Large Scale Central

A custom RS3

Modeling Motive Power
#1

I have been wanting to model a unique engine from one that used to run on my favorite local RR for many years but I had to wait until my skills caught up with my aspirations. Well not exactly model but to capture an overall feel for the engine. I bought the Aristo RS3 over a year ago planning for this day.

The real RS3 began service in 1951 with the NYC then it moved on to the Penn Central, Amtrak, the Connecticut Central RR and the Providence and Worcester RR before landing with The Cape Cod Central RR. It had a good 60 year run and was scrapped in 2011.

Here is a photo of it pulling a passenger train on the CCC RR. This photo was pulled from internet images.

Note the chopped hood and engine cover on the back or does that “box” have something to do with braking? Either way it adds to the unique nature of this engine.

After taking the engine apart the hood was carefully measured and chopped down. The front windows were cut out with a dremel and finished off with a hand file. I also added the headlight and number board assembly above the windshield using wood. The proto does not have the hood headlight or the marker lights but I like them so they will be staying.

I use Rustoleum “colonial red” and walmart black with a clear coat of matte over it all. I painted the cab red because that would be easy to mask for the black roof and the body and hood black first because it would be easy to mask it using 3/4 painters tape for the red coat. In the forefront is the fuel tank and the odd roof top “box”. I will use 1/16th pin striping for the yellow stripes and craft paint for the grab irons.

While this is still in pieces I’m considering buying a Revo system for it.

I’m very happy with the way this is coming out and since these photos the body has been masked and the red has been applied.

#2

Looks like they moved the steam generator to behind the cab. Most short high hoods held the boiler. Steam heat kept the passengers warm.

I’m not sure about the whole raised cowl.

John

#3

That box has to do with being re-engined. Hang on a bit, I’ll be back.

Edit, here look at these pages:

http://www.hebners.net/Amtrak/amtRS3.html

"After Amtrak - CCCL 1201
Connecticut Central
(now a fallen flag)

today she works for the Cape Cod Central. She’s now CCC #1201, and has been repainted again (this
engine must have worn at least two dozen paint schemes over her life time.)
now nicknamed her “Lulubell”"

and

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/534528/

Amtrak inherited a fleet of RS3’s from PC when Conrail was formed. Three of them were eventually rebuilt with EMD prime movers.

and

http://www.capecodrails.com/cccx/cccxlocoroster.shtml

1201 Alco RS3m 78662 5/1951 3/29/00Ex. Providence & Worcester 120, Connecticut Central 1201, Shoreline Locomotives 6055, Amtrak 104, Penn Central RS3 5246, New York Central 8246. Repowered by Amtrak in 1984 with an EMD 12 cylinder prime mover.

#4

Now, as for the reason why the box, pages 138 & 139 of The Second Diesel Spotters Guide Update, Kalmbach Books, 1980.

As of book printing in 1980 Conrail shops had produced 55 similar repowerings done at the Altoona, PA, shops and the DeWitt Shops in Syracuse, New York. It says that on EMD engines the piston power assemblies had to be lifted higher for removal than on the Alco diesel. Altoona shops used hinged and latched hood top segments around a low hood-top clerestory, while the Syracuse shops apparently said, “Eh, why go through that trouble, just build a box for more overhead clearance”.

As a point of interest, Altoona did one, CR 9950, as a yard switcher with the short hood just gone, removed completely.

#5

Wow Thank you Forrest. There is some very interesting info in those links. It is amazing how this engine 1201 and many like it made the rounds to different RR’s.

I guessed right that the extra roof section was actually an engine cover. I’m glad I put on cotter pins, I mean lift points in case the cover needs to be lifted.

I wonder why the hood was chopped down. I didn’t see another shorty hood in any of the photos from the first link you supplied.

Thanks again.

#6

Looking good Todd. I’m interested to see how you mask off the louvers on the front section. I’m building a couple of RS-1’s for the Spokane International Railroad and they’re paint colors are a black body with a red wide band down the center with yellow strips on both sides of the red.

