Spotlight on Alco's Century 425

Livonia Avon & Lakeville C425 #425 at Avon, New York on 26 June 1996 (Tom Keeping photo **)

Seventeen months into the production of its C424 series locomotive, American Locomotive Company (Alco) made two changes in the model's power-train machinery at the insistence of long-time loyal customer Erie-Lackawanna. The first was a modest increase in horsepower rating to 2500; the second entailed installing the same GT598-type traction generator as used in the railroad's one-month-old GE-built U25Bs. This sharing of common drive-line machinery enabled the railroad to standardize on-the-road performance characteristics of the two 2500-hp models. According to one source, "The C425s were a good locomotive. Good throttle response, good dynamic braking, and reasonably good riding. Overall with timely maintenance from the shops, the 2500-hp units were dependable workhorses."

Schenectady's production of the upgraded four-axle century between October 1964 and June 1966 topped out at 91 units. The Pennsylvania RR was the single largest purchaser with 31 units (#2416-2346), which was an interesting contrast given PRR had previously only owned a solitary C424 (#2415). It should also be noted Alco offered the C425 in either a standard low-nose configuration or with an optional high-nose treatment. Norfolk & Western was the only purchaser of the hi-nose model.

Unlike its C424 predecessor, none of the 2500-hp centuries were built by Alco subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works. Moreover, the model was ordered / purchased only by US-based railroads. However, a small number of C425s reached western Canada via the second-hand locomotive market. Speaking of the used locomotive market, the C425 out sold the 2400-hp century by nearly two-to-one even though production of the more powerful model was close to 50 percent less.

New: 1 May 2023

* * * Original Owner Gallery * * *
Chicago & North Western

#404 at Waseca, Minnesota on 24 January 1981

Ralph Back photo

 Erie Lackawanna

#2454 at Marion, Ohio on 9 September 1968

R. Craig photo
New Haven

#2553 at South Boston, Massachusetts in May 1967

George Turnbull photo **

 Norfolk & Western

#1006 at Melvindale, Michigan in October 1967

R. Craig photo
Norfolk & Western

#1008 (Hi-nose) at Bellevue, Ohio on 1 April 1973

Mike Woodruff

 Pennsylvania RR

#2423 at West Detroit, Michigan in April 1968

R. Craig photo
Spokane Portland & Seattle

#315 at Vancouver, Washington on 19 April 1966

Jack Pfeifer **

 Reference sources:
  • Alco Bulder Construction List
  • Extra 2200 South Locomotive Newsletter (December 1968)
  • Flickr.com
  • Loco Notes II (compiled by Ken Ardinger)
  • Rail Pictures.net
  • RRpictures Archives.com
* * * Second-Hand Owner Gallery * * *
Adirondack Scenic

Leased #2456 (ex-EL 2452) at Carter Station, NY on 29 September 2007

Marty Bernard photo

British Columbia Rwy

#803 (ex-EL 2453) at Whitford, British Columbia in December 1984

Doug Lawson photo

British Columbia Rwy

#805 (ex-EL 2455) at Prince George, British Columbia in June 1986

Doug Lawson photo

Burlington Northern

#4258 (ex-SP&S 320) at Wishram, Washington on 16 June 1979

Chuck Schwesinger photo

Conrail

#5065 (ex-PRR 2427) at Cleveland, Ohio on 10 December 1979

John C. Benson photo **

Delaware-Lackawanna

#2452 (ex-EL 2452) at South Scranton, Pennsylvania on 6 August 2001

Tom Keeping photo **

Detroit & Mackinaw C425m

#1280 (ex-PRR 2439) at Grayling, Michigan on 18 October 1990.

