Thanks guys! Now we have a more definite answer!

Matt

Cab roof lowered for mill clearance. Man that flashing beacon must brush the support beams then.
Mark

Mr Fixit Wrote:Cab roof lowered for mill clearance. Man that flashing beacon must brush the support beams then.
Mark

At the steel plant where I worked, the diesels (SW8, 9, and 900) all had their cab roofs cut-down in order to clear the underside of the cabs of overhead cranes in some of the older mills:





This mill has plenty of clearance under the crane cabs:



Wayne

Wayne, thanks. The Donohue warehouse has doors that can handle hi-cube boxcars. I suspect the clearance must be inside for similar reasons as Stelco plants. BTW, a very nice switcher!

Matt

The obvious reason for converting from the blunt trucks to me would be roller bearings on the AAR version trucks they used.
Charlie

In case you have some intrest here are some pictures I took of CR 9752, an Alco S-4 built for the P&LE (8652)in October, 1953 including some detail views of the rivets[attachment=19034][attachment=19033][attachment=19032][attachment=19031][attachment=19030]
Charlie

Thanks Charlie. That may be useful.

Atlas rep just told me old tooling S2/S4 trucks are not compatible with the new tooling locomotive. Well, nothing is impossible, but I think I'll postpone this project until the new S4 is released. I already have lots of projects to finish in the hands.

Matt

Not all the ALCO S-2/S-4s ended up w/ the from the factory stacks. Alot of eastern & western RRs made them taller & either cylindrical or rectangular. See the attachments:

[attachment=19044]
[attachment=19043]

Have many more pix of the different ALCO switcher stacks. Too many to put all here so PM me w/ your email addy if you want me to send them to you.
Wanting the right ones to run on my LAJ layout had both kinds (ATSF & LAJ) made by 3D printing. UP also had taller cylindrical stacks. Can use the LAJ one but will need to add a "weld" line or a band about 1/2 up the stack. Haven't seen any SP pix w/ non ALCO stacks. Check as many pix of your RRs ALCO switchers to see which kind of stacks that RR had. The RRs weren't always consistent about changing the stacks.