ALCO MRS-1

ALCO MRS-1 is a type of diesel-electric locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) for the United States Army Transportation Corps (USATC). They were built by ALCO between 1953-1954 a total of 83 of these engines were built.
They were built with multigauge trucks and to a reduced loading gauge for service anywhere in the world in the event of war.
The Korean War and the intensification of the Cold War at the beginning of the 1950s caused the USATC to consider what it might need for a new land war in Europe.
Both companies were contracted produced a batch of thirteen locomotives which would be evaluated by the USATC; the vendor providing the better locomotive would then produce the rest of the required locomotives.
The MRS-1 was designed with the prospect of another land war in Europe during the "hottest" years of the Cold War, so it was equipped with adjustable trucks to fit different railroad gauges, compact bodywork to accommodate restrictive rights of way and replaceable couplers.
While many of these locomotives were ultimately scrapped, several of them still exist, in various states of preservation.
==Trivia==
*Alaska retired its last ALCO MRS-1s in 1984.
*The specification was put out to tender, and two companies responded, GM and GE.
*As delivered, they were painted in gloss black with white numbering and lettering.
*Thus the 96 locomotives were redundant for their original purpose.
*Thirteen of the locomotives were sold to the Alaska Railroad—six in 1974, and seven in 1975.
*Cass Scenic Railroad also stored 2 examples, which were sold as surplus and later scrapped in 2010.
*Alaska Railroad #1605 was featured in "Runaway Train". It had been retired in 1984, one year before filming started. The unit has since been cut up for scrap.
== Gallery ==
File:USAF 2104-THirsch.jpg|United States Air Force 2104
File:SanDiegoandArizona1809.jpg|San Diego and Arizona 1809
File:Heber-valley-engine-1813-garry-gay.jpg|Heber Valley 1813
File:296193852896991023842h2n91097028.jpg|Alaska Railroad 1601
USAX1811EUSTIS.jpg|United States Army 1811
21rshpark93.jpg
r8166d2299a7c1eeb696dcf280df6e05ae.jpg
File:BayCoastRR2085 ex-ESHR exx-USAX.JPG
File:2218403787 b5f2aefaa5 b.jpg
542637765851793431n.jpg
USArmyMRS-1B-2069.jpeg|United States Army 2069
file:sierra613.webp
21rshpark94.jpg
ALCOMRS-1stored.jpeg|Another shot of United States Air Force 2104
Category:Diesel locomotives
Category:ALCO locomotives
Category:American locomotives
Category:Six-axled diesel locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Electric locomotives
Category:United States
Category:United States Transportation Corps
Category:Alaska Railroad Locomotives
Category:USATC
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Locomotives featured in media
Category:Restored locomotives
Category:ALCO diesel locomotives
Category:Yreka Western Locomotives