R. Craig photo

Hi-Rail / Maumee & Western

#325 (ex-SP&S 322) at Defiance, Ohio on 1 October 1999

Dale Devene photo

Lake State

#1280 (ex-PRR 2439) at Bay City, Michigan on 23 July 2002

Tom Keeping **

Massachusetts Central

#4264 (ex-SP&S 326) at Palmer, Massachusetts in Summer 1996

Ken Buckman photo

Mohawk Adirondak & Northern

#2453 (ex-EL 2453) at Rome, New York on 28 October 2021

Dave Blazejewski photo

Navajo Mine RR

#LOD 7 (ex-N&W 1000) at Boise, Idaho on 24 September 1973

Joe Brockmeyer photo **

New York & Lake Erie

#6101 (ex-PRR 2423) at Gowanda, New York on 26 June 1996

Tom Keeping photo

Penn Central

#2453 (ex-NH #2553) at Cleveland, Ohio on 23 October 1976

John C. Benson photo **

Port Colborne Harbour

#6101 (ex-PRR 2423) at Port Colborne, Ontario on 27 June 1997

Arnold Mooney photo

Seminole Gulf

#550 (ex-SP&S 320) at Fort Meyers, Florida on 2 September 2002

Kevin Burkholder photo


Production Roster

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Photo

New: 12 May 2006 Compiled by R. Craig
Chicago & North Western 401-404 3468-1 to 4 12/1966 Re-#d to 4255-4258
Erie Lackawana 2451 - 2462 3392-1 to 12 10/1964 Conveyed to Conrail at merger as 2463-2471; sold instead to British Columbiq
New Haven 2550-2559 3398-1 to 10 12/64-1/65 Conveyed to Penn Central at merger (same #s)
Norfolk & Western 1000-1006 3386-1 to 7 10/64 Ordered by Wabash and delivered after merger to N&W
1007-1016 3400-1 to 10 1/1965 Hi-nose; 1010 wrecked
1010(2nd) 3426-01 12/1965 Wreck replacement, hi-nose
Pennsylvania 2416-2421 3394-01 to 06 10-11/64 Conveyed to Conrail at merger as xxxxxx
2422-2436 3493-01 to 15 2-3/65 Conveyed to Conrail at merger as xxxxxx
2437-2446 3433-01 to 10 12/65 Conveyed to Conrail at merger as xxxxxx
Spokane, Portland & Seattle 310 - 317 3423-01 to 08 6-8/65 Conveyed to Burlington Northern at merger as 4250-4257
320-327 3461-01 to 08 5-6/66 Conveyed to Burlington Northern at merger as 2458-4265
Reference sources:
  • Alco Bulder Construction List
  • Extra 2200 South Locomotive Newsletter
  • Loco Notes II (compiled by Ken Ardinger) David Baer

Technical Data
Engine: Alco 2500 hp (4-cycle Model 251C V16) Bore & Stroke: 9" X 10.5"
Generators: Main(GE - GT581D2) / Auxilary (GE 566-E1) RPM: (Maximum 1025 / Minimum 40)
Gear Ratio: 74:18 / 64:19 Speed: 70 mph / 80 mph
4-Wheel Trucks with GE 752 Traction Motors(Four) Air Brake: Westinghouse (Model 26L)
Tractive Effort (starting) 66,000 lbs @ 25% Tractive Effort (continuous): 35,000 lbs @ 8 mph
Compressor: Westinghouse (Model 3CDC) Multiple Unit: Yes
- -
Lengths: (Locomotive 59'-04") and (Pilot to Pilot 52'-06") Widths: Cab (10'-00") / Engine Hood (6'-10")
Truck Wheel Base (9'-04") with 40" diameter wheels Minimum Turning Radious (30 degrees)
Height to Top Engine Hood (14'-06") Height to Top Cab Roof (15'-00")
Distance between Truck Centers (31'-00") Center Bolster (45'-1")
- -
Oil: Fuel (1200 gal.) and Lubricating (200 gal.) Engine Cooling Water (250 gal.) / Sand capacity: 28 cu. ft.
Reference Sources:
  • Railroad Model Craftsman, Issue August 1978
  • Extra 2200 South
  • The Diesel Builders, Vol.2 by John F. Kirkland

Additional info / corrections

Original uploading: 12 May 2006


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