my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996	Search this site or the web powered by FreeFind Site search Web search

my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

Cotton Belt RSD15 (DL600B)

delivered as SSW 850 - 859 in 1960

renumbered 5150 - 5159 in 1965

10 units delivered

850	851	852	853	854	855	856	857	858	859
850	851	852	853	854	855	856	857	858	859

5150	5151	5152	5153	5154	5155	5156	5157	5158	5159
5150	5151	5152	5153	5154	5155	5156	5157	5158	5159


date, location and photgrapher unknown from the collection of Gary Cox.

The Cotton Belt's ten units were, evidently, just as troublesome as SP's. While the electricals were fairly robust, the 251 engine was a little fragile, as well the radiator could not cope well with hot weather. Cotton Belt often set these units aside, and they were retired after nearly 12 years of service. According to Strapac's "Cotton Belt Locomotives" the SSW RSD15's had the shortest life of any diesel model on the SSW Roster.

On the SP these units gained the nickname "Alligator", not hard to figure why, looking at the length of the nose in the photo above...

References:

SP Dieselization by Garmany - Chapter 13 has photos.
Cotton Belt Locomotives by Joe Strapac - page 204.
SP Historic Diesels Vol.8 Alco Roadswitcher Locomotives by Joe Strapac

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		This document prepared and maintained by Richard.A.Percy. All Corrections, Additions and Flames should be aimed at Richard Percy espee@railfan.net This document © 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. Richard.A.Percy

14/12/2006