ALCO C-430 DIESEL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE - BOWSER EXECUTIVE DCC/SOUND
Brief history.
The ALCO "Century" C-430 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive with a power of 3.000 Hp (2,237 kW), used by a road switcher type or pulling mixed freight trains on the regional lines. 16 locos were built between July 1966 and February 1968: 10 units to New York Central, two for Reading, a single unit purchased by Green Bay & Western and the first 3 engines built were used by Alco as demo.
Cataloged as a part of ALCO's 'Century' line of locomotives, the C-430 was an upgraded version of the C-425 model. The increase in power of 500 HP is due to the 16-cylinder diesel engine Alco 251C improvement that equipped C-425 model (251E variant). A prominent aftercooler bulge just behind the cab is the key spotting feature on the C-430.
The ALCO "Century" C-430 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive with a power of 3.000 Hp (2,237 kW), used by a road switcher type or pulling mixed freight trains on the regional lines. 16 locos were built between July 1966 and February 1968: 10 units to New York Central, two for Reading, a single unit purchased by Green Bay & Western and the first 3 engines built were used by Alco as demo.
Cataloged as a part of ALCO's 'Century' line of locomotives, the C-430 was an upgraded version of the C-425 model. The increase in power of 500 HP is due to the 16-cylinder diesel engine Alco 251C improvement that equipped C-425 model (251E variant). A prominent aftercooler bulge just behind the cab is the key spotting feature on the C-430.
Ten C-430 marked the last locomotive purchase of the New York Central prior to the Penn Central merger. All 10 to be assigned Conrail (with the two former Reading) numbers at the start-up of the new railroad. All Alco production units (including the C-430 model) have been removed from service by Conrail between late 1979 and early 1980.
Today, at least 5 examples of the C-430 remain preserved around the country, some in regular services with the regional railroad Western New York & Pennsylvania.
Specifications / Technical data
Builder: ALCO
Production: 1966-1968
Total production: 16
Conrail roster: 12 (10 ex-NYC and 2 ex-EL)
Wheel arrangement: B-B
Gauge: 4 ft 8,5 in
Loco weight: 272.000 lb
Lenght: 19,20 meters
Power: Fuel oil
Prime mover: Alco 251E-V16 16 cylinders
Speed: 70 mph
Tractive effort: 68.220 lbs
Century set. Penn Central's C-430 #2058 and #2056 at Mingo Junction in 1972.
C-430 #2052 in CR's blue paint at Mingo Junction in 1978.
Conrail C-430 engine number #2056.
The serial number #2056 and other C-430 "Century" diesel locomotives (the fleet was formed by twelve engines, as written above) served essentially on regional and local freight lines in Ohio (based at Mingo Junction essentially) and West Virginia (north-est border with Pennsylvania, westbound lines from Pittsburgh and, by chance, on the ex-Lehigh Valley lines around Allentown and Bethlehem). As some his sisters, the unit #2056 worked in the early months of Conrail wearing the previous Penn Central livery, with the PC logos. The first CR patches on these powers were seen in early 1977. Only few units received the definitive blue Conrail colors. The Century unit #2056 (ex-NYC/PC) would become New York Susquehanna & Western Railway number 3006 in 1982.
ALCO C-430 Conrail #2056 data
Road Number: 2056
Type: B-B diesel locomotive
Builder: ALCO
Built: 1967
CN: 3494-07
Disposition:
Previous owner: New York Central Railroad, Penn Central
Remarks:
Assignment:
C-430 CR-2056 leads a freight in 1977 (location unknown).
Alco C-430 No.2056 of Conrail in black livery (Penn Central original painted).
The Bowser Executive Line ALCO C-430 "CENTURY SERIES" Conrail No.2056.
The C-430 model in AT Collection roster is a Bowser Tsunami Sounds product. The level of details is high in every parts in this HO scale locomotives. The only interventions that became necessary, were the replacement of the horn, the addition of the braking system (chains and tubes) on the anterior trucks and the addiction of the sanding pipes. The Bowser Executives line model incorporates a decoder DCC that faithfully reproduces the sound of the engine Alco 251E-V16.