Delaware-Lackawanna No. 3642, an Alco Century 636.
(O484, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
ALCO CENTURY C636 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
The ALCo Century 636 was the most powerful single-engine diesel-electric locomotive constructed by the American Locomotive Company (ALCo). It used their 251 prime mover. The locomotive had a C-C wheel arrangement and 3,600 horsepower (2,700 kW). The locomotive rode on a pair of trucks of all-new design, known as the Hi-Ad, standing for 'high adhesion'. Visually, it is similar to the Century 630, but can be distinguished by the intercooler box. The C630 has two grilles here, one above the other. The C636 only has the upper grille.
CN 2335 was an M636 built by Montreal Locomotive Works, a subsidiary of ALCO. Shown here on July 3, 1971 at Belleville, ON, Canada.
(Roger Puta, courtesy Marty Bernard from U.S.A., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Production
Between 1967 and 1968, 34 C636 locomotives were built by Alco in Schenectady, New York. Despite many new and innovative features, the C636 could not hold its own in the marketplace. Three demonstrator locomotives were built costing Alco about $5.5 million. Problems with Alco demonstrator number 636-2, the only demonstrator locomotive operating, were a factor in dissuading potential customers. During an evaluation on the Santa Fe Railway, the same traction motor blower on 636-2 failed and was replaced on three of four runs. Unit 636-2 also had unsatisfactory results while being tested on the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Montreal Locomotive Works produced the MLW M-636 variant of the C636 for Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway.
In Australia, AE Goodwin built 29 C636s between May 1968 and September 1970 for Pilbara iron ore railroads. Hamersley Iron purchased 12 units in 5 separate orders. Bechtel purchased 5 C636s for use in the construction of the Mount Newman Mining facilities. The latter company ordered 12 C636s a year later and bought Bechtel's locomotives. Hamersley Iron had their fleet rebuilt in the 1980s by Comeng, Bassendean with the Australian designed Pilbara cab.
A cab end view of ex-Mt Newman Mining ALCO M636 2,684 kW Co-Co diesel-electric loco No. 5497, at the Don Rhodes Mining and Transport Museum, Wilson Street, Port Hedland, Western Australia. (Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
A hood end view of ex-Mt Newman Mining ALCO M636 2,684 kW Co-Co diesel-electric loco No. 5497, at the Don Rhodes Mining and Transport Museum, Wilson Street, Port Hedland, Western Australia. (Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
Original owners
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alco Products (demonstrators) | 3 | 636-1–636-3 | To Québec Cartier Mining Company 77-79 |
| Illinois Central Railroad | 6 | 1100–1105 | to Illinois Central Gulf in 1972, same numbers |
| Penn Central | 15 | 6330–6344 | Ordered by PRR before PC merger; to Conrail as 6780-6794 |
| Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway | 10 | 330–335, 340–343 | To Burlington Northern 4360-4369 |
| Hamersley Iron | 12 | 3006–3017 | Built by AE Goodwin, Australia |
| Mount Newman Mining | 17 | 5452–5468 | Built by AE Goodwin, Australia |
| Total | 63 |
RPRX 78, now NYSW 3660, is on the point of SU-100 at Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, September 2005.
(John Eric Durant, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons)
Current usage
As of March 2020, the only C636 in existence is in operation on the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad of Scranton, PA. The two former Cartier, ex-Alco demonstrator units stored on the Bath and Hammondsport Railroad for many years have been scrapped by a local contractor. The NYS&W is currently an all-EMD powered railroad. The WNY&P still operates M630 and M636 MLW locomotives, but these units were scheduled be removed from service in Summer 2019 and replaced by GE AC6000CWs that formerly served with CSX Transportation. The WNYP M-630s and M-636s are reportedly going to the Delaware-Lackawanna in the future.
Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Diesel-electric
Builder: ALCo, MLW, AE Goodwin (licensee)
Model: Century 636
Build date: December 1967 – September 1970
Total produced: 63
Specifications
Configuration:
• AAR C-C
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Prime mover: Alco 16-251F
Engine type: V16 diesel engine
Cylinders: 16
Performance figures
Power output: 3,600 hp (2.7 MW)
Career
Disposition: Most scrapped, some rebuilt, 1 preserved
