Riding a Piece of History: ALCO RSD #805 Experience at the Orrville Railroad Heritage Society!

Built in 1943 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO), the RSD series of 6-axle road switchers was designed for heavy freight service, offering increased traction and low-speed pulling power compared to earlier road switchers. These locomotives quickly proved their value during World War II. RSD #805 originally served with the U.S. Army’s Persian Gulf Command, where units of this type were deployed in Iran to support the massive Allied supply effort along the Trans-Iranian Railway. They helped move vital wartime materials through some of the most challenging rail conditions in the world, playing a key role in supplying the Soviet Union via the “Persian Corridor.” Today, #805 stands as a living example of mid-century diesel engineering—still delivering the sound, power, and character that made ALCO famous.