Modeling Monday - Research Notes on the DEY-3 & DEY-5 class switchers

(Disclaimer - Most of this post first appeared 9/23/2018)

Like many of you, one of the first things to do before starting any modeling project is something I find the most fun - research. So, as I begin modeling the New Haven's Alco S-2s and S-1s (class DEY-5 and DEY-3, respectively), I want to get all my modeling notes together in one place - and put them here for any of you that may want to try modeling these locos yourself (or just curious about the history...)

New Haven class DEY-3 switcher #0967 with Valley Local freight at Fernwood Street, Wethersfield, CT in 5/1949.
John Wallace photo.

The first stop when researching any New Haven railroad locomotives is Jack Swanberg's seminal work New Haven Power, which provides encyclopedic coverage of all NHRR motive power throughout the history of the railroad. You'll also want to be sure and consult the series of books produced by Bob Liljestrand (Bob's Photos) that have covered NH engines. Volume 1 covers the switchers and road switchers, including the DEY units.

Marc Frattasio and Bill Chapin aggregated a ton of prototype information and provided the definitive resource for the DEY-3 and DEY-5 switchers in the Volume 35, Issue 1 edition of the NHRHTA's Shoreliner magazine.

Since I'm modeling both types of engines (DEY-3 #0967 for the Valley Local & DEY-5 #0604 for the Haddam Local, aka PDX-2), I figured a quick reference of prototype information would be helpful to repost here. And if you have any interest in these engines, I hope you find these notes helpful too. But for the most comprehensive information, including lots of photos, be sure to consult the Shoreliner article and the books mentioned above.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Image from NHRHTA Photo Library

General Information

The New Haven's DEY-3 and DEY-5 class switchers differed visually from standard Alco S-1s and S-2s in two primary respects:

• Cab Roof Profile

The New Haven cab is a low-profile version, to provide additional clearance when used in the electrified zone. The compound curves resulted in an overall roof height that was approx. 6" lower than the standard cab.
 Image from the Shoreliner article.

• Crosley 3-Chime Air Whistle

Instead of a standard air horn, the New Haven used brass (or bronze?) 3-chime air whistles.
Image from the Shoreliner article.

Classification System & Number Series

• "DEY" classification system started 1944
• Class DEY-3 (Alco S-1), number series 0931-0995
• Class DEY-5 (Alco S-2), number series 0600-0621

Prime Mover

• DEY-3
• Same prime mover as HH660 - 660hp McIntosh & Seymour Model 531
• Model 531 was designated 539 when in the S-1
• DEY-5
• Turbocharged Model 539, designated 539T, produced 1000 hp
• Same prime mover in Alco RS-1 (DERS-1b) and DL-109 (DER-1)
• Turbo produced a distinctive high pitched "chirp"
• Neither prime mover equipped with automatic air reservoir blowdowns, so no "spitter" sound

Delivery Dates

• DEY-3 (1941-1949), 65 units
• 1941 0931-0940
• 1942 0941-0950
• 1943 0951-0957
• 1944 0958-0970
• 1947 (Nov/Dec) 0971-0976 (green/orange scheme begins)
• 1948 (Jan-Mar) 0977-0983
• 1948 (Sept-Dec) 0984-0992
• 1949 (Jan) 0993-0995

• DEY-5 (1943-1944), 22 units
• 1943 (Dec) 0600-0601
• 1944 (Jan) 0602-0603
• 1944 (May-Nov) 0604-0621

DEY-3 Whistle Locations

• 0931-0950 had whistle mounted even with roof overhang
• 0951-0973 had whistle mounted about a foot forward of the roof overhang
• 0977-0995 had whistle mounted about 3.5' forward of the roof overhang

Paint Schemes (late 1940s)

• All DEY-5 units and DEY-3 units 0931-0970 delivered in all Pullman green with Dulux gold (yellow) lettering
• Hunter Green cab & orange hood started with delivery of 0971 November, 1947.
• Cab interior likely dark (Pullman?) green in pre-Nov. '47 units; light gray thereafter

Cab Signal Equipment

• The following units were equipped with Hartford Line cab signal equipment:
• 0967, 0981, 0605, 0606
• The following units were equipped with Shore Line signal equipment:
• 0610-0612
• The following units were equipped with Dual Cab Signal equipment:
• 0993, 0995, 0604, 0616, 0620

Radiator Shutters (louvers)

• First 40 DEY-3s
• 24 narrow vertical shutters set in a thin frame w/shallow protrusion
• Horizontal space/cutting across the shutters at mid-height
• Last 25 DEY-3s
• 11 wide vertical radiator shutters also with a horizontal spacer
• Rivet at each of the two quarter points of each louver
• Larger cross-section frame around the perimeter, resulting in deep protrusion
• First 9 DEY-5s (0600-0608) had horizontal radiator shutters
• Last 11 DEY-5s (0609-0621) had vertical shutters.

