estoniaman It's an Alco in all but name. Copied and built in Russia and improved from a 6 cylinder engine to a 8 cylinder inline engine rated a 1200 horsepower. I'd love to see about 50 or more imported into the U S. There are lots of them running all over the former East Bloc countries so parts must still be available. Often wondered if the parts for the Russian copy would fit a American production 539 engine. And there all 6 axle 6 motor locomotives.
That's an original Alco,you can tell how fast he was able to start it right after entering the cab and the unique sound the turbo makes on the cold start...excellent video!!. No draining the cylinders BEFORE startup.This is a EMD requirement.
αиσиумσυѕ James Normally you don't but on a cold day, you might have to open the test ports on 3 of the 6. And deactivate those three injection pumps too. If it has been sitting for a long time, it is a good idea to open all of them to make sure the cylinders are clear. They do leak water into them at times and a hydraulic lock will ruin your day.
There's an old Alco down around Sheridan, OR I'd love to see restored. My father remembers the exact same loco being used to haul lumber from the mills back in the late 50's and through the 60's. Last I saw it... in '02... it was still doing it.
In the past, we had early series ТЭМ2 shunter in our station (Piriatin, Ploltava region, Ukraine), and it sounds and smokes very same) Later I read about Alco, which was common Base for ТЭ1, ТЭ2, ТЭМ1, ТЭМ2 locomotoves, and Д50, ПД1 engines.
Like others said, music to your ears for those of us that appreciate the old alcos. Yes they all had little tweaks here and there but these are real brutes. They'll take a beating in the short time rating all day long while all the new fangled electronic controlled BS cuts out or derates or just flat gives up and catches on fire. Say what you will naysayers, they may not have all the HP and creature comforts but these beauties were built to last.
***** Yes, for the ones that could/can maintain them they are almost bullet proof. I really enjoy them all. They (all models) just have that look to them that says "rock solid"!
I don't know if it's true with locomotive engines, but semi truck engines will, on a cold start, get up to idle speed, then revert to firing on only three of its six cylinders, in order to make the engine work harder, to warm up faster. Yes, you get lots of unburned diesel fuel, and lots of smoke! Nice video, and nice catch!
Never heard of such a thing, the engine runs on all six after it starts. If it’s only running on 3, then there’s only half the heat being made and it takes longer to warm up, plus the only way something like that could even be done is with EFI. An EFI engine can go into high idle for faster warm up in cold weather because a computer is controlling the engine speed. My Duramax does just that below about 35*F, it runs slow until the oil is well circulated then after about 3 minutes the ECM speeds the engine up from 700 RPM to about 1200 until it’s warm or is put in gear to drive.
Oh hey, an RSM-1! What a surprise! I’m actually building an HO scale model of one right now. It’s going to look similar to 8652, but with different trucks.
You know the engine is really cold when you have to open up three of the cylinder cocks and kill 3 of the injector pumps to get one running. Once it cranks, if the exhaust barely makes it out the stack, falls on the hood, rolls onto the walkways, and off onto the ground, then you know its cold. Then you get to start closing the cocks and putting the injector pumps cutouts back in.
gravelydon I helped the engine house forces restart an S-2 switcher that had died in February 1974 ran out of fuel. Showed up to use it and when I tried cranking it over with three cylinders cut out and open cocks still needed a jump start from another S-2 after they refilled the fuel tank with the fuel truck.took just over a 90 seconds of cranking before one cylinder fired and another 30 seconds or so before I could let go of the starter button with the throttle at half throttle. Then closed the three open cocks and kicked in the injector pumps one at a time 45 minutes or so was running smoothly on all 6 but didn't get any heat until I tied onto 30 loads of stone to make up a westbound freight. By the time I got a stop signal over the radio I was at 170 degrees and had plenty of heat but it was another hour before everything in the cab warmed up to a comfortable level in the cab. Most of the Alco S switchers were built during WW II and it is a testament to the design and men who built them on the fact there are so many still running today.
1000 horsepower for traction,probably 1300 at the crankshaft. The other 300 horsepower being used for driving the compressor and other auxiallary devices.The six cylinder engine came in two types non-turbo and turbo.The non-turbo delivered 600 horsepower for traction and the turbo 1000 for traction. For example the Alco S1 600hp and the Alco S2 1000hp yet look at the loco's from the outside they are all most the same.
