RS-1 questions for you SPFs, out there (or anyone else who knows)

[brokemoto]

As I understand it, only two or three of the Pennsylvania RS-1s received Trainphone antennae.

1.  Does anyone know which ones they were?  I have seen maybe two photographs of PRR RS-1s with the antennae, but I do not remember where I saw them. 

2.  Was it only the freight units that received the antennae, or did any of the passenger units receive them?

3.   The service photographs of PRR RS-1s that I have seen show them either in switching duty or simply sitting.   Did the PRR use these on the road?  Would non-antennae equipped RS-1s have been allowed on main lines?  On branch lines? 

4.Did PRR use any of its passenger RS-1s on mainline or branch line passenger trains?  I have seen service photographs of NYS&W RS-1s on "main line" (or what passed for "main line" passenger service on the Now You Sit and Wait) passenger service, but those are about the only ones.  I have never seen photographs of NYCS, PRR or C&O (later B&O) RS-1s that were pulling main line or branch line passenger trains.  I understand that there was some sort of acceleration problem with these things that made their use on passenger trains difficult, but I do not know what the problem was.

I ask the passenger questions because one of the Atlas/Kato PRR RS-1s carries a passenger unit number.  Atlas does not put steam generator stacks on its ALCo RS-configured models, even if the prototype had them.   Both of the Atlas CLASSIC NYCS RS-3s carry passenger unit numbers, but have no stacks.  NYCS passenger RS-3s had the "stovepipe" escape stack, which is easily fashioned from sprue stock, as there is no commercial detail available for that in N scale.  The NYCS passenger RS-2s, as well as the PRR passenger RS-1s, has the ALCo "factory" escape stack, that is the angled stack that rested against the cab.  The Kato NYCS RS-2 also lacks the detail, but you can buy a commercial part and add it.  Adding it to the RS-1 requires cutting a gap in the cab roof to accomodate the escape stack, just as on the prototype.

Thank you for your time.

[reinhardtjh]

Data from the Withers Publishing book Pennsylvania Railroad Diesel Locomotive Pictorial, Vol #1 ALCo RS series by John D. Hahn, Jr.

1)  PRR bought RS-1's in 4 orders totaling 27 units.  One order of one unit (5906), followed by a large order of 22 units (5619-5640) and then two orders of two units each (8485,8486 and 8857,8858).  Fourteen of the 22 second order units had Trainphone equipment.
Units with Trainphone were:

5621	5622	5623	5624
5629	5630	5631	5632
5633	5634	5635	5636
5639	5640

2) All units with Trainphone were of the AS-10am class which indicates they did not have a steam generator and were probably intended primarily for freight use.

3) They were used in all type of operations.  With 14 units with Trainphone they could be used anywhere.  The non-Trainphone units could be mixed with the other for mainline use and I think, but don't know for sure that non-Trainline units could be used for local service anywhere.  They just have to check in at stations for orders.

4)  Nothing I have read indicates the RS-1's were used regularly on any passenger runs.  Only 5 units had steam generators so I don't think the intent was there.  They may have been used as backup or protect units incase normal passenger power was not available.  And the 8857 and 8858 (third order) were used in the NY division as switchers, local power and for heating passenger cars as needed.  Later on, RS-3's were bought and used as replacements for G-class commuter engines.
 
The other two with steam generators (8485, 8486) went to Olean.  These last two also were the only ones fitted with roller bearing trucks.  The rest were friction.  They also had MU connectors on both ends whereas the other only had them on the short hood end and the 8857 and 8858 had no MU at all.  These two were ordered this way to splice in between two RS-1's with the short hood MU to create a 3-unit consist for the Rochester line freights.

[Spikre]

 
  Brokey,
   not sure who told You Alcos didn't excellerate ,they were Dragsters compared
   to EMDs.
   S-2s,RS-2/3s,FAs,PAs were known for rapid moveouts from a stop.
   Susie Q RS-1s may not have been able to show this after the 57 hurricane,
  the track was let go due to lack of funds after that.
  but riding or watching the Erie Alco fleet leave Waldwick station was no contest
  from the EMDs, the Alcos would be up to track speed with any length train before
  going under the Wycoff ave underpass, while the EMDs would still be struggling
  to get up to speed well into the "S" curve.
   freight was different as most trains were EMD powered until after 1965.
  then when the SD45s arrived in 67 they had different wiring and really moved.
  but until the mid 60s the Alco version of the GE components was Fast.
   EL Cleveland Ore Trains:
   for awhile in the late 60s/early 70s EL would have an RS-3 in front of 2 of the
  U33Cs as the RS-3 loaded fast,the U33Cs didn't by themselves.
  the RS-3 kicker seemed to cure the GEs sluggishness.
         Spikre