Athearn # ATH28777  HO RTR ALCo RS-3, Tsunami2 DCC Sound, Rio Grande #5202

Athearn # ATH28777  HO RTR ALCo RS-3, Tsunami2 DCC Sound, Rio Grande #5202

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 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.