ALCO RS2 & RS3

Greenwich & Johnsonville

Orange with a black underframe and trucks.

Batten Kill

Hans Kuring captured freshly repainted ALCO RS3 No. 4116 at Delaware & Hudson’s Colonie Shops in Watervliet, New York, on 2 September 1973. Built by ALCO in September 1952 for the Delaware & Hudson, the locomotive had just received its striking Greenwich & Johnsonville orange-and-black livery and would later continue its career on the Batten Kill Railroad. © Houghton’s RailImages
Fresh from the paint shop, Greenwich & Johnsonville ALCO RS3 No. 4116 poses at Greenwich Junction, New York, on 8 October 1973. Built by ALCO in September 1952 as Delaware & Hudson No. 4116, the locomotive had recently received its striking orange-and-black G&J livery, which would become one of the most recognisable short line paint schemes in the Northeast. Photo by George W. Turnbull. © Richard Gassett
Greenwich & Johnsonville ALCO RS3 No. 4116 (ex-Delaware & Hudson) switches the paper mill at Thomson, New York, on 25 July 1974. A string of Delaware & Hudson boxcars trails behind the brightly painted locomotive as it works one of the short line’s principal customers. © Bryan Saul
Greenwich & Johnsonville ALCO RS3 No. 4116 stands at Whitehall, New York, on 17 May 1977. Built by ALCO in September 1952 as Delaware & Hudson No. 4116, the veteran road-switcher wears the short line’s distinctive orange-and-black livery while working alongside its former parent railroad. © Richard W. Jahn
Greenwich & Johnsonville ALCO RS3 No. 4116 stands at Whitehall, New York, on 17 May 1977. Built by ALCO in September 1952 as Delaware & Hudson No. 4116, the veteran road-switcher wears the short line’s distinctive orange-and-black livery while working alongside its former parent railroad. © Richard W. Jahn
Greenwich & Johnsonville ALCO RS3 No. 4116 heads south at Salem Junction, New York, in late spring 1977 while substituting for a Delaware & Hudson Baldwin Shark on the Whitehall–Slatepicker turn. After working the D&H branch, the train would continue onto the G&J’s own line, creating an unusual operating scene. © Jeremy Plant
Greenwich & Johnsonville Railroad ALCO RS3 No. 4116 (ex-Delaware & Hudson No. 4116) heads back towards Greenwich, New York, after switching the Georgia Pacific paper mill at Thomson on 28 July 1977. The locomotive had been repainted into the short line’s distinctive orange-and-black livery following the G&J’s separation from the D&H the previous year. © Bob Graham
Greenwich & Johnsonville ALCO RS3 No. 4116 is paired with Delaware & Hudson No. 5006 as yard power at Mechanicville, New York, on 28 November 1981. Built by ALCO in September 1952 as D&H No. 4116, the veteran road-switcher wears the distinctive orange-and-black Greenwich & Johnsonville livery that it still carries today under Batten Kill Railroad ownership. © Mike Stellpflug
ALCO RS3 No. 4116 stands at Eagle Bridge, New York, on 27 August 1982. Still carrying its former Greenwich & Johnsonville red livery, the locomotive has been patched for its new owner, the Batten Kill Railroad. Built by ALCO in September 1952 as Delaware & Hudson No. 4116, it retained its original number throughout its career. © Roger Durfee
Batten Kill Railroad ALCO RS3 No. 4116 meets a Delaware & Hudson local powered by RS11 No. 5001 at Eagle Bridge, New York, during the spring of 1983. Built by ALCO in September 1952 as Delaware & Hudson No. 4116, the veteran road-switcher still wears its distinctive Greenwich & Johnsonville livery following the formation of the Batten Kill Railroad. © Gordon Smith
Batten Kill Railroad ALCO RS3 No. 4116 rests at Eagle Bridge, New York, on 16 May 1984. Built by ALCO in September 1952 as Delaware & Hudson No. 4116, the locomotive later served the Greenwich & Johnsonville before continuing its career on the Batten Kill, still wearing the distinctive red livery introduced during its G&J days. © Diesel Dave
ClassNo.NotesPhotographs
RS-34116Ex Delaware & Hudson 4116RRPA

