lsrc alcos
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astrovanman1989
- Railroadfan...fan
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:08 pm
- Location: saginaw mi
lsrc alcos
any alcos left in saginaw baycity or alpena
member of the
Soo Line historical society
DSS&A historical society
http://www.youtube.com/user/tricityrailfan
Soo Line historical society
DSS&A historical society
http://www.youtube.com/user/tricityrailfan
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Ti2wheeler
- Railroadfan...fan
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:56 pm
- Location: Frankenmuth, MI
- Contact:
LSRC ALCos
Hi all, been a lurker here for a while. I was in Bay City this morning to check on the remaining active ALCo/MLW units. All five were in Bay City. Pairings were 2052/798, 181/281 and 1280/3500. 1280 and 3500 powered 301 and tied up in Pinconning about 12:45.
As has been widely distributed now, 469, 974, 975, 698 and 3575 have been sold to Waymore Power. 381, 3504 and 3515 remain in Saginaw. These three plus the active units are all for sale.
As has been widely distributed now, 469, 974, 975, 698 and 3575 have been sold to Waymore Power. 381, 3504 and 3515 remain in Saginaw. These three plus the active units are all for sale.
The following was posted on the [obsessivelocominutiaenotes] Yahoo! list this afternoon. I cannot verify the information, but it sounds like good news. It is interesting to read in light of several posts on the Internet indicating several of these locomotives had been cut up.
Post:
"The 469, 974, 975, 698, and 3575 were all purchased by Spencer Garrett of the Waymore Power Company of Illinois. This company specializes in Alco engine rebuilding and servicing for railroad and marine applications. Alcophiles should visit their website for some very interesting and detailed technical information (www.waymorepower.com). Since he is an Alco engine specialist, Mr. Garrett is undaunted by the mechanical woes of the various locos. He plans on restoring 469, 974, and 975 to operable units and then will offer them as lease units or even for sale. The condition of the five locos is as follows:
RS-2u 469: It only needs the rubber seals replaced between the cylinder heads and engine block. The loco was run out of coolant water causing minor overheating which cooked the rubber seals causing multiple water leaks after the water was refilled. LSRC had not replaced the seals due to the shop being moved to Saginaw and subsequent lack of time availability in the shop, and then it was determined that the loco was to be sold anyway.
RS-3m (TE56-4A) 974: The damage to 974 was determined to be confined to the body superstructure and pilot only, the frame is not bent. 974 was running as the third of three locos on a train, with the front end facing the first car. Coming down a grade near Tawas, the train speed got too high and the engineer made a heavy brake application. When the weight of the train pushed against the slowing locomotives, the nose of the 974 was actually lifted several feet above the track! The loco then swiveled toward the ditch and when it came down, the pilot struck the ballast first and was bent upwards a couple inches. This in turn pushed up the walkways around the nose, but luckily it was recently determined that the frame was not bent. In fact, the front coupler height is still OK for shipment and interchange.
RS-3m (TE56-4A) 975: Needs main generator, 5 cylinder heads, crankshaft, and possibly the engine block. While it was out of service, the generator and the heads were used in the 974. While the sale discussions were underway, the suggested plans were to make one loco out of the 974 and 975. However, Waymore Power sees no problems with rebuilding or replacing the engine block and power assemblies in the 975
HR-412 698 and M-420 3575 are to be used for parts only. The 698 has engine, electrical, and truck problems and has had many internal parts removed. The 3575 has always just been a parts unit and also has truck issues. The LSRC deems both locos unsafe to tow to Saginaw.
As part of the purchase agreement, Waymore Power has until June 30 to remove the locos from the LSRC property. The 469 and 974 will remain at Saginaw yard to be prepared for movement. Since the 698 and 3575 cannot be moved from the Alpena yard, they will be stripped for parts at that location, and the remaining hulks will be scrapped. 975 is also still at Alpena and it’s uncertain whether it will be prepared for movement at Alpena or hauled to Saginaw first. So it’s good news for the three RS-series Alcos as they continue toward the next phase of their lives."
Post:
"The 469, 974, 975, 698, and 3575 were all purchased by Spencer Garrett of the Waymore Power Company of Illinois. This company specializes in Alco engine rebuilding and servicing for railroad and marine applications. Alcophiles should visit their website for some very interesting and detailed technical information (www.waymorepower.com). Since he is an Alco engine specialist, Mr. Garrett is undaunted by the mechanical woes of the various locos. He plans on restoring 469, 974, and 975 to operable units and then will offer them as lease units or even for sale. The condition of the five locos is as follows:
RS-2u 469: It only needs the rubber seals replaced between the cylinder heads and engine block. The loco was run out of coolant water causing minor overheating which cooked the rubber seals causing multiple water leaks after the water was refilled. LSRC had not replaced the seals due to the shop being moved to Saginaw and subsequent lack of time availability in the shop, and then it was determined that the loco was to be sold anyway.
