RS-2 or RS-3

[George Lortz]

When the L&N acquired the Monon locomotives #51 - #59, they listed them as Class RS-3 on their roster.  I have also seen photos of the Monon RS-2s in the 50-series listed as RS-3s.  Did the modifications to the 20-series RS-2s to the 50-series RS-2s result in RS-3 locomotives?

George L.

[Steve Dolzall]

Although the Monon RS-2's were up rated to 1600 horsepower (same as a RS-3) they remained RS-2 locomotives.  The L&N locomotive diagram book dated 8/16/71 was revised to include the ex Monon C420's and U23B's but does not include any of the RS-2's which indicates the L&N intended to retire the former Monon RS-2's quite quickly.

Steve

[George Lortz]

Steve,

You are right about the L&Ns use of the Monon RS-2s.  They supposedly renumbered them #260 - #268, but I have only seen photos of #260 (#51) in use on the L&N.  It was retired in 1972, so it worked on the Monon less than two years.   Three of the RS-2s (#52, #54 and #59) were converted to L&N slugs #2063, #2064, and #2065 in 1972 as your book indicates.  I have photos of all three slugs as numbered.

The others (#53, #55, #56, #57 and #58) were probably never used on the L&N and were traded to GE in 1972.  The mystery still is which one became Altos Hornos #143.

George L.

[Steve Dolzall]

George,

I have contacted all my usual informational sources on the Mexican RS-2 and have come up with absolutely nothing. Probably we will never know. The fact also remains that perhaps the locomotive is a combination of several RS-2's with some Monon pieces.

Steve