VINTAGE ALCO RSD1 (OERM 1956) Startup and MORE at the Southern California Railway Museum

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit the Southern California Railway Museum (formerly the Orange Empire Railway Museum). Originally, interurban car PE 418 was supposed to run, but it was damaged in an unspecified accident weeks before and was still being repaired. The museum substituted it with OERM 1956, an ALCO RSD-1 from the early 1940s. See a 1939 EMC SW1 in action, a snapshot of Southern California transit history, and more! Watch the video to learn more about these pieces of living railroad history!

A bit more on the intriguing history of the ALCO RSD-1:

OERM 1956 was originally built in April of 1941 as an RS-1 for the Tennessee Coal and Iron Railroad Co. (TCI 601), but was never delivered in its intended configuration. It was the beginning of WWII and the U.S. was looking to aid the USSR in their battle to fend off Nazi Germany by strengthening supply chains to the Eastern Front. In other words, the U.S. was going to supply additional locomotives to help transport goods to and from the USSR. The U.S. Army Transportation Corps requisitioned the first 13 ALCO RS-1's ever built (this one included) and rebuilt them as RSD-1's by 1942. This meant swapping 2-axle trucks for 3-axle ones with better weight distribution and higher tractive effort for service on poorly maintained track through rugged terrain. Additionally, the cab walls were sloped inwards so the locomotives would fit through tighter European clearances.

In December of 1942, TCI 601 became USA 8009. The locomotive was shipped to Iran to work the challenging terrain of the spectacular Trans-Iranian Railway, shuttling war materials to and from the USSR. OERM 1975, SCRM's other RSD-1, was purpose-built for the U.S. Army as USA 8018 and soon joined 8009 in Iran. It is currently out of service with wheel bearing issues. Most RSD-1's that were sent overseas were returned to the U.S. at the end of the war and lived out the rest of their careers on various military bases.

[chrisbaldwin]

418 wasn't involved in an accident or anything spectacular. There was a de-wire event where the pole came off the wire and was twisted, so the train had to return to the shop to have the pole repaired. This kept it from running that day. That's all that happened, no accident or damage to the car. The Electric Car crew had it repaired promptly the next day. Come see us again soon! -Chris Baldwin, SCRM Assistant Division Manager - Maintenance

[antonbruce]

ANy train fan who comes to So Cal and misses the Orange Empire Museum in Hemet...has missed the beat of So Cal...