northern 182 is on display at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish, British Columbia.
• Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 743 is on display at the Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City, OK.
• Two RS-1s are on display at the US Department of Energy's Hanford Site's B Reactor along with two flatcars.^[5]

• List of ALCO diesel locomotives
• List of MLW diesel locomotives