Reflex Photography NZ..... Starts a heck of a lot easier than most all British locomotive diesels I've ever witnessed.... at least the older ones from the same time era as this Alco. The British locomotive diesels of the era were some of the finest examples of complete overly complicated engine wizardry I've ever laid eyes on, Barr None!! lol ; )
It is due to mass of the motor one fire has enough power to speed up the motor enough that the one or more combustion cycles after have little to do causing the note to change. when forward is selected it often loads the motor enough to fire on every combustion cycle.
ALCO 539T engine idle 275 rpm full throttle 740 rpm 12-3/4 inch bore by 13 inch stroke. Used to run one from first street Yard South Boston NHRR out to Andrew Square yard present Amtrak yard and shop Boston. Pull 25 or more loads from first st Due to heavily clogged radiator cores engine would run hot by the time you pulled into Andrew yard halfway down the lead reduce throttle to One half the put reverser into neutral keep throttle at one half till engine cooled down to 160 or so then close throttle to idle. If coolant was over 180 or higher would shut down if you went to idle hence the half throttle position 99% S-2/4 and on rare occasions one Alco HH-600 with a 531 engine would be our power for the day. I was 15 at the time 1965, Only thing I regret was an old passenger engine sitting in the dead line. After they Conrail scrapped did I discover it was the last DL-109 left and was completely intact but hadn't run in years! I believe it was scrapped in 1974.
James Shanks.... I believe you and I are the same age.... and from the same area, originally. I had a couple of my uncles that were train crew on the NHRR as well.... in that same time period. Definitely a crying shame about that DL-109!!.... some railroads just have No heart and No shame!
@251CE well i am not sure on the internals of the class 48 but the RS1 is a different model.the class 48 in my opinon from what i've seen is simular to an (Alco RSX4)or (MR412) both powered with the 251F and rode on simular trucks to the class 48.the RSX4 & MR412 were two models and were only built for war time..during the War both Alco and EMD made them in the same car body but EMD used the 567 in theres.i think the RS1 and the RSC3 are all simular to the class 40 becuase of the A1A trucks/cabs
@251CE RSD1 sorry for the typo...they all ride on the A1A truck design and the way the cabs are shaped is identical...but horsepower differs from the models but one thing is for sure u got to love the sound of the 251..up in scranton Pa there are a fleet of RS3...M636's and i think a few others and they roar like crazy..nothing like a 4 cycle engine..btw can u tell me more about the class 48?
EMDSD14R The Alco RSD-1 is a 6 axle 6 motor locomotive built to operate on European railroads which have tighter clearances the railroads in the US. The truck were designed to be field adjustable from 5 foot Russian gauge all the way down to 3 foot track gauge" the were specially designed for the US Army for service overseas. When Stalin was enroute to meet with Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt if I remember correctly in Malta Stalins train was hauled by a lend-lease Alco RSD-1. Stalin was so impressed with the reliability of the engine he ordered it copied. This resulted in the locomotive first produced in 1946. Class TEM-1-20 was the result of Stalins order which as the Russians improved on the design became the TEM-2. Look up the TEM-2 on TH-cam if you like 539 Alco power or an SM48.
The white vapour is un-burnt diesel fuel. As the engine is not warm, some of the exhaust valves will blow by, and those cylinders will not fire. Sometimes hot gas from the cylinders that are firing, ignite the vapour and flames shoot from the exhaust port.
What I'm wondering is why they don't cut out the cold cylinders until it warms up a bit. You can do that on a 539 engine to reduce the smoking. Turbo sounds real good on her though!
As far as I know, Detroit series 60 did this for a few years only, more to save fuel at idle. It was a very limited time and they have been programed to not do it now. I know of no other domestic diesels that did this.
Sounds a bit like some of the Soviet era diesel engines that are still around. I do miss the sound of the old MLW FPA4s - essentially BB versions of PA’s. Nothing like hearing them accelerate uphill from a signal stop with 8 or more coaches behind.
The last DL-109 left imagine if she had been saved and rebuilt NH's DL-109 were used for passenger by day and hauled freight at night they even leased some to Bangor & Aroostic Railroad Back in the mid 50's to haul potatoes during their rush the B&A was all EMD imagine the shop and engine crews With those units.
