ALCO Century Series locomotives
Encyclopedia
The ALCO Century Series locomotives were a line of locomotives produced by Alco,the Montreal Locomotive Works
, and A. E. Goodwin Ltd under license in Australia. Production of the Century Series began in 1963 and ended in 1972. MLW and Goodwin continued to build Century locomotives after Alco ended locomotive production and shut down in early 1969. A total of 841 locomotives, in eleven variants, were produced over the ten years of production.
was approved for development in 1951. This engine was put through nearly five years of testing before entering domestic production in four sizes 900 hp, 1800 hp, 2000 hp, and 2400 hp in a new line of locomotives. By 1956 General Electric
had launched their first Universal Series road locomotives primarily as export units. The U25B
followed in 1961 and rapidly propelled GE into second place in the locomotive market, behind EMD. Faced with this market situation, Alco in 1962 completely redesigned their road locomotive line, creating what would become the Century Series. The locomotives were designed to equal and surpass competitors' products in terms of both features and performance. To meet that end, the new locomotives included, among other features, a redesign of the air system, an improved traction control system
, and improved accessibility and maintainability. The series was first introduced on January 29, 1963, in Chicago
, Illinois
, consisting of three locomotives, the 2,000-horsepower B-B model C420, 2,400-horsepower B-B model C424, and the 2,400-horsepower C-C model C624, which was subsequently abandoned in favor of a more powerful model, the 2,750-horsepower C628. During speeches at the event, Alco executives promoted the new locomotives' reduced operating costs, a major effort in the design of the machines. Combined with unit reduction through higher powered locomotives, as well as liberal trade-in terms, Alco claimed operating cost could be reduced as much as 44%.
for a dual engine unit to replace up to ten first-generation locomotives. It was powered by two Model 251C 16 cylinder engines, producing 5,500 horsepower. Only three were built, all in 1964. Two of the units had control cabs and one was a booster unit.
, which offered more power than anything in production at the time. The C636 was powered by 3,600 horsepower, 16 cylinder, Model 251F engine. Alco built 34 units through 1968. A. E. Goodwin Ltd built 31 units in Australia under license from Alco between 1968 and 1972. Total production was 65 units.
was one of the original models announced at the launch event, but never went into production, its design having been eclipsed by rapid advances in engine technology. The successor to it was the C628.
Montreal Locomotive Works
Montreal Locomotive Works was a Canadian railway locomotive manufacturer which existed under several names from 1883–1985, producing both steam and diesel locomotives. For a number of years it was a subsidiary of the American Locomotive Company...
, and A. E. Goodwin Ltd under license in Australia. Production of the Century Series began in 1963 and ended in 1972. MLW and Goodwin continued to build Century locomotives after Alco ended locomotive production and shut down in early 1969. A total of 841 locomotives, in eleven variants, were produced over the ten years of production.
Background and development
During the 1950s, EMD had become the major player in the North American diesel locomotive market, with Alco relegated to second place. This was largely due to their Model 244 diesel engine suffering from significant reliability issues. In response to these issues a new engine design the ALCO 251ALCO 251
The Alco 251 diesel engine was developed by the American Locomotive Company to replace the 244 and 539. The 251 was developed to be used in diesel locomotives, as a marine power plant in ships and as a stationary power generator.-Development:...
was approved for development in 1951. This engine was put through nearly five years of testing before entering domestic production in four sizes 900 hp, 1800 hp, 2000 hp, and 2400 hp in a new line of locomotives. By 1956 General Electric
GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. It is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine...
had launched their first Universal Series road locomotives primarily as export units. The U25B
GE U25B
The GE U25B was General Electric's first independent entry into the United States domestic diesel-electric railroad locomotive market for heavy production road locomotives since 1936...
followed in 1961 and rapidly propelled GE into second place in the locomotive market, behind EMD. Faced with this market situation, Alco in 1962 completely redesigned their road locomotive line, creating what would become the Century Series. The locomotives were designed to equal and surpass competitors' products in terms of both features and performance. To meet that end, the new locomotives included, among other features, a redesign of the air system, an improved traction control system
Traction control system
A traction control system , also known as anti-slip regulation , is typically a secondary function of the anti-lock braking system on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels...
, and improved accessibility and maintainability. The series was first introduced on January 29, 1963, in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, consisting of three locomotives, the 2,000-horsepower B-B model C420, 2,400-horsepower B-B model C424, and the 2,400-horsepower C-C model C624, which was subsequently abandoned in favor of a more powerful model, the 2,750-horsepower C628. During speeches at the event, Alco executives promoted the new locomotives' reduced operating costs, a major effort in the design of the machines. Combined with unit reduction through higher powered locomotives, as well as liberal trade-in terms, Alco claimed operating cost could be reduced as much as 44%.
