Ford had the Edsel and General Motors had the BL2. While EMD, the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, dominated the road diesel market from 1939 onward, competitor Alco in 1941 introduced a new design that that would shape the look of American diesels for decades: the road switcher. Alco's groundbreaking RS-1 combined the versatility of a switcher with the speed and power of a road engine. Its side and end walkways allowed better visibility from the cab and gave switching crews a place to stand, while side hood doors offered better maintenace access.