Alco's Century Series Volume 1 - Four Axle Models by McMillan, Stephen - 2003

Halifax, Penn, USA: Withers Publishing, 2003. 1st Edition . Soft cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 168 pages colour and b/w photos line drawings - In April 1963, ALCo Products, Inc., introduced the Century line of diesel-electric locomotive models to the North American market. Designed to compete with the latest designs from General Motors and General Electric, initial offerings included the 2,000-horsepower C-420 and 2,400-horsepower C-424. Both models rode on B-B trucks, production of a C-C truck model, designated the C-628, began in late 1963. But this was to be the last hurrah of what was, at one time in aggregate, the nation's largest locomotive builder. Between 1848 and 1963, the American Locomotive Company (its name was changed to ALCo Products in 1955) and its multiple predecessors built more than 90,000 locomotives. Most of these were steam locomotives, with the builder producing its first successful diesel-electric in 1924. Century production lasted for only five years, as competition from a onetime ally, General Electric, ate away at ALCo's market share. Production of the Century line ended in 1969, although the designs continued to be built in Canada for another six years.