Why do big diesels make that inconsistent thudding sound? I'm not talking about the misfires because it's cold but it seems like switcher locomotives and other small locomotive don't have a constant sound as if the combustion isn't consistent but I think it's just because of beat waves or something among the cylinders?
Where was this built? My city (Dunkirk NY) had an Alco plant which closed, I believe in the early 60's. We have a refurbished engine at our Fairgrounds, but don't know the model.
awsome sound!! :) i spesialy like the TURBO hwind, when the engine is ideling.. :P how many sylinders, liters, is it an in-line ore a V engine. thanks 4 answers. :)
Ah. The North Alabama Railroad Museum, Basically up in Huntsville. Haven't been there before, but I can tell you that I've had some family members been there.
Is it/was it common to start on a limited number of cylinders in cold weather, then close compression releases once things get rolling? That is an old crewboat/tugboat trick. I did it on a 645 EMD on accident once. Engine started really well with only one bank running and the other shooting soot and what looked like actual fire. Set off smoke alarms galore of course.
Classic Alco, rhythmic and smokey, A Diesel with the soul of a steam engine.
They rightfully earned the Title of honorary Steam Engines
The most beautiful sound in all of railroading. Nothing sounds like an ALCO 539T; thanks for posting!
Actually the British Rail class 20, 37 and 40 locomotives sound quite a lot like ALCOs. Very similar turbo sound.
Boy ALCO knew how to build em !! Good old Schenectady know how !! Used to live 15 minutes from where she was built
You can't beat the sound of an Alco
ТЭМ2 могёт.
tramwayz
TEM2 basically is an ALCo :D
estoniaman
It's an Alco in all but name. Copied and built in Russia and improved from a 6 cylinder engine to a 8 cylinder inline engine rated a 1200 horsepower. I'd love to see about 50 or more imported into the U S. There are lots of them running all over the former East Bloc countries so parts must still be available. Often wondered if the parts for the Russian copy would fit a American production 539 engine.
And there all 6 axle 6 motor locomotives.
That is right.
Nope. EMD 16-645-E3 (SD40-2). Sounds just like a gigantic automotive V8.
That turbo is godlike.
Yes it is godlike
Indeed it is :)
@@Agent_tx_tigeryes yes it is. I have been brakeman on this engine multiple times.
Aaaahhhhhhhh...... I love the smell of diesel in the morning!
Thanks for posting the vid!
That's an original Alco,you can tell how fast he was able to start it right after entering the cab and the unique sound the turbo makes on the cold start...excellent video!!. No draining the cylinders BEFORE startup.This is a EMD requirement.
That legendary turbo spool.
I agree
MrMjsmith626 This isn't a EMD locomotive This engine was made By Alco. So there are no Draining cylinder requirement
αиσиумσυѕ James That's what MrMjsmith626 said
αиσиумσυѕ James Normally you don't but on a cold day, you might have to open the test ports on 3 of the 6. And deactivate those three injection pumps too. If it has been sitting for a long time, it is a good idea to open all of them to make sure the cylinders are clear. They do leak water into them at times and a hydraulic lock will ruin your day.
Love it!Just like and ALCO should be.Cold or warm day,still nice and smoky.Long live ALCO,s.And great shot too.
Música para mis oídos!
There's an old Alco down around Sheridan, OR I'd love to see restored. My father remembers the exact same loco being used to haul lumber from the mills back in the late 50's and through the 60's. Last I saw it... in '02... it was still doing it.
Ah Nothing like an Alco coldstart to get your day going, Great catch!
SWEEEEET!!! Some Alcos always wanted to be steam engines, looks like this is one of them.
In the past, we had early series ТЭМ2 shunter in our station (Piriatin, Ploltava region, Ukraine), and it sounds and smokes very same) Later I read about Alco, which was common Base for ТЭ1, ТЭ2, ТЭМ1, ТЭМ2 locomotoves, and Д50, ПД1 engines.
Like others said, music to your ears for those of us that appreciate the old alcos. Yes they all had little tweaks here and there but these are real brutes. They'll take a beating in the short time rating all day long while all the new fangled electronic controlled BS cuts out or derates or just flat gives up and catches on fire. Say what you will naysayers, they may not have all the HP and creature comforts but these beauties were built to last.
