Bachmann has done it again! Their "HO" ALCO S-2 Diesel Switcher (DCC SOUND)

ITEM NO: 63405 UNITED STATE ARMY #7109 represents one of the four ALCO S-2 units sent to Fort Richardson to switch the Army supply warehouses and the coal fired power plants at Fort Rich and Elmendorf Air Force Base. After some time the Alaska Railroad crews were operating them and maintaining them in their shops. Eventually they got ARR lettering and details, although it is doubtful that the railroad ever really owned them. At that time the ARR was a federal agency, part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Here you will find the roster entry and four photos of 7109 during her time in Alaska.

As received the locomotive model closely resembles the prototype except for the solid yellow frame, instead of the barrier stripes. The only things I added were grab irons on the end of the long hood and up the left side to get to the water hatch, and canvas cab window shades. Then add a fire extinguisher on the rear deck, and a re-rail frog next to the fuel tank. You can cut off the rim at the top of the exhaust stack and call it done.

The model comes with the correct Blunt trucks and is a fine runner. Mine stalled on insulated frogs going one direction. When I turned it end for end the problem went away until it came to a turnout going the other direction and stalled again. Examination found that the the red wire from one truck was not making contact on the decoder board. Soldering all the wires to the board solved that problem forever.

While apart, I added over two ounces of lead ballast to improve adhesion. I use lead stick solder and hammer it into thin enough sheets that it can be added just about anywhere there is a void.
Using Kapton tape on the top of the decoder board and then gluing the 1/16" lead sheets on top of that with GOO does a good job. You will find other areas to stick in a little lead. The change in performance is dramatic while the locomotive is very smooth right out of the box.

This model follows the performance characteristics of the recent small mogul release, very sophisticated engineering. Thank Bachmann for not casting on a bunch of hand rails and lift rings on the body. If you want those items, consult photos of your prototype and add them yourself. Nearly every loco is different in these details anyway. The sound is certainly characteristic particularly the turbo charger wind down when you go to idle. The only thing missing is the black smoke.

This is an easy and inexpensive addition to the Alaska Railroad early diesel roster. It would also be an excellent starting point for 7112 in anyone of its paint schemes.

I may need to get another unit to paint up in the last 7109 ARR paint iteration.

Happy modeling.

Pat Durand