This is just a list of notes for prototype reference, with special thanks to Randy for filling in many details in the original post. For a nice narrative, including even more detailed information on later paint schemes, additional detail changes, and final dispositions, be sure to consult Marc and Bill's comprehensive Shoreliner article mentioned above.

And of course - as always - if you have any additional information to share, please let me know in the comments or contact me directly. One of my main goals with this blog (and especially the website) is to provide a nice repository of information on the New Haven Railroad - but especially the Valley Line and its equipment and operations.

Next up, we move from prototype to modeling...

Wordless Wednesday #244: Double Header! - Name That Location

Wordless Wednesday #234

Both photos courtesy J. David Conrad, NHRHTA Collection

Weekend "WE"search: Notes on the New Haven Railroad's DEY-3 & DEY-5 Switchers

New Haven class DEY-3 switcher #0967 with Valley Local freight at Fernwood Street, Wethersfield, CT in 5/1949.
John Wallace photo.

If you've read this blog for any time at all - and especially if you've perused the Valley Local website (be sure head over there if you haven't before) - you know that I really enjoy the historical research aspect of this hobby. And it's even better when you get to collaborate with a buddy. So, with the release of ESU's sound for the non-turbo Alco 539 prime mover, (and the resulting move up the modeling priority list for our Alco S-1s) Randy and I decided to do a little "we"search into the New Haven's Alco S-1 & S-2 switchers, which they designated class DEY-3 and DEY-5, respectively.

The first resource for all New Haven railroad locomotives is Jack Swanberg's seminal work New Haven Power, which provides encyclopedic coverage of all NHRR motive power throughout the history of the railroad. You'll also want to be sure and consult the series of books produced by Bob Liljestrand (Bob's Photos) that have covered NH engines. Volume 1 covers the switchers and road switchers, including the DEY units. While we reviewed these prototype resources, and more, during the course of our research, Marc Frattasio and Bill Chapin have aggregated all of this information and provided the definitive prototype resource for the DEY-3 and DEY-5 switchers in the Volume 35, Issue 1 edition of the NHRHTA's Shoreliner magazine.

Since we'll be modeling both types of engines for our layouts (as you can see above, the Valley Local needs DEY-3 #0967, and I also need a DEY-5 for the lower end local), I figured a quick reference of prototype information would be helpful. And if you have any interest in these engines, I hope you find these notes helpful too. But for the most comprehensive information, including lots of photos, be sure to consult the Shoreliner article and the books mentioned above.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Image from NHRHTA Photo Library

General Information

The New Haven's DEY-3 and DEY-5 class switchers differed visually from standard Alco S-1s and S-2s in two primary respects:

• Cab Roof Profile

The New Haven cab is a low-profile version, to provide additional clearance when used in the electrified zone. The compound curves resulted in an overall roof height that was approx. 6" lower than the standard cab.
 Image from the Shoreliner article.

• Crosley 3-Chime Air Whistle

Instead of a standard air horn, the New Haven used brass (or bronze?) 3-chime air whistles.
Image from the Shoreliner article.

Classification System & Number Series

• "DEY" classification system started 1944
• Class DEY-3 (Alco S-1), number series 0931-0995
• Class DEY-5 (Alco S-2), number series 0600-0621

Prime Mover

• DEY-3
• Same primer mover as HH660 - 660hp McIntosh & Seymour Model 531
• Model 531 was designated 539 when in the S-1
• DEY-5
• Turbocharged Model 539, designated 539T, produced 1000 hp
• Same prime mover in Alco RS-1 (DERS-1b) and DL-109 (DER-1)
• Turbo produced a distinctive high pitched "chirp"
• Neither prime mover equipped with automatic air reservoir blowdowns, so no "spitter" sound

Delivery Dates

• DEY-3 (1941-1949), 65 units
• 1941 0931-0940
• 1942 0941-0950
• 1943 0951-0957
• 1944 0958-0970
• 1947 (Nov/Dec) 0971-0976 (green/orange scheme begins)
• 1948 (Jan-Mar) 0977-0983
• 1948 (Sept-Dec) 0984-0992
• 1949 (Jan) 0993-0995

• DEY-5 (1943-1944), 22 units
• 1943 (Dec) 0600-0601
• 1944 (Jan) 0602-0603
• 1944 (May-Nov) 0604-0621

DEY-3 Whistle Locations

• 0931-0950 had whistle mounted even with roof overhang
• 0951-0973 had whistle mounted about a foot forward of the roof overhang
• 0977-0995 had whistle mounted about 3.5' forward of the roof overhang

Paint Schemes (late 1940s)