Mark Reardon 539s are always nice to hear running.
***** Yes, for the ones that could/can maintain them they are almost bullet proof. I really enjoy them all. They (all models) just have that look to them that says "rock solid"!
A properly wired and tuned 244 is nice to hear also. But making a new wiring harness for an RS-3 is a pain.
Mechanical simplicity that just WORKED!
L'on ça nepolluePAS!!!!
....and she wakes up with that asthmatic wheeze all Alcophiles die for!
+James Pendergrass that is NOT a she it's an it
+Thomas Ninan Go be politically correct somewhere else....
Rebel N. Coltrane amen!!
@@thomasninan947 if the locomotive identifies as a "she" who are you to tell her she's an "it"
Ah, gotta love ALCO 539's! Nice one sounds just like our ALCO
One reason why I love ALCO's !
The way the turbo pulses reminds me of a C-130 Hercules sounds like when the engines start
Wow alco is a excellent engine i love these alcos i wish i had a alco
@scobrown1 it does make loud hammering noises when it idles even when it's warm but not near as violently as it does when cold
Love the sounds ALCOs make!
Love hearing the old girl turnover! Great video!
Love the sound of a old alco!
Doesn't get any better than this. Old Alco RS units rock on in daily use for some 70 years.😊
...best cold start on youtube...chug...chug...chug...turbo screamin'...gotta luv it...
i can almost watch every cold start train.
love the 539's, we would warm ours 30 min at least before installing block heat(the way to go if you want to save money)
I don't know if it's true with locomotive engines, but semi truck engines will, on a cold start, get up to idle speed, then revert to firing on only three of its six cylinders, in order to make the engine work harder, to warm up faster. Yes, you get lots of unburned diesel fuel, and lots of smoke! Nice video, and nice catch!
What?
@@gregoryhodge9452 To what are you saying "what"?
Never heard of such a thing, the engine runs on all six after it starts. If it’s only running on 3, then there’s only half the heat being made and it takes longer to warm up, plus the only way something like that could even be done is with EFI. An EFI engine can go into high idle for faster warm up in cold weather because a computer is controlling the engine speed.
My Duramax does just that below about 35*F, it runs slow until the oil is well circulated then after about 3 minutes the ECM speeds the engine up from 700 RPM to about 1200 until it’s warm or is put in gear to drive.
Oh hey, an RSM-1! What a surprise! I’m actually building an HO scale model of one right now. It’s going to look similar to 8652, but with different trucks.
Fantastic train video. Greetings Joe 😊
I ran lots of alcos on the BCRAIL
You know the engine is really cold when you have to open up three of the cylinder cocks and kill 3 of the injector pumps to get one running. Once it cranks, if the exhaust barely makes it out the stack, falls on the hood, rolls onto the walkways, and off onto the ground, then you know its cold. Then you get to start closing the cocks and putting the injector pumps cutouts back in.
gravelydon
I helped the engine house forces restart an S-2 switcher that had died in February 1974 ran out of fuel. Showed up to use it and when I tried cranking it over with three cylinders cut out and open cocks still needed a jump start from another S-2 after they refilled the fuel tank with the fuel truck.took just over a 90 seconds of cranking before one cylinder fired and another 30 seconds or so before I could let go of the starter button with the throttle at half throttle. Then closed the three open cocks and kicked in the injector pumps one at a time 45 minutes or so was running smoothly on all 6 but didn't get any heat until I tied onto 30 loads of stone to make up a westbound freight. By the time I got a stop signal over the radio I was at 170 degrees and had plenty of heat but it was another hour before everything in the cab warmed up to a comfortable level in the cab.
Most of the Alco S switchers were built during WW II and it is a testament to the design and men who built them on the fact there are so many still running today.
Im a professional skydiver and I go on TH-cam for videos like this. Thank you. Train woody!!!
The sweet sound of reliability.
1000 horsepower for traction,probably 1300 at the crankshaft.
The other 300 horsepower being used for driving the compressor and other auxiallary devices.The six cylinder engine came in two types non-turbo and turbo.The non-turbo delivered 600 horsepower for traction and the turbo 1000 for traction.
