HO Scale ALCO/MLW “Century” C-424 and ALCO C-425

In the 1960s, the American Locomotive Company faced fierce competition from GE’s Universal Series and EMD’s General Purpose locomotives. ALCO’s response was the “Century” Series of locomotives, designed to outperform their competitors with better quality components. In 1963, ALCO introduced the C-424, designed to replace their RS-27 model, outputting 2,400-horsepower. 98 units were produced from 1963 through 1967 for nine US and one Mexican railroad. Wabash’s seven were originally built for NdeM, but due to financing issues were resold to the Wabash. Around the same time the Montreal Locomotive Works, under license from ALCO, began producing their version of the C-424 for Canadian National and Canadian Pacific, totaling 92 units. The C-424 featured multiple phases, body variations, and even handrail positions. For only 183 locomotives built, they sure had many quirks. Early versions featured winged radiators (with smooth sides on the hood) and walkway-mounted handrails. Later versions had the signature ALCO “notch” and sill-mounted railings. The MLW versions were mostly built with nose-mounted headlights, Dofasco trucks and split-side 2,000 gallon fuel tanks. Later, CP modified their fleet heavily, which remained in service until 1998.

The C-425 was cataloged as an “upgraded” C-425, outputting 100 more horsepower than its counterpart. The C-425 used the same 251C prime mover as their C-424 counterpart but used GE’s 598 main generator, which was also used on GE’s U25B series. The C-425s featured the normal ALCO “notch” ends, squared-off radiator sides and two phases: I and II. The Phase II models had razorback-style steps, larger sill cutouts, and both air tanks on the engineer’s side. 91 examples were built for six railroads — all American. Once again, of these 91 built, they featured many road-specific details. N&W ordered 18 with their usual high-hood specifications. PRR and NH requested a unique horizontal headlight so the horn could be fitted just above it for catenary clearance purposes. Erie Lackawanna’s 12 were later sold to the British Columbia Railway, which became cult icons!

Of the 271 C-424 and C-425s built, a large quantity remains in-service over 60 years after they rolled off ALCO’s Schenectady shop floor. Our Century models include all the features and details you’ve come to expect from a Rapido model and then some!

The Rapido “Century” Series ALCO/MLW C-424 and ALCO C-425 Locomotives Feature:

• Rotating bearing caps (where appropriate)
• Multiple nose, long hood and cab variations: nose light, high nose and sand fill caps
• Full lighting package including track lights, walkway lights and three-color class lights
• Heavy die-cast frame with many separate details
• With or without dynamic brakes (where appropriate)
• Road-specific fuel tanks
• Full interior details
• Separate metal grab irons
• Prototypically correct tread patterns on walkways
• Correct details for different phase variations
  (C-424 Ph. I, II and III / C-425 Ph. I and II)
• GE/Hornell rebuild features correct “bump-out” panel, cut down rear radiator wings and more!)
• Walkway or sill-mounted handrails, using Rapido’s innovative dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions
• Etched-metal steps with fold-over step edge designs
• Correct GSC or Dofasco trucks
• Traction motor details on trucks
• Rubber air and sanding lines
• MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
• DC/DCC ready or Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound (recorded from a real Century locomotive!)
• Suggested minimum radius: 18”