MORRISTOWN & ERIE RAILWAY RS-1 DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE NO. 21 The concept of producing one, simple locomotive that could perform the various functions of engines constructed entirely for a specific service (yard switching, road freight or passenger service) was pioneered by the Rock Island Railroad. In answer to this challenge, the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) introduced a new, 6-cylinder, 1,000-horsepower locomotive to the railroad motive power world in March 1941. ALCO initially built two units for the Rock Island. They proved to be so successful, that 417 RS-1's were constructed for a large number of American railroads bewteeen 1941 and 1960. This was the longest production run for any diesel locomotive produced in the U.S. ALCO later manufactured upgraded RS-2's and RS-3's, which had modified carbodies. The RS-1 proved to have a long service life, generally serving two, three or more owners. Many still operate today on excursion railroads, shortlines and industrial roads. Morristown & Erie Railway (M&E) No. 21 is currently used on the Whippany Railway Museum's light-duty excursion trains. Museum volunteers have painted the engine in the red and black scheme first used by the M&E in the early-1980's. In a nod to the past, the locomotive carries the name R.W. McEwan on the cab. Richard Walsh McEwan was the first president of the Morristown & Erie Railroad, serving in that capacity from 1903 until his death in 1936. Future plans call for the locomotive to go into the shop for required maintenance and then be sandblasted and eventually repainted in the M&E's 1960's-era color scheme of orange-red, blue and gold. This classic livery was applied to the M&E's original ALCO-built diesel locomotives, S-4 No. 14 (built 1952) and RS-1 No. 15 (built for the U.S. Navy, 1944), both long-since retired and unfortunately scrapped. No. 21 was originally built in December 1954 for the Minneapolis, Saint Paul & Sault Saint Marie Railway (commonly known as The Soo Line), as their No. 350. The engine proudly wore the Soo maroon and gold Pine Tree paint scheme until 1970 when it was repainted into the modern-era red and white attire. After performing admirably for the Soo for over 20 years, No. 350 was sold in 1975 to Hyman-Michaels Company, a large Chicago-area scrap dealer. Fate was kind to the locomotive however, and she was sold in 1977 to the newly-created Virginia & Maryland Railroad (V&M), which was formed to operate ex-Penn Central routes in the Pocomoke City - Cape Charles and Norfolk, Virginia area. The locomotive was renumbered "1", and began a new life hauling trains throughout the V&M's region. No. 1 remained on the V&M for a time until she was transferred yet again to the Maryland & Delaware Railroad Company (M&D). The M&D was organized in 1977 to take up former Penn Central / Conrail operations throughout the Delmarva Peninsula. The locomotive was renumbered "21" and continued to give reliable service. Both the Virginia & Maryland and the Maryland & Delaware were under common ownership. Most of the locomotives used by both railroads were however, owned by an "in-house" leasing company known as DMV Corporation. After her service days on the M&D were over, and continuing her trend of being transferred to a variety of owners, the engine was eventually acquired by T.J. Lindstedt Rail Service, a company that dealt in rail equipment leases. In 1989 No. 21 was leased to the Massachusetts Central Railroad, which was established in 1976 to provide rail service between Palmer and South Barre, MA. In 1997 No. 21 was acquired yet again by a new owner, James Hager, Jr. Hager had the engine re-lettered for the Pook Valley Railroad, the fictional name of his large model railroad that featured miniture ALCO locomotives. Hager had plans to lease the engine to interested parties. For several years she was stored on the Southern Railroad of New Jersey (SRNJ) at Winslow Junction, NJ, where she saw occasional freight service. Hager also owned several other diesels which were leased or sold to various operators over the years. Early in 2001 the Morristown & Erie Railway purchased No. 21 and stored her at various times at both Whippany and Morristown, NJ. At last in 2004, M&E shop personnel performed required maintenance that got the 50-year old locomotive up and running once again. She was employeed in switching duties along the M&E's Whippany Line throughout the Summer of 2004. In the Spring of 2005, in recognition of her unique design and versatility, No. 21 was assigned as the engine that would power the Whippany Railway Museum's Summer "Caboose Train Rides." This historic veteran of the rails has had a long and colorful life so far, and the future appears bright for this classic American "First Generation" Diesel Locomotive. NOTE: Thanks to James Hager, Jr. for information used in preparing this short history on No. 21 Return to Equipment Page