Rapido Trains 45546 HO ALCO C-425 New Haven “Trustee Scheme” NH 2559 (DCC & Sound)

In the 1960s, the American Locomotive Company faced fierce competition from GEs Universal Series and EMDs General Purpose locomotives. ALCOs 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. Wabashs 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 GEs 598 main generator, which was also used on GEs 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 engineers 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 Lackawannas 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 ALCOs Schenectady shop floor. The Century models include all the features and details youve come to expect from a Rapido model and then some!

FEATURES:

• 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 Rapidos 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
• Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound (recorded from a real Century locomotive!)
• Suggested minimum radius: 18

NOTE: Road number may vary from picture shown, image is for illustrative purposes.