Just read the article "Tracking Down C&O's Alcos" by J. David Ingles (Classic Trains Spring 2006). The author refers to the 6800's as RSD15's. I guess I'm confused - 6800 through 6811 were originally ordered as RSD7's (sales order #21005 Dec. 19, 1955). Can someone clarify this?
please correct me if i am wrong, but i belive the RSD7's had a MUCH shorter front hood, and a smaller prime mover. i could be wrong, but if memory serves me right, i am correct. -Deano
You're most likely thinking of the differences between a RSD5 and a RSD12... the RSD5 was shorter than the RSD12 (both used 12cyl 244s, though the RSD12s was turbocharged) RSD7s and RSD15s were almost identical (the RSD15 is basically a 16-251 powered RSD7 (they used a 16-244)... Fallen Flags has the PRR drawings of each model... http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?diag=aps-24ms.gif&sel=die&sz=sm&fr=ge http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?diag=as-24m_E456265a.gif&sel=die&sz=sm&fr=ge
Guys,The C&O had RSD12s and RSD15s.. The RSD12 numbers 2007-2016 and 6700-6709 The RSD15 numbers 6800-6811
I thought 6800 through 6811 were RSD7's - did they get re-engined at some point and officially re-classified as RSD15's?
Tim,That seems to be the 64,000 dollar question.I talk to a retired C&O locomotive mechanic and he says the C&O never had RSD15s but the RSD12s.My C&O book calls 'em a RSD15. The only picture I could find after doing a search on the C&OH&TS was pictures of the RSD7s.
5570-5595 were RSD5s, built Mar to July 1952 6800-6811 were RSD7s, built Feb to Apr 1956 6700-6709 were RSD12s, built Apr to May 1956
Just got around to looking through the Summer 2006 issue of Classic Trains. There is a letter from Blair Kooistra in which he states that "It took me 45 years, but I think I finally found a locomotive detail I can correct J. David Ingles on! In "Tracking Down C&O's Alcos" [pages 32-37], he took us to obscure Chesapeake & Ohio terminals and claims to have shot C&O RSD15's. 'Tain't so - I believe these were RSD7's, visually identical to the high-hood version of the RSD15, but sporting 2,400 h.p. 244-series engines." J. David Ingles then goes on to explain the oversight based on some "misinformation" in the Diesel Spotter's Guide which labeled them as RSD15's. Ingles then finishes by stating "So, instead of having the first RSD15's built, C&O had the last RSD7's."
I have those things as RSD7s. Whoever started those written errors in books obviously hadn't heard of of that model. What became of them anyway? I got one as going to GE in the 70s. And I'm missing RSD12s 2012, 2013, 2015. It seems that there isn't much on these locomotives.
Richard Steinbrenner in his book ALCO A Centennial Remembrance has them as RSD-7s built with the 16V-244H engine. They were among the last ALCO units built new with 244 engines.
C&O #6800-6811 were retired circa 9-11/69 and traded to GE on the U23Bs see X2234 p21 note 87. B&O RSD-12s 2011-2015 to GE 1-2/72 on C&O U30Bs see X2233 p22 note 29.
It's this sort of confusion that doesn't help when you're trying to learn diesel identification. How do you tell apart the RSD-7, RSD-12 and RSD-15?