C420
The C420 was one of the first models launched, and was powered by a 2,000 horsepower, 12 cylinder, Model 251C engine. It was launched at the inaguaral event for the Century series in 1963, and remained in production until 1968. A total of 131 units were built, including 22 passenger models for the Long Island Railroad in 1963, supplemented in 1968 by an additional order of eight more with Alco's Hi-Ad trucks.C424
The C424 was another of the initial models launched, and was powered by a 2,400 horsepower, 16 cylinder, Model 251B engine. It remained in production until 1967. A total of 190 units were built, although only 53 went to domestic costumers; the remainder went to Mexican or Canadian customers.C628
The C628 was intended as a replacement for the C624, announced at the Chicago launch event, but never produced due to being made rapidly obsolete by improvements in engine technology. The C628 was powered by a 2,750 horsepower, 16 cylinder, Model 251C engine. It was launched in 1963, and remained in production until 1968. A total of 186 units were produced, including five exported to Australia.C425
The C425 was launched in 1964 in response to a request from Erie-Lackawanna for a 2,500 horsepower B-B locomotive, and was powered by a 2,500 horsepower, 16 cylinder Model 251C engine. It remained in production until December 1966, just five months before the final C424 was delivered in May 1967. A total of 91 units were built.C855
The C855 was launched in 1964 in response to a request from the Union Pacific RailroadUnion Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
for a dual engine unit to replace up to ten first-generation locomotives. It was powered by two Model 251C 16 cylinder engines, producing 5,500 horsepower. Only three were built, all in 1964. Two of the units had control cabs and one was a booster unit.
C630
The C630 was launched in 1965, prompted the impending launches of locomotives by both GE and EMD of equivalent size, and was the first production locomotive to use AC technology, as the complexity of DC generators were too large and complex to be used at such high powers. It was powered by a 3,000 horsepower, 16 cylinder, Model 251E engine. It was launched in 1965, and remained in production until 1967, with 77 units produced.C630M
The C630M was the Canadian version of the C630. It was built by MLW from 1967 to 1969. A total of 56 units were produced.C430
The C430 was a four-axle equivalent of the C630, and used the same AC equipment and engines. It was launched in 1966 as the latest update of B-B locomotives, and introduced Alco's new high-adhesion truck, offered as an option on the C630, but standard on the C430. Production ended in 1967, after 16 were produced.C415
The C415 was launched in 1966 as a new switcher, designed for operation by a single person. It used a 1,500 horsepower, 8 cylinder, Model 251E engine, configured as a V-8. It remained in production until 1968, with 26 units built.C636
The C636 was launched in 1967 in response to the introduction of the EMD SD45EMD SD45
The EMD SD45 is a six-axle diesel locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between December, 1965, and December, 1971. Power was provided by an EMD 645E3 twenty-cylinder engine which generated 3,600 HP. This locomotive shared the same common frame with the EMD SD38, EMD SD39, EMD...
, which offered more power than anything in production at the time. The C636 was powered by 3,600 horsepower, 16 cylinder, Model 251F engine. Alco built 34 units through 1968. A. E. Goodwin Ltd built 31 units in Australia under license from Alco between 1968 and 1972. Total production was 65 units.
C643DH
Alco built three hydraulic drive locomotives for Southern Pacific in 1964. These units were equipped with the Voith hydraulic drive system and a pair of 12 cylinder 251 engines producing 2,150 horsepower each for a combined total of 4,300 horsepower.C624
The C624ALCO Century 624
The ALCO Century 624 was a six-axle, 2400 horsepower diesel locomotive of the road switcher type. In 1963, the C624 was proposed for Alco's new Century series road switchers as a successor to Alco's earlier road switcher, the RSD-15. However, it was never produced. Its successor was the C628....
was one of the original models announced at the launch event, but never went into production, its design having been eclipsed by rapid advances in engine technology. The successor to it was the C628.
C620
The C620 would have been a 2,000 horse power, six axle locomotive, powered by the same engine as the C420. The design was proposed to several railroads, but no orders were placed.C428
The C428 would have been a 2,750 horsepower, four axle locomotive, powered by the same engine as the C628. Due to the complexity of DC generators at this level of power, the AC powered C430 was developed instead.C636P and C636F
The C636P and C636F would have been cowled (full-width enclosed carbody) units based on the C636. The C636P was a dual service design, and the C636F was Alco's response to a request by the Santa Fe Railroad for a cowled locomotive in both cab and booster form.Order totals
| Type | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C424 | |
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| C420 | |
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| C628 | |
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| C855 | |
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| C425 | |
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| C630 | |
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| C430 | |
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| C415 | |
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| C636 | |
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| Total | 37 | 181 | 169 | 152 | 56 | 70 | 665 |