Tag Archives: American Locomotive Company

HANDS-ON…MY HISTORY

HANDS-ON…MY HISTORY

I took a fabled RS-1* into the living room

On a tray to try doing some work…

I wanted to replace that body shell with one bought new,

Then progress was caught up with a jerk.

It was the Two-Fourteen I had in my hands,

Numbered for our first letter exchange…

February Second completed the first round

As our relationship grew strong and aged.

The “214” is painted silver with red-white-and blue

Stripe around both hoods (old AMTRAK stock)…

Maybe I’ll just finish changing this one’s couplers’

Putting one of three “NEW HAVENs” on the body shell changing block!

–Jonathan Caswell

*NOTE:

All of these locomotives are N scale models of the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) model RS-1…in the author’s collection.  Some of his units are lettered and numbered for important life events….like when he and his wife exchanged their first letters (#214)  or the date they were engaged (#5388…for the date 5/3/1988).

HONORARY STEAM ENGINE

HONORARY STEAM ENGINE

(BING)

The American Locomotive Company,

“ALCO” for short…

Is loved by railroad fans

Although some do make sport

Of that locomotive brand

To put out lots of smoke…

In acceleration, Man,

As though it were ready to choke.

A lag between the turbocharger

And the fuel intake…

Occasionally causes the extra smoke,

A common ALCO trait:

The engines give more than their moneys’ worth

And some have lasted for years,

Environmentalists want to shut them down…

Causing many tears!

–Jonathan Caswell

(www.uglyhedgehog.com)