Pre-Order | Next Shipment December 2025

HO RS-3 Locomotive, SOU #6214

Item No.
Athearn - ATH-2143
$156.51
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PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION:

The ALCO RS-3 is a 1,600 hp B-B diesel-electric locomotive manufactured from May 1950 to August 1956 by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and its subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW). A total of 1,418 were produced: 1,265 for American railroads, 98 for Canadian railroads, 48 for Brazilian railroads, and seven for Mexican railroads.

The RS-3 greatly resembled the RS-1 and RS-2, but it had 100 more horsepower thanks to its 12-cylinder, 1,600 hp ALCO Model 244 engine. It also had some changes to the fuel system and body shape.

Much like the RS-1, many RS-3s served for decades; some are still in use as of 2020s.

MODEL FEATURES:

  • Newly designed can motor is more powerful and quieter than before
  • DCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector
  • DCC & sound models feature Econami sound with cube speaker
  • LED lighting for long life and reliable operation
  • Large or small fuel tank per prototype
  • See through etched metal radiator fan and cab windows
  • McHenry® operating scale knuckle couplers
  • All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation
  • All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
  • 5-pole motor with precision-machined flywheels and multi-link drive train for trouble free operation
  • Metal grab irons
  • Fine scale handrails
  • Fully-assembled and ready-to-run
  • Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
  • Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
  • 5-pole motor with precision-machined flywheels and multi-link drive train for trouble free operation
  • Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more
  • Accurately –painted and –printed paint schemes
  • Packaging securely holds model for safe storage
  • Minimum radius: 18” Recommended radius 22”

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE:

  • Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Econami sound
  • Single cube speaker for optimal sound quality
  • Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
  • Excellent low-speed operation
  • All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
  • Many functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes
  • Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC
  • Some functions are limited in DC
  • Effect lighting (if applicable) using F5 and/or F6
  • Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights
  • CV chart included in the box

Product Specs

Axles
4
Coupler Style
McHenry Scale Knuckle
DCC
Ready/21-Pin NEM
Era
1941-1970,1971-1990,1991-2009,2010-Present Day
Full Road Name
Southern
Lighting
LED
Minimum Radius
18
Prototype Manufacturer
American Locomotive Company (ALCO)
Reporting Mark
SOU
Scale
HO
Sub Brand
ATHEARN
Truck Style
AAR type B
Wheel Configuration
B-B

Compatibility

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Several of Southern’s RS-3s were sub-lettered for the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway.