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RE: Re: (erielack) E - L RS2s

Hi folks,

Randy's right for the most part here, but there's one thing that needs
to be correct. The EL purchased an RS3 from the D&H in 1972 (odd, I
wonder why?) and repainted it as EL 1004 (replacing the one that became
954 in Erie years).

George Elwood's site has a photo he took of it working Marion in January
of 1976: http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/loco/el1004age.jpg

There's also a Larry Berger collection shot on that same page:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/loco/el1004a.jpg


There are also two other RS3's that aren't mentioned in Randy's summary:

1057 was the only EL "phase III" RS-3 (denoted by its tall stack of
vertical louvers). It was cobbled together from pieces of several RS3s
(including a B&M unit). It was released in Sept. 1973, and was notable
for its steam generator stack next to the cab (though the generator
wasn't active) - this came from the B&M unit. It gravitated to the
Youngstown, OH area for the remainder of its EL career.

The 1060 was an RS3m ("m" for modified), rebuilt with an EMD prime
mover. I forget what the former unit was right now...

Also, Alco *did* build some RS-2's (later phase) with the battery boxes
ahead of the cab, not under the frame. The only TRUE RS-2 spotting
feature is the fuel filler on the cab. 

	- Paul


> -----Original Message-----
> From: erielack-owner_@_lists.railfan.net 
> [mailto:erielack-owner_@_lists.railfan.net] On Behalf Of Janet 
> & Randy Brown
> Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 8:51 PM
> To: erielack_@_lists.railfan.net
> Subject: Re:Re: (erielack) E - L RS2s
> 
> 
> OK, folks -- there are several questions here.
> 
> 1. The differences between an RS2 and anRS3: internally - 
> 1500 hp vs 1600hp.  Externally: RS2 had the fuel tank under 
> the cab and no battery boxes behind the cab -- it was under 
> the frame.  RS3 had the fuel tank under the frame and battery 
> boxes behind the cab on the walkway.
> 
> 2. Numbering: The EL never bought either an RS2 or an RS3.  
> 
> The ERIE bought both: RS2's were 900 to 915, passenger 
> equipped, and 1000 to 1004, freight.  1000-1004 were 
> converted to passenger and renumbered 950-954.  RS3's were 
> 916-933, passenger, and 1005-1038, freight.  Numbers carried 
> over to EL
> 
> DL&W bought RS3's 901-918, freight.  They were renumbered  EL 
> 1039-1056.
> 
> This from Al Stauffer's ERIE POWER
> 
> Randy Brown
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> Lou-you mention that the RS2'S were numbered ending at 933 
> and starting again  at 950. However, not all of those units 
> were RS2's. Paul Carlton's book,"The  Erie-Lackawanna Story" 
> has photos of some of those units that he lists as  RS3's.On 
> page 245, the book shows nos.926 and 933 as RS3's. Then, on 
> page 294  there are photos of #951 and 952 as being RS2's. On 
> page 313, Carlton says that  "the 1000 series RS3's are 
> strictly freight movers". I believe that these two  models 
> were virtually identical in appearance, although the RS3's 
> might have had  new features that the RS2's didn't. Perhaps 
> Paul or Schuyler or someone can  clear up which units were 
> which.   Dom Mele (ELHS# 769) 
> 

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