For example the Alco S1 600hp and the Alco S2 1000hp yet look at the loco's from the outside they are all most the same.
beautiful noises !!!...I love it !!!
Clags like an old British diesel. Old school engineering at its finest
Reflex Photography NZ..... Starts a heck of a lot easier than most all British locomotive diesels I've ever witnessed.... at least the older ones from the same time era as this Alco. The British locomotive diesels of the era were some of the finest examples of complete overly complicated engine wizardry I've ever laid eyes on, Barr None!! lol ; )
@@Romans--bo7br That opposed piston jigsaw puzzle.
@@Romans--bo7br this locomotive is older than all British diesels. (Excluding the early shunters)
class 37 thrash 👌
I love trains I live by a railroad track I see them everday
Beeeeutiful.Long may they run.
Ich liebe es wenn ein Groß Diesel gestartet wird und der Turbo langsam Hochläuft.
Daumen hoch für Große Diesel Motoren.
Ahhh, music to my ears!
Bet she runs like a dream once she warms up.
....great sound.... calling bullshit on the "cold winter morning" part LOL! From Wisconsin here... We'd still be golfing in that type of weather!!!
Exactly my thought lol cheers from New York.
So AWESOME! Love the dirty diesel.
It is due to mass of the motor one fire has enough power to speed up the motor enough that the one or more combustion cycles after have little to do causing the note to change.
when forward is selected it often loads the motor enough to fire on every combustion cycle.
ALCO 539T engine idle 275 rpm full throttle 740 rpm 12-3/4 inch bore by 13 inch stroke. Used to run one from first street
Yard South Boston NHRR out to Andrew Square yard present Amtrak yard and shop Boston. Pull 25 or more loads from first st
Due to heavily clogged radiator cores engine would run hot by the time you pulled into Andrew yard halfway down the lead reduce throttle to
One half the put reverser into neutral keep throttle at one half till engine cooled down to 160 or so then close throttle to idle. If coolant was over
180 or higher would shut down if you went to idle hence the half throttle position
99% S-2/4 and on rare occasions one Alco HH-600 with a 531 engine would be our power for the day. I was 15 at the time 1965,
Only thing I regret was an old passenger engine sitting in the dead line. After they Conrail scrapped did I discover it was the last
DL-109 left and was completely intact but hadn't run in years! I believe it was scrapped in 1974.
James Shanks.... I believe you and I are the same age.... and from the same area, originally. I had a couple of my uncles that were train crew on the NHRR as well.... in that same time period. Definitely a crying shame about that DL-109!!.... some railroads just have No heart and No shame!
best listened to with good headphones loudly!!
Love that sound!
I can't get over how similar this sounds to an english electric engine. It even smokes like one from a cold start.... NICE!!!
@251CE well i am not sure on the internals of the class 48 but the RS1 is a different model.the class 48 in my opinon from what i've seen is simular to an (Alco RSX4)or (MR412) both powered with the 251F and rode on simular trucks to the class 48.the RSX4 & MR412 were two models and were only built for war time..during the War both Alco and EMD made them in the same car body but EMD used the 567 in theres.i think the RS1 and the RSC3 are all simular to the class 40 becuase of the A1A trucks/cabs
@251CE RSD1 sorry for the typo...they all ride on the A1A truck design and the way the cabs are shaped is identical...but horsepower differs from the models but one thing is for sure u got to love the sound of the 251..up in scranton Pa there are a fleet of RS3...M636's and i think a few others and they roar like crazy..nothing like a 4 cycle engine..btw can u tell me more about the class 48?
EMDSD14R
The Alco RSD-1 is a 6 axle 6 motor locomotive built to operate on European railroads which have tighter clearances the railroads in the US. The truck were designed to be field adjustable from 5 foot Russian gauge all the way down to 3 foot track gauge" the were specially designed for the US Army for service overseas.
When Stalin was enroute to meet with Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt if I remember correctly in Malta Stalins train was hauled by a lend-lease Alco RSD-1. Stalin was so impressed with the reliability of the engine he ordered it copied. This resulted in the locomotive first produced in 1946. Class TEM-1-20 was the result of Stalins order which as the Russians improved on the design became the TEM-2.