Lamoille Valley

ClassNo. Built Serial Liveries Notes Photographs Modelling
RS-37801Mar 195279665Delaware & HudsonRR Picture Archives
RS-3RR Picture Archives
RS-3RR Picture Archives
RS-3RR Picture Archives
RS-3RR Picture Archives
RS-3RR Picture Archives
RS-3RR Picture Archives

Maine Central

The road’s first road switchers.

Maine Central ALCO RS-3s #556 and #557 at Bangor, Maine, on 11 June 1968, flanked by pulpwood cars. © Richard Wallin Collection
Maine Central ALCO RS-2 #553 at Bangor, Maine, captured on 7 February 1970. © Roger Puta
Maine Central RS-2 #554 and companion hard at work in Venzie, ME, June 1973. © K. Landess / TMB Collection
Maine Central ALCO RS-3 #556 photographed in Calais, Maine, in 1973. © Preston Cook
A westbound Maine Central freight (VB-2), led by ALCO RS-3 #556 and an ALCO RS-2, holds the main line to meet its eastbound counterpart (BV-1), powered by EMD GP7 #579 and a companion and photographed at Orono, Maine, on 5 May 1974. © George Pitarys
Maine Central ALCO RS2 #554 sits alongside sister locomotive #553 in Waterville, Maine, July 1976. © Richard Tokarcik
ClassNo.BuiltSerialLiveriesNotesPhotographsModelling
RS-2Scrapped in 1978 after a fire.Feb 194976634Maroon with triple yellow stripes.Turned in on loco 251-262 
RS-2552Feb 194976635Turned in on loco 251-262RR Picture Archives 
RS-2553Feb 194976636Green with triple yellow stripes until at least Feb 1967. Simplified “Switcher Green” by Sep 1971. Sold to Providence & Worcester Dec 1977RR Picture ArchivesJan 2021 Atlas Green & Gold – Standard 40 005 028, DCC 40 005 040.
RS-2554Feb 194976637Switcher Green by March 1968. Green, large number and yellow cab by Aug 1972.Scrapped 1978 after a fire. RR Picture ArchivesJan 2021 Atlas Green & Gold – Standard 40 005 029, DCC 40 005 041.
RS-2555Feb 194976638Switcher Green May 1966.Traded with EMD Dec 1966 for GP38.RR Picture Archives 
RS-3556Dec 195380566Delivered in Green & Yellow Stripes, retained until withdrawal. Scrapped Sep 1975RR Picture Archives 
RS-3557 Dec 1953 80567Delivered in Green & Yellow Stripes, retained until at least Mar 1970. Switcher green by Feb 1972.Sold to Wolfeboro Railroad Dec 1975. Now preserved at the Railroad Museum of New England.RR Picture Archives 
RS-346678264Ex Rock Island Railroad in 1966.RR Picture Archives
RS-3469195078291Rock Island RedEx Rock Island Railroad in 1966. Turned in on loco 263RR Picture Archives 

Rutland

ClassNo.BuiltSerialLiveriesNotesPhotographsModelling
RS-320178594RR Picture Archives
RS-320278880RR Picture Archives
RS-320378881RR Picture Archives
RS-320478882RR Picture Archives
RS-320580155RR Picture Archives
RS-3206RR Picture Archives
RS-320780157RR Picture Archives
RS-320880158s
RS-2401Mar 195179350RR Picture Archives

Modelling

Life-Like 75121 Boston & Maine 1501, Life-Like 75122 Boston & Maine 1504 could be rebranded as Maine Central 551?

More Information

  • Melvin, George F. Maine Central in Color Volume 3. Morning Sun Books, 2008, p.10.