RS-3m (TE56-4A) 974: The damage to 974 was determined to be confined to the body superstructure and pilot only, the frame is not bent. 974 was running as the third of three locos on a train, with the front end facing the first car. Coming down a grade near Tawas, the train speed got too high and the engineer made a heavy brake application. When the weight of the train pushed against the slowing locomotives, the nose of the 974 was actually lifted several feet above the track! The loco then swiveled toward the ditch and when it came down, the pilot struck the ballast first and was bent upwards a couple inches. This in turn pushed up the walkways around the nose, but luckily it was recently determined that the frame was not bent. In fact, the front coupler height is still OK for shipment and interchange.
RS-3m (TE56-4A) 975: Needs main generator, 5 cylinder heads, crankshaft, and possibly the engine block. While it was out of service, the generator and the heads were used in the 974. While the sale discussions were underway, the suggested plans were to make one loco out of the 974 and 975. However, Waymore Power sees no problems with rebuilding or replacing the engine block and power assemblies in the 975
HR-412 698 and M-420 3575 are to be used for parts only. The 698 has engine, electrical, and truck problems and has had many internal parts removed. The 3575 has always just been a parts unit and also has truck issues. The LSRC deems both locos unsafe to tow to Saginaw.
As part of the purchase agreement, Waymore Power has until June 30 to remove the locos from the LSRC property. The 469 and 974 will remain at Saginaw yard to be prepared for movement. Since the 698 and 3575 cannot be moved from the Alpena yard, they will be stripped for parts at that location, and the remaining hulks will be scrapped. 975 is also still at Alpena and it’s uncertain whether it will be prepared for movement at Alpena or hauled to Saginaw first. So it’s good news for the three RS-series Alcos as they continue toward the next phase of their lives."
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TrainWatcher
- The Beast
- Posts: 5934
- Joined: Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:28 pm
Ahhhh...instead of "thanks for the info"...quotes from a professionall...HMMMMike Tabone wrote:Rubber seals? For crying out loud its a head gasket
Best Regards..
Saginaw Bay Southern "Excellence in Transportation"..and Proud to be a Part of It!!
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http://railroadfan.com/gallery/displayi ... pos=-36534
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MSchwiebert
- Railroadfan...fan
- Posts: 1611
- Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2006 1:43 pm
- Location: Perrysburg Ohio
I'm guessing that the 'rubber seals'/o-rings in question are for the cylinder sleeves? I do remember seeing some sleves for "truck type" engines (Cummins & Older Detroits) that had grooves for o-rings on the bottom end to keep the coolant out (these were wet sleeve engines that had coolant passages between the sleeve and the block) of the oil.
http://www.railwaylocoengine.com/locomo ... parts.html has illustrations that show a 251 Alco sleeve and cylinder head. Note that the sleeve has grooves for sealing devices. Now never having seen one apart I'm not certain if there's a 'gasket' between the cylinder head and the top of the block. http://www.indiamart.com/cylinderhead/c ... heads.html shows a close up of the 'piston side' of an Alco 251 cylinder head. I'm guessing that the 'ring' that is visible on the head fits into the space between the top of the sleeve and the rest of the head. Now if that's enough of a seal to not require a head gasket I do not know.
http://www.railwaylocoengine.com/locomo ... parts.html has illustrations that show a 251 Alco sleeve and cylinder head. Note that the sleeve has grooves for sealing devices. Now never having seen one apart I'm not certain if there's a 'gasket' between the cylinder head and the top of the block. http://www.indiamart.com/cylinderhead/c ... heads.html shows a close up of the 'piston side' of an Alco 251 cylinder head. I'm guessing that the 'ring' that is visible on the head fits into the space between the top of the sleeve and the rest of the head. Now if that's enough of a seal to not require a head gasket I do not know.
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SD80MAC
- Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
- Posts: 10688
- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 4:59 pm
- Location: Grand Rapids
Sad to hear they're leaving. Atleast the C425's are sticking around for now.
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
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AARR
- Incognito and Irrelevant
- Posts: 39017
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
- Location: Washington, MI
From everything I've heard Mr. George is a good business man and wants his railroads to operate safely. I've never heard disparaging remarks about him unlike Mr. Pinkerton.
Using the formula of 100 cars per year per mile I don't know how LSRC makes a profit. But at 200 cars per day it seems SBS would be financially healthy enough to take better care of it's track.
Maybe SBS is covering the losses of LSRC? Maybe SBS does not make a big profit on the volume because they carry everything such a short distance (they are basically a switching railroad)? Maybe SBS's profits went towards the new engines? Maybe LSRC/SBS customers aren't paying timely causing cash flow challenges?
Any ideas what's going on that SBS is not taking better care of their track?
Using the formula of 100 cars per year per mile I don't know how LSRC makes a profit. But at 200 cars per day it seems SBS would be financially healthy enough to take better care of it's track.
Maybe SBS is covering the losses of LSRC? Maybe SBS does not make a big profit on the volume because they carry everything such a short distance (they are basically a switching railroad)? Maybe SBS's profits went towards the new engines? Maybe LSRC/SBS customers aren't paying timely causing cash flow challenges?
Any ideas what's going on that SBS is not taking better care of their track?
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...