• 0931-0970 delivered in all Pullman green with Dulux gold (yellow) lettering
• Hunter Green cab & orange hood started with delivery of 0971 November, 1947.
• Cab interior likely dark (Pullman?) green in pre-Nov. '47 units; light gray thereafter

Cab Signal Equipment

• The following units were equipped with Hartford Line cab signal equipment:
• 0967, 0981, 0605, 0606
• The following units were equipped with Shore Line signal equipment:
• 0610-0612
• The following units were equipped with Dual Cab Signal equipment:
• 0993, 0995, 0604, 0616, 0620

Radiator Shutters (louvers)

• First 40 DEY-3s
• 24 narrow vertical shutters set in a thin frame w/shallow protrusion
• Horzontal space/cutting across the shutters at mid-height
• Last 25 DEY-3s
• 11 wide vertical radiator shutters also with a horizontal spacer
• Rivet at each of the two quarter points of each louver
• Larger cross-section frame around the perimeter, resulting in deep protrusion
• First 9 DEY-5s (0600-0608) had horizontal radiator shutters
• Last 11 DEY-5s (0609-0621) had vertical shutters.

This is just a list of notes for prototype reference. For a nice narrative, including even more detailed information on later paint schemes, additional detail changes, and final dispositions, be sure to consult Marc and Bill's comprehensive Shoreliner article.

And of course - as always - if you have any additional information to share, please let me know in the comments or contact me directly. One of my main goals with this blog (and especially the website) is to provide a nice repository of information on the New Haven Railroad - but especially the Valley Line and its equipment and operations. Thanks in advance for any info you have to share - and for being a part of the "we" in WEsearch (sorry - couldn't resist one last time...)

More on the Atlas Alco S-2: Removing the shell & noticing glitches

In the last post, I introduced my new Atlas Alco S-2 which I plan on making into a New Haven RR DEY-5. Click here for some prototype info and photos. As I mentioned, the main problem I noticed right away was how the headlight bulb was positioned.

So tonight I opened it up to see how the headlight was mounted and whether it could be easily moved. To remove the shell, first gently pry the sides of the cab away from the frame. Then you should be able to lift it straight up. Be careful of the small gauge lighting wires that go to the rear light.

The cab holds down the rear end of the hood while the front of the hood is secured by a tab latching into the front of the frame. Once the cab is off, you can gently lift up the rear of the hood and gently pry the front of the hood off the frame.

The first thing I noticed relevant to the headlight is that the bulb is mounted on top of the speaker and the bulb is totally bare - no shielding or anything. Note also that the cab is gently placed off to the side, without stressing the delicate lighting wires.

Speaking of the cab, note that - unlike the headlight, the rear bulb is shielded by a styrene conduit of sorts. Also, the lighting wires are cleverly routed behind the center post between the front cab windows. This arrangement keeps the wires out of the cab and places the bulb directly behind the lens.

Back to the headlight - this comparison shot shows clearly where the bulb is in relation to the headlight casting. Placing it on top of the speaker puts it way too high.

Here's another view for comparison. There's really no easy way to move this bulb lower without changing the type or location of the speaker.

So I think what I may try and do is change out the bulb entirely, substituting a much smaller bulb, and maybe even trying to attach the bulb directly to the headlight lens, which is only a press fit and comes out easily (don't use anything metal to pop it out or risk scratching the lens).

While I was going through this process though, I discovered another couple of glitches which are a bit more troubling since they're not easily fixed. But maybe they won't be as noticeable once the engine is finished/painted/weathered....

For some reason I can't figure out, the engineer's side of the cab is flared out as you can see above. It's clearly bottoming out against something but it's not clear to me what. And I don't want to risk making things worse by removing material which can't be replaced.

For comparison, see the fireman's side. That overhang is prototypical - and on this side as least, there's no flaring.

Also annoying is the gap that's apparent between the front of the cab on the engineer's side and the hood. Ok - I admit it's hard to see in this shot, but it's there. You can see the little mounting recess where the edge of the cab front rests. And there's a gap between the bottom of the hood and the running board/frame too. No matter how hard I press, I can't get these parts to seat properly. The engineer's side of the cab is actually a bit loose, and can be easily moved back and forth.

On the other (fireman's) side, everything fits nice, snug, and secure: no gap between the cab and the hood, and no gap between the hood and frame.

So, be honest, am I being too OCD/nitpicky or is this worth sending the unit back in exchange for another?

Admittedly, a big part of my "problem" is that I'm extremely near-sighted, so when I'm looking at these things I set my glasses aside and can focus literally about 2" from my eyes. That's really great for doing extreme detail work on models, but admittedly a great source of frustration when I notice problems that other folks will likely never see . . .

I think I know the answer to my question, but am really curious to hear what others think - not only about the cab/hood issue but especially about how best to address the headlight issue.