Look up the TEM-2 on TH-cam if you like 539 Alco power or an SM48.
The white vapour is un-burnt diesel fuel. As the engine is not warm, some of the exhaust valves will blow by, and those cylinders will not fire. Sometimes hot gas from the cylinders that are firing, ignite the vapour and flames shoot from the exhaust port.
You can't beat the clunky, basey sound of an ALCo! Only about 1000 horse power but takes a licking and keeps on ticking!
Streamlined Steamroller so, your 2017 veyron needs a W16 to get 1000 horsepower? How cute!
Model 539T 1000 BHP turbocharged (Elliott built Busch designed) straight 6, 4 stroke engine putting out the signature ALCO smoke
What I'm wondering is why they don't cut out the cold cylinders until it warms up a bit. You can do that on a 539 engine to reduce the smoking. Turbo sounds real good on her though!
Now that a typical ALCO sound.
A favorite work horse of THE NEW HAVEN RR
As far as I know, Detroit series 60 did this for a few years only, more to save fuel at idle. It was a very limited time and they have been programed to not do it now. I know of no other domestic diesels that did this.
Yes, it is Dunkirk, NY. You must have been in Pa then, maybe Warren?
i like the video and i like the sound of the locomotive
Sounds a bit like some of the Soviet era diesel engines that are still around. I do miss the sound of the old MLW FPA4s - essentially BB versions of PA’s. Nothing like hearing them accelerate uphill from a signal stop with 8 or more coaches behind.
I subscribed. Joe's train world videos 😀😀😀😀
Yep. That's an old alco for sure. man those things are a pain on cold days...but once they start pulling....look out!
Love the chugging sounds it makes!
Ooooh, that turbo whistle!
Good Job.
Impressive. Thanks for sharing. Joe
great sound
@251CE Those are equipped with Swiss made Buchi turbochargers. They're about 2 feet in diameter!
Espectacular. Muchas gracias.
I wish our RS-1 could sound like this. It currently runs on 5 cylinders and no turbo.
Absolutely AWESOME, man!
I love it old school diesel.
You ain't heard nothing until you start one of those things with an air starter. First time I ever did that it scared me out of a years growth....
The last DL-109 left imagine if she had been saved and rebuilt NH's DL-109 were
used for passenger by day and hauled freight at night they even leased some to Bangor & Aroostic Railroad
Back in the mid 50's to haul potatoes during their rush the B&A was all EMD imagine the shop and engine crews
With those units.
Great video
nice cold start
Really sounds similar to an English Electric Class 20 starting up.
Great beat!
Fantastic.
Very good !
Why do big diesels make that inconsistent thudding sound? I'm not talking about the misfires because it's cold but it seems like switcher locomotives and other small locomotive don't have a constant sound as if the combustion isn't consistent but I think it's just because of beat waves or something among the cylinders?
Where was this built? My city (Dunkirk NY) had an Alco plant which closed, I believe in the early 60's. We have a refurbished engine at our Fairgrounds, but don't know the model.
How cold can it be? The trees are green.
awsome sound!! :) i spesialy like the TURBO hwind, when the engine is ideling.. :P how many sylinders, liters, is it an in-line ore a V engine. thanks 4 answers. :)
Alco as melhores!!!
great old machine
0:38 Best industrial sound.
Wonderful......
Ah. The North Alabama Railroad Museum, Basically up in Huntsville. Haven't been there before, but I can tell you that I've had some family members been there.
what's a nice sound...
Great! Thanks for sharing.
excellent chugging sound.....
Is it/was it common to start on a limited number of cylinders in cold weather, then close compression releases once things get rolling? That is an old crewboat/tugboat trick. I did it on a 645 EMD on accident once. Engine started really well with only one bank running and the other shooting soot and what looked like actual fire. Set off smoke alarms galore of course.
Super!
The last steamers..... I saw 1 in a railyard with a steam generator, paired up with an sd-40
Turbo whine and clag. It don't get better than that.
Wait, does that have a Vulcan Foundry engine like the British Rail Class 40?! Because it sounds EXACTLY like one!
This has a 539T prime mover in it
nice video like
Great sound Borenkd, sounds like the British railways Class 40. Has that same whistle sound to it. TH-cam BR Class 40, sure you will agree.