ARCADE, N.Y. — The Arcade & Attica Railroad is set to replace its distinctive GE center-cab locomotives, a hallmark of the railroad for almost 80 years, with the arrival of Alco RS3U No. 406.
The Alco, acquired earlier in the year from the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad in Olean, N.Y., arrived on the Arcade & Attica on July 13. It is slated to become the A&A’s No. 114.
Locomotive 406 began life in 1952 as Delaware & Hudson No. 4112. In 1976, it was one of eight D&H RS3s rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen with a 2,000-hp model 251 engine, a raised long hood, and a lowered short hood. It became one of two D&H locomotives to wear a bicentennial paint scheme, and was still in that paint when it moved on to the now-closed Tioga Central Railroad. It then made its way to the WNY&P, where it acquired the number 406.
The unit will primarily be used to pull freight from Arcade Junction to the Reisdorf Brothers Mill in North Java, N.Y., at the end of A&A trackage.
Since 1944, the Arcade & Attica has operated with attractively painted GE 44-, 65-, and 80-ton center cabs in both freight and passenger-excursion service. The railroad still intends to use center cabs No. 112, a 65-ton unit, and No. 113, an 80-tonner, on passenger excursions and in lesser freight roles.
— Updated at 10:15 a.m. CDT with additional details on No. 406.
