ALCo RS27 Smoking and Working on the Minnesota Commercial

Only two ALCo RS27s remain in existence, and the Minnesota Commercial Railway owns both of them. The 316 can be seen working in regular revenue service with the MNNR, and typically works The Hennepin Job in NE Minneapolis. These units are known for smoking when under load, and have a very unique sound and chug to them.
We start off watching the ALCo working Old Dutch, and swap a few cars out before heading down the line. Keen eyes will notice that this unit still doesn't have ditch lights; this is because it never see's the mainline anymore, and is captive to the Minnesota Commercial's property. The next stop on the line is Hawkins Chemicals, and a few more tank cars are switched out there. Upon completing this move, they start to shove down the line to reach the lone customer at the end, Interplastics. This requires a long shove move on some bad, rough, and interesting rails. After swapping loads with empties, the train negotiates its way through roads, buildings, and other industries before calling it a day, and heading back to the yard.
Instagram: / sd457500
/ sd457500
#train #smoke #Alco
Copyright 2021 Douglas Hildebrandt, all rights reserved.

[@torquetrain8963]

This 4 axle unit is packing a huge 251 series 16 cylinder powerplant under the hood. Serious torque!!

[@mjrodriguez8670]

Douglas, I have seen photos of The Dolly Sisters on the SOO Line. I wish they were preserved! Bob Rivard had videotaped a SOO RS-27 in action!

[@markjablonski5966]

Amazing to see one of the Dolly Sisters still in action after all these years.I remember when 215 and 216 were the pride of the new Soo Line before they got restricted to local service. Thanks for the video!

[@25mfd]

i've got one of those nice hardcover soo line morning sun books, it has some really nice pics of the dolly sisters... good to see at least one of them still working

[@SouthernPacificPatch]

These are former GBW units. The Dolly Sisters were cut up in the 1980s.

[@25mfd]

@@SouthernPacificPatch cut up huh?... well that sucks

[@1208bug]

Weren't the Dolly Sisters SOO #415-416?

[@mjrodriguez8670]

Don't forget that Union Pacific, before it became a hostile giant, rostered four RS-27 units! One such unit was wrecked on the UP line between Topeka and Marysville, Kansas circa 1968. It could not be repaired and was written off.

[@jtbredow]

Great to see the old GBW units still in action! I used to live on the mainline in central WI just east of Plover and got to see the GBW for its last 2 years in existence before the units and rails were gone.

[@user-mr3ct1dm9p]

GBW=== GREAT RAILROAD, GREAT PEOPLE!!

[@valeriebassett3107]

Very good video. Thanks for sharing.

[@freebrickproductions]

Great video and catch!

[@alcosrarities]

This is very nice! What kind of camera did you use?

[@sofreak6]

Awesome video. Love the Alco sound and smoke

[@steventurner820]

What a nice classic

[@25mfd]

everytime i see these alcos i think of the old green bay and western

[@jobot]

curious about what time / day(s) to catch MN Commercial switch this trackage... thanks

[@jdrailfan5424]

Awesome

[@alexpaumen3937]

I saw that some excursion railway in Wisconsin acquired one of their C424s. Also the 44 bell’s dead.

[@bobsbasementhotrains3020]

GREAT VIDEO.

[@25mfd]

just thought of something... "old dutch"????... the potato chip/crunchy snacks company???... that old dutch????

[@diezpenguin1086]

Yep, that be them!

[@25mfd]

@@diezpenguin1086 nice... always did like their snack foods