Broadway Limited - 6615 - Locomotive, Diesel, Alco RSD-15 - Bessemer & Lake Erie - 886

Model Information: First released in 2022, BLI are offering models of the RSD-15's in N scale with DCC & Sound for the first time. BLI are offering models of RSD-15's from 9 railroads in 10 distinct paint schemes. All road numbers and paint schemes are prototypically accurate. They are also building three models that were very similar in real life - two C&O RSD-7's and a CP RSD-17. The models will be BLI RSD-15 models with the C&O and CP paint schemes applied. There wasn't a lot of detail variation among the RSD-15's, and they were making three distinct models - a standard low-hood model, a standard high-hood model, and a PRR-type high hood model with different locations for the bell and horns.

Independently controllable lights in each RSD-15 model:

• Headlight
• Rear Light
• Cab Light
• Front & Rear Numberboards

Model Features:

• Integral Dual-Mode Decoder with Back EMF for Superb Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC
• Precision Drive Mechanism Engineered for Heavy Towing and Smooth Slow Speed Operation
• All Wheel Electrical Pick-up
• ABS Body with Die Cast Chassis for Maximum Tractive Effort
• Premium Caliber Painting
• Prototypically Accurate Paint Schemes and Road Numbers
• Many Separately Applied Details such as Handrails, Grab Irons, Horns, Bell, and Antenna
• Prototypical Light Operation
• MicroTrains-compatible couplers (2)
• Will Operate on Code 55, Code 70, and Code 80 Rail
• Minimum Operating Radius: 9 inches

Read our article on this model here.

DCC Information:
Paragon4 Sound and Control System:

• Prototypically Accurate Sounds for the Alco RSD-15 Diesel Locomotive
• Operates in DC & DCC with improved DC speed control (use DCMaster for DC Sound)
• Built-In extra capacitance to navigate imperfect track
• Pro Lighting Mode offers individual control of all lights on model
• Switcher Mode for precise low speed control
• Record & Play Operation - Records and plays back sounds and movements once or repeatedly for automatic operation
• High Resolution Audio
• Quillable Horn for various whistle lengths and patterns
• Choice of 3 selectable Horns
• Alternate Whistle / Horn where applicable for locomotive with air horn and steam whistle - both the main whistle and alternate can be easily played
• Adjustable bell ringing interval for faster or slower bell
• Numerous user-mappable functions with available keys
• Multiple realistic passenger and crew sounds play on command
• Grade Crossing Automatic Signal
• Automatic Forward / Reverse Signal
• Prime Mover sound intensity varies with load
• Individually adjustable sound volumes for each effect
• EZ Reset Button for quick return to factory default settings

Prototype History: The ALCO RSD-15 was a diesel-electric locomotive of the road switcher type built by ALCO (the American Locomotive Company) of Schenectady, New York between August 1956 and June 1960, during which time 75 locomotives were produced. The RSD-15 was powered by an ALCO 251 16-cylinder four-cycle V-type prime mover rated at 2,400 horsepower (1.79 MW); it superseded the almost identical ALCO 244-engined RSD-7, and was catalogued alongside the similar but smaller 1,800 hp (1.34 MW) RSD-12, powered by a 12-cylinder 251-model V-type diesel engine.
A single example of the very similar model RSD-17 was built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in 1957 and purchased by the Canadian Pacific (as #8921).

The locomotive rode on a pair of three-axle Trimount trucks, in an AAR C-C wheel arrangement, with all axles powered by General Electric model 752 traction motors. These trucks have an asymmetrical axle spacing because of the positioning of the traction motors. The six-motor design allowed higher tractive effort at lower speeds than an otherwise similar four-motor design. The RSD-15 could be ordered with either a high or low short hood; railfans dubbed the low short hood version "Alligators", on account of their unusually long low noses.

From Wikipedia

Road Name History: The Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad (reporting mark BLE) is a class II railroad that operates in northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio.

The railroad's main route runs from the Lake Erie port of Conneaut, Ohio to the Pittsburgh suburb of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, a distance of 139 miles (224 km). The original rail ancestor of the B&LE, the Shenango and Allegheny Railroad, began operation in October 1869.

Rail operations were maintained continuously by various corporate descendants on the growing system that ultimately became the B&LE in 1900. In 2004 the B&LE came under the ownership of the Canadian National Railway as part of CN's larger purchase of holding company Great Lakes Transportation. As a subsidiary of CN the B&LE has been largely unchanged (though repainting of B&LE locomotives into CN paint with "BLE" sub-lettering began in April 2015) and still does business as the B&LE. Bessemer and Lake Erie's locomotives, especially the former Souther Pacific SD40T-3 "Tunnel Motors", have been scattered across the CN system lately; ironically, many are being used in the line that feeds most of B&LE's traffic, the former Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range lines in Minnesota. The iron ore that originates on these lines is transloaded to ships at Twin Harbors, Minnesota, then sent by ship to Conneaut, Ohio, where it is again transloaded to B&LE trains. It is then taken down to steel mills in the Pittsburg area, mainly to the blast furnaces at US Steel's Edgar Thompson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, part of the Mon Valley Works. As of summer 2015, most of the locomotives on the B&LE are former Illinois Central standard cab SD70's, although B&LE Tunnel Motor 905 and a few SD38's, still in B&LE orange, are being kept on the line. Also, a few Canadian National locomotives, especially SD60 5422, are assigned to the line.

Brand/Importer Information: Broadway Limited Imports, LLC defines itself as "the world's foremost producer of top-quality HO and N scale model trains".

The company was founded in 2002 and introduced its first N scale model in 2009.

Broadway Limited Imports is composed of a team of 15 fun loving individuals who are dedicated to creating the most realistic model railroading experience possible, with the best customer service possible.

The Broadway Limited Imports headquarters is located in Ormond Beach, Florida at 9 East Tower Circle. It's just under an hour's drive from Disney World.

About Broadway Limited Imports.