ARR #1050A and 1050B were the prototype tests for the the following production of the ARR Class RF1 ALCO Locomotives.  Army surplus ALCO RSD1 locomotives USA 8040 and 8054 were rebuilt by International Car Co. of Kenton, Ohio and delivered in October of 1947. Homely would be a generous description of these two locomotives as built on the 6 wheel RSD1 trucks. Here they are shown in primer paint setting next to an Ohio corn field waiting shipment to Alaska.        
   
They arrived in Whittier on board the COASTAL RAMBLER and were unloaded October 8, 1947. The new 75 ton stiff leg crane made the lift from the ship to dock by moving the trucks first and then lifting the 1050B and then the 1050A and setting them on the trucks. Both locomotives are lined up at the Whittier Station Guard Shack preparing for the trip to Anchorage.  

The locomotives were shopped and painted in the railroad designed blue and yellow passenger scheme. Nine days after arrival the 1050s made their first trip with school aged children from Anchorage on a "Streamlined" passenger train. This shake down trip on October 17, 1947 went to Palmer where they stopped in front of the depot. The train was backed down to the wye at Matanuska for the return trip to Anchorage.

On Alaska Day, October 18, 1947 the new locomotives were inaugurated with festivities at the Anchorage Depot organized by the Kiwanis Club of Anchorage. The named train "AuRoRa"  made an overnight trip to Mt. Mckinley Hotel for the Days of 98 Costume Ball as the first revenue trip. The locomotives then worked in regular service and made many special trips including the one that brought it to the Portage Depot on May 15, 1949.    

The B unit was eventually renumbered #1051 and both locomotives were converted to four wheel AAR B road trucks. Later relegated to freight and work train service they finally were retired by 1964.  They were scrapped in May of 1965 at the Anchorage Yard. The Anchorage Times  carried an article and a Eulogy of sorts written by  Walter R. Strong.

Subsequently additional RSD1 ALCO road switchers were rebuilt by Puget Sound Bridge and Drydock in Seattle to become the Alaska Railroad RF1 streamlined locomotives.  Fortunately, they were ruggedly handsome machines compared to the original #1050's.