Arkansas and Missouri Railroad Alco C-420 No. 68.
(Intelati, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
ALCO CENTURY C-420 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
The ALCO Century 420 is a four-axle, 2,000 horsepower (1,491 kW) diesel-electric locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company. 131 were built between June 1963 and August 1968. Cataloged as a part of ALCO's "Century" line of locomotives, the C420 was intended to replace the earlier RS-32 model.
Delaware-Lackawanna C-420 No. 414 still in Lehigh Valley livery.
(O484, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Original owners
| Owner | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Erie Mining | 3 |
| Ferrocarril del Sureste | 2 |
| Lehigh & Hudson River Railway | 9 |
| Lehigh Valley Railroad | 12 |
| Long Island Rail Road | 30 |
| Louisville & Nashville Railroad | 16 |
| Monon Railroad | 18 |
| Mississippi Export Railroad | 1 |
| New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad | 1 |
| Norfolk & Western Railroad | 8 |
| Piedmont and Northern Railway | 2 |
| Seaboard Air Line Railroad | 27 |
| Tennessee Central Railway | 2 |
| Total | 131 |
Since 2005, roughly 30% of C-420 production exists. All units ordered by Mississippi Export, New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad ("Nickel Plate"), and Piedmont & Northern Railway have been scrapped.
The two units delivered to the Piedmont & Northern were the first of the Phase II units.
LIRR Alco Century C-420 No. 228 at Oyster Bay, N.Y. in new paint scheme on November 9, 1969.
(Roger Puta, courtesy Marty Bernard, railfan 44, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Preservation
- Lehigh Valley Railroad 405 is currently operating in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as Delaware Lackawanna Railroad 405.
- Lehigh Valley Railroad 408 is at the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum (Oak Ridge, Tennessee) as VLIX 2064.
- Lehigh Valley Railroad 414 is on the Delaware Lackawanna Railroad (Scranton, Pennsylvania).
- Long Island Rail Road 213 is active on the Dakota Southern RR DS paint scheme, same number Mitchell, South Dakota. It has since been sold to the A&M and renumbered to 69.
- Long Island Rail Road 220 is at the Yucatan RR Museum as NdeM 220.
- Louisville & Nashville Railroad 1310 is at the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum (Oak Ridge, Tennessee).
- Louisville & Nashville Railroad 1315 is at the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum (Oak Ridge, Tennessee).
NdeM 5700 is at the Yucatan RR Museum. - Seaboard Air Line Railroad 124 is at the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (Independence, Ohio) as their 365.
- Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad, ex-DCLR, ESHR, VAMD, LIRR 200, is currently in operation.
Lehigh Valley Alco Century C-420 No. 407.
(Tim_kd5urs, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builder: ALCO
Model: Century 420
Build date: June 1963 – August 1968
Total produced: 131
Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR B-B
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Prime mover: ALCO 251
Performance figures
Power output: 2,000 hp (1,491 kW)
An Alco C-420 Gallery
Long Island Rail Road Alco Century-420 203 and 218 at Oyster Bay, NY on November 9, 1969. (Roger Puta, railfan 44, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Apache Railway Alco C420 82 at Snowflake, Arizona, July 23, 1985. Photographer: Peter Arnold. (Craig Garver, Public domain,https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/51713952846/)
Apache Railway Alco C420 83 at Snowflake, Arizona, July 23, 1985. Photographer: Peter Arnold. Built as Monon 516, part of the final order for 12 units, Monon 507-518. It became Louisville & Nashville 1333 in the August, 1971, merger. It was retired in November, 1979, and acquired by the Apache in 1980. Alco No. 3490-10, built August, 1967. (Craig Garver, Public domain, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/51735917403/)
Little Rock & Western Alco C420 101 at Preston, Arkansas, July 6, 1991. Photographer: Craig Garver. (Craig Garver, Public domain, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/51788515981/)
Lehigh Valley Aco C420 414 at Lehighton, Pennsylvania, May 22, 1971. Photographer: Martin Zak. (Craig Garver, Public domain, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/50297889051/)
Lehigh & Hudson River Alco C420 24 at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1964. Photographer: unknown. (Craig Garver, Public domain, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/50338372321/)
Lehigh & Hudson River Alco C420 22 at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1966. Photographer: unknown. (Craig Garver, Public domain, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/50338378397/)
Seaboard Air Line Alco C420 120 at Raleigh, North Carolina, June, 1965. Photographer: probably Warren Calloway. (Craig Garver, Public domain, https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalrailartist/50326980043/)
Alco C420 units 29 and 23 passing the General Office Building of the Lehigh and Hudson River Railway ay Warwick, NY, June 11, 1976. Photo courtesy Mary Jayne Rowe. (© Mary Jayne's Railroad Specialties, Inc., Fair use, Title 17, Section 107, via W. Lenheim Collection)
Arkansas & Missouri Railroad Alco C-420 No. 44, Alco RS-32 No. 42, and Alco C-420 No. 46 exiting the Winslow Tunnel (built 1882) on October 24, 1987. Photo courtesy R. P. Hannold. (© Mary Jayne's Railroad Specialties, Inc., Fair use, Title 17, Section 107, via W. Lenheim Collection)
Alco Century C-420 No. 200 built for the Long Island Rail Road with a high short hood and steam generator. Photo Courtesy American Locomotive Company. (Audio-Visual Designs, Earlton, NY, Public domain, via W. Lenheim Collection)
April 1, 1974. Two years later to the day both units went to Conrail, becoming Nos. 2075 and 2076, respectfully. (Photo by Aron Blum, © 1987. Parlor Car Enterprises, Hopatcong, NJ. Fair use, Title 17, Section 107, via W. Lenheim Collection)
Arkansas & Missouri Alco C-420 No. 48, built August 1965 as SAL 126, at Fort Smith, AR on February 19, 1988. Photo courtesy George W. Hockaday. (© Mary Jayne's Railroad Specialties, Inc., Fair use, Title 17, Section 107, via W. Lenheim Collection)
Long Island Rail Road Alco C-420 No. 224 at the LIRR Oyster Bay Yard, February, 1976. (c WWW.RAILCARDS.COM, Alameda, CA, Fair use, Title 17, Section 107, via W. Lenheim Collection)
Susquehanna Alco C-420 No. 2000 leading an excursion at Clayville, NY and sporting a new livery, July 18, 1982. (Photo © Carl Sturner. Audio-Visual Designs, Earlton, NY. Fair use, Title 17, Section 107, via W. Lenheim Collection)
Delaware & Hudson and Erie-Lackawanna Railroads displaying Bicentennial units at the Starrucca Viaduct. The viaduct was built in 1848 by the Erie Railroad. Photo credit: Samuel Swartz. (© Mary Jayne's Railroad Specialties, Inc., Fair use, Title 17, Section 107, via W. Lenheim Collection)