#7

Chuck Inlow said:

Looking good Todd. I’m interested to see how you mask off the louvers on the front section. I’m building a couple of RS-1’s for the Spokane International Railroad and they’re paint colors are a black body with a red wide band down the center with yellow strips on both sides of the red.

OOOH Chuck that is gonna be a tough job. The Aristo louvers are so nice and detailed and luckily the paint job I’m copying is all red with the stripe stopping before and after the louvers.

I have painted stripes over the louvers on a USAT S4 but those are fixed in place. With those I used blue painters tape and avoided spraying the paint down behind the tape opting instead to spray up and straight on at the louvers. There was minimal over spray.

On this RS3 I taped right over the molded in louvers on the doors and sprayed the paint the same way as on the USAT aiming the rattle can and trying not to spray behind the edge of the tape.

I just looked up the Spokane International and that is one sharp colour scheme.

I’d try just taping the louvers but you might need to do a touch up by hand.

#8

I just took this shot of the RS3 stripes. The yellow stripes is 1/16 pin striping from great planes. It isn’t as nice and tight as paint would be but it disappears and blends in when viewed from a few feet away.

Putting the metal grab irons back on is going to be a real pain in the butt. Otherwise this engine is really coming along.

.

#9

looks great!!!

#10

Todd Haskins said:

Wow Thank you Forrest.

I wonder why the hood was chopped down. I didn’t see another shorty hood in any of the photos from the first link you supplied.

Welcome! To increase windshield area over factory stock short hood. Long hood was not reduced in height. A lot of early road switchers got chopped short hoods during rebuildings.

RS3 had several flavors of noses in both factory stock and “And I made a few special modifications myself” flavors.

Here, this shows factory stock short hood, http://www.railpictures.net/photo/608362/

Chopped nose on the GB&W, http://www.railpictures.net/photo/591052/

One piece windshield and chopped nose, http://www.railpictures.net/photo/53728/ and http://www.railpictures.net/photo/68543/

Extra height hood housing steam generator on LV, http://www.railpictures.net/photo/574847/ And on WM http://www.railpictures.net/photo/551971/

MKT re-engined RS3 with Alco long hood replaced with EMD hood, http://www.railpictures.net/photo/511804/

Some had cab windows above hoods plated over http://www.railpictures.net/photo/191423/

Conrail one which had short hood entirely removed is about 1/2 way down this page http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/ConrailEquipment/Locomotives/ALCo/RS3m

#11

Thanks again Forrest. That railpictures site is a gold mine of photos. Who would have known that the RS3 would come in so many configurations? The one with the hood removed looked a bit odd. I wonder why they removed it.

#12

It was a Penn Central unit. The PC did some odd things.

#13

On (at least) one road those extra height, steam generator hood locos were called Hammer Heads.

I knew you needed to know.

John

#14

The PC did do some odd things as they struggled along.

Hmmm “Hammer heads” That sounds cool John.

UGGG a set back! I was just putting some lettering on the cab and when I pulled the tape away a bit of red paint came with it. I must have forgotten to give that part a shot of clear coat. Now it is back to the paint shop.

#15

David Maynard said:

It was a Penn Central unit. The PC did some odd things.

Actually it was originally a New Haven unit (535) …right up Todd’s alley. Modified in Altoona but not a Dewitt however you knew that already so why not tell us the history on it?

#16

Update:

The RS3 project is just about finished. I still need to print up lettering for the number boards and rust up the other side of the trucks but maybe I’m thinking I might leave them clean and new.

I have been thinking about setting up an engine with a Revo and battery and did it with this one after a consult with Stan C. and several chats with Don S. of RCS.

I put new LED’s in the front and left the stock ones in the rear.

I’m very pleased with how this came out and it looks so good running the rails.

#17

Nice remodel Todd. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#18

It looks great!

#19

At ta boy Todd !

#20

a nice ‘mod’ for your system…