Alco’s RS-3 was a 1,600-hp road switcher introduced in May 1950. The prototypes were dual-service engines. Alco built 1,265 RS-3s for American railroads, 98 for Canadian customers, and 7 for Mexican lines. Many of these units remained in use for more than 50 years.
This Trainman series model is more Spartan in its detailing than the premium Atlas O locomotives, but still looks good. It has a molded plastic body and cab with factory applied wire grab irons, handrails, and metal stanchions. The lengthwise stack represents an RS-3 with Alco’s original air-cooled turbocharger. A three-bladed fan is visible inside the upper radiator housing’s etched-metal grill.
Our two-rail DC sample has fixed pilots. The same detail parts are used on three-rail units with swinging pilots, so the vertical corner railings are short – they should reach the second step from the bottom.
The model rides on well-detailed die-cast Association of American Railroads type B trucks with separately applied bearing caps, brake cylinders, and other details. It has properly gauged and blackened nickel silver National Model Railroad Association RP-25 contour wheelsets. Each motor drives an outboard axle, and five spur gears transmit the rotation to the second axle on each truck.
Two wiring harnesses with sockets that connect to a DCC decoder are included with the model. Both harnesses have color-coded wiring that matches the NMRA Recommended Practice 9.1.1 color coding. A heavy-duty decoder is required, as the mechanism draws up to 6A of current.
The model’s 17-ounce drawbar pull is equivalent to 51 free-rolling cars on straight and level track.
Scale die-cast magnetic knuckle couplers are mounted at the proper height on both ends and are compatible with Kadee couplers. The metal couplers have insulated coupler boxes.
Our sample came smoothly painted in Rock Island’s late 1960s color scheme. All of the lettering is crisp and opaque.
These versatile units operated on railroads all over North America. O scale modelers of the first-generation diesel era will enjoy this well-done RS-3 model.
Price: two-rail DC, $229.95; three-rail AC, $369.95
Manufacturer
Atlas O
378 Florence Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205-1799
www.atlasO.com
Description: Ready-to-run plastic-and-metal diesel
Road names: (Two road numbers each) Delaware & Hudson, Great Northern, Reading, and Rock Island
Cab window glazing
Die-cast metal magnetic
scale knuckle couplers
Drawbar pull: 17 ounces
Dual motors and flywheels
Eight-wheel drive and electrical pickup
Minimum radius, 36″
Wiring harnesses for Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder installation
Weight: 3 pounds 5 ounces
I used to love athearn engines but after buying one Atlas engine I was hooked. Their slow starting speed,quiet running and great pulling power is truly impressive as well as the beautiful detail. they are well worth the investment! Frank Walton Fishkill, N.Y.
I have the Atlas Gp15 in 2 rail. If this is anything like it, it should be a very nice loco. I found that adding some additional detail parts really helps bring the loco closer to THE Atlas Gols series. I do wish that Atlas would revert bact to the single, center mount motor, however, as slow speed control on a switching layout is important.
Dick Donaway
As a 2-rail O scaler, I encourage Atlas to reconsider its decision to build locomotives with such high speeds, high minimum sustained speeds and unrealistic spacing between the body and the trucks. I know these features are concessions to enable 3-rail operation and, thanks to 3 railers, we 2 railers now have more equipment available. Nonetheless, I wonder if even 3-rail operators interested in realistic locos would prefer locos that operate more relatiscally. If so, this ought to be a win-win situation. The trend to twin motor diesels by Atlas, Weaver and others has not been good for 2 railers.