Athearn 28780 - ALCo RS-3 w/ DCC and Sound Burlington Northern (BN) 4056 - HO Scale

BN FEATURES:

• Nathan M-3 horn
• Firecracker antenna
• Late style pilots
• Long hood-forward operation
• Western-Cullen beacon; working flash effect on DCC+sound versions

BN’s roster of RS-3s came courtesy of the SP&S and NP (along with two former GN units which had been sold to the SP&S in 1959). Being 20+ years old at the time of the merger, their time on the roster was relatively short, but many units did last long enough to get a coat of “Cascade Green”.

RS-3 LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Metal grab irons
• Large or small fuel tank per prototype
• Fine scale handrails
• McHenry® scale knuckle couplers - Kadee® compatible
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
• See through etched metal radiator fan
• See through cab windows
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology
• Improved 5-pole skew wound can motor with flywheels and multi-link drivetrain for with 21-pin NEM connector trouble-free operation
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• Window packaging for easy viewing
• Highly-detailed, injection molded body
• Painted and printed for realistic decoration
• Fully assembled and ready-to-run
• Interior plastic blister safely holds the model for convenient storage
• Minimum radius: 18”

NEW FEATURES:

• Newly designed can motor is more powerful and quieter than before
• DCC-ready models feature 21-pin plug
• DCC & sound models feature Tsunami2 sound with cube speaker
• LED lighting for long life and reliable operation

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard Tsunami2 DCC/Sound decoder
• Cube speaker for optimal sound quality
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC
• Some functions are limited in DC
• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
• Operating lighting functions with F5 and/or F6 (Flashing ditch lights, beacon, etc)

PROTOTYPE AND BACKGROUND INFO:

ALCO built the RS-3 to respond to competition with EMD, Fairbanks-Morse, and Baldwin Locomotive Works. In the case of ALCO, the builder added more improvements to create new locomotive lines beyond the RS-2. ALCO produced 377 RS-2s versus the more successful RS-3s at 1,418.

The new model produced slightly more horsepower than the earlier design at 1,600 hp using Alco’s 12-cylinder, model 244 prime mover. Visually, the RS3 was very similar to the RS2. Both had much more styling then ALCO’s first diesel, the RS1. Additional curves with strong beveling to corners and edges giving the unit a much more streamlined appearance. At the time, some railroads elected to employ theirs RS3 diesels in passenger/commuter service. Many railroads appreciated this model for its versatility and reliability. RS3s were one of Alco’s shops more popular locomotives.