Introduction

Bowser 24655 HO Scale ALCo RS-3 Diesel Green Bay & Western GBW 307

The post war years saw the rapid escalation of competition in the diesel locomotive market between the traditional steam locomotive builders and EMD. While EMD had an initial leg up due to wartime restrictions, the steam builders would not go quietly. The early 1950’s saw ALCo, Baldwin & Fairbanks-Morse offering designs to compete with the ground breaking EMD GP7.

ALCo introduced the RS-3 in 1950. It included an upgraded ALCo 12 cylinder 244 prime mover with 1600 horsepower which proved to be more reliable than the earlier version in the RS-1 & RS-2. The body was a refinement of the RS-2 with more streamlining.

Railroads found the RS-3 to be a versatile and reliable road switcher with good looks. A number of railroads adapted this model for passenger use because of the streamlined appearance. In terms of sales, the RS-3 was the high water mark for ALCo in the diesel era with a total of 1418 built by ALCo and Montreal Locomotives Works between 1950 and 1956.

The ALCo RS-3 would go on to serve for decades based on its reputation for reliability and versatility. Sold and resold, these units have been seen all across North America. Even today examples of this locomotive remain in service, more than sixty years after they were built.

Bowser HO Scale ready-to-run Alco RS3 diesels are based on popular road switchers constructed by the American Locomotive Co. between 1950 and 1956. With over 1,400 built for railroads in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and other countries, the long-lived diesels were popular and even in 2022 a few are in regular freight service for U.S. shortlines, while others are in preserved in museums.

FEATURES:

• Ready to Run
• Accurate, railroad-specific and era-specific body variations
• Applied details and a smooth-running drive with can motor
• Flywheels
• Nickel silver wheels with RP25 flanges and knuckle couplers