I got a C- grade in freight car identification in college, so need some help here.
What is this flat car? I've never seen one like it, but it's obviously designed for heavy moves. Are they common?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WCR_6593_Alco_S-3.jpg

Standard issue 8 axle heavy duty flat. TTX, Kasgro and probably others own/lease them out. The ones we move on a semi regular basis have dual brake systems -- one for each end of the car. Depending on the car the trucks are either F or G bearings (some of the newer ones are K bearing). You have a bolster that will bridge the two trucks or put another way the load deck sits on the two bolsters and each bolster sits on a pair of trucks. They also build depressed center flats the same way, but normally their deck is too short to accommodate a load like the one you see here.

Its sad to see a locomotive moved this way.

ETA

Why sad? I think it would be the preferred way to move a smaller unit to protect it from damage.

Its sad, because some days I feel old and get cynical. Its sad because it is a commentary on modern railroading. It says that some in this industry cannot follow our own rules (company and manufacturer) and safely move rail equipment on its own wheels. And finally, the truly sad thing is that putting it on the flatcar and moving it no doubt cost the owner a small fortune and is NO GUARANTEE that it still won't be damaged when it arrives. The only thing worse would be the indignity of seeing it on a truck.

Nice looking motor BTW. I'm glad someone cared enough to move it this way rather than in the scrap gon.

The QTTX has enough capacity (and room) that when you're sending an H-12-44TS halfway across the country you can send a V12-201A along for the ride.

Steve

S1 or S3? I spotted the narrow radiators, after that I'm lost. Yes, I could try looking up that engine but there's got to be other features I'm missing.

S3 - the AAR type A trucks are the giveaway. An S1 has Blunt trucks.

MLW S-3, former CP #6593, last used by the National Research Council's Railway lab in Ottawa, Ontario.

We have her sister #6591 at RMEO.

Steve Hunter

I'm told that an Alco/MLW S1, S2, S3, or S4 can be identified as to the origin of the frame by the position of the front jacking pad (seen here above the front truck's brake cylinder) relative to the handrail stancions on each side of it. If the jacking pad is centered between two stancions, it was originally a 660 HP non-turbo model, S1 or S3. If the pad is offset to one side, it was a 1000 hp model, S2 or S4. My own observations have borne this spotting feature out. But were there any exceptions to this rule? I don't think it applies to the 251 powered switchers.

The unit has roller bearings, so it could be the absence of alignment control couplers which forced her to be placed on a flat car for her journey.

As well as the bad wheel profile mentioned in the auction notice. I'm not sure how bad it is, as we didn't bid on her.

Steve Hunter