When we released our first run of HO scale ALCo RS-11 locos we were bombarded by questions like “How come you didn’t do (insert your favorite roadname here) version?” As we found out early on, despite carrying the same “RS-11” designation, most road’s RS-11 locos had unique features. This makes them really neat for modelers, and a real headache for manufacturers! Maybe that explains why most of these have never been done in plastic before.
Many roads purchased RS-11s with a total of around 462 units produced. The largest customer was the Norfolk & Western with 99 units. However, the Pennsylvania RR signed on for 38 units, while the Nickel Plate took 35 and SP took 34. Other customers included the Delaware & Hudson, Duluth Winnipeg & Pacific, Lehigh Valley, Missouri Pacific, New Haven, Northern Pacific and the Seaboard Air Line. Commonly regarded as one of the most reliable of ALCo locomotives, examples survived in Class 1 usage well into the late 1970s, while many are still in use on short lines today.
The RS-11 could be set up for either freight or passenger service, with passenger units having a steam generator fitted into the short hood and a larger fuel/water tank beneath the frames. RS-11 units could be designated for either long hood or short hood forward operation. Some units, like the N&W’s, were provided with dual control stands and could be operated with either end forward. Over the course of RS-11 production there were many noticeable changes made to the design. These included variations in carbody filter quantities and sizes, fuel tank designs, cab window size and placement and many other small details.
On the first run of RS-11 or RS-18 locomotives the factory came up with a…. unique… way of attaching the body shell. For this new run we have completely redesigned the way that the RS-11 and RS-18 locos are put together. Now, instead of twenty screws, fourteen clips and three volumes of expletives the body is held in place by just three screws at each end. That’s it!
For this, our second run of HO RS-11s, we’ve tooled new hoods, roofs and details for Central Vermont, Delaware and Hudson, Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific, Maine Central (and Portland Terminal) New York Central, Nickel Plate, Northern Pacific (and BN) and Seaboard Air Line. Yes, each one is different! We have loads of road-specific details like the bell on the BN units, correct carbody vent placements, the dynamic brake vents on the side of the CV short hood and even the Nickel Plate’s extra headlight and side sill poling pockets.
The Rapido Trains HO scale ALCo RS-11 locomotives feature:
Correct hood and roof profiles 3D scanned from the prototype
Operating number boards, headlights, class lights and cab control stand lighting
Working inspection lights in the inspection light castings
Straight metal side handrails with plastic stanchions
Huge amount of newly-tooled roadname-specific details
Full underbody piping, conduits and steam lines, where appropriate
Correct roadname-specific corner steps
Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
Heavy, die-cast chassis and full, multi-color interior
New, rock-solid 5-pole skew-wound motor with dual flywheels and Rapido's renowned silky-smooth drive
DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound (ESU LokSound) available
Accurate sounds recorded from a real Alco 251B prime mover
Note: Photo might not show actual road number. Please see details for the road number.

HO BN RS-11 #4193