builder..
model.. builder number.. built.. wheel arrangement.. horsepower.. prime mover.. operational weight.. starting tractive effort.. length.. width.. wheelbase..
AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE CO
RS-1 77171
October 1949 B-B 1000 hp Alco 539-6 cyl turbo 247 400 lbs 61 850 lbs 54 ft 11 in 9 ft 11 in 49 ft 8 in
RS1 747 (and sister 746), arrived in California in 1970, having been built for the Spokane International Railroad
as its number 205 in 1949. The Union Pacific purchased the SI in 1958 and integrated its motive power fleet, renumbered the 207 to UP 1216. By the late 1960's, the old Alcos were deemed surplus as newer power came to the UP. The Tidewater, having replaced its small fleet of GE switchers with Alco S2s, found it needed more motive power and the RS1s and their 1000 horsepower were a good fit. In a bit of irony, they were pressed into service still wearing their UP colors, with only the addition of TS name and numbers in matching red. This break from standard WP family image was an omen of things to come. By early 1972, the 747 was wearing WP regulation Perlman Green.
The 747 worked alongside sister 746 and S2 second 745 for five years. Unlike the 746, it seems to have rarely ever gone off-line to aid WP subsidiaries Like most other TS power after the 1950's, the 747 received a pistol grip controlled spotlight mounted on its cab roof. While sister 746 quickly
received a WP standard Nathan M5 air horn (likely an M5R24), the 747 sported a 3 chime horn during its entire TS career. This horn was probably applied by the UP or perhaps even dated from its Spokane International days.
Tidewater Southern Railway
Alco RS1 747
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