Penn Central C628s arrive at Terminal Yard

Greetings All,

The Alcos are coming, the Alcos are coming!!!
This is part one of a three part series.

A pair of Penn Central Alco C628s have been transferred from Conway Yard to Terminal Yard and joined my own C628 #6309 for assignment to mineral and ore service. This project was made possible by 1:1 Sir Neal who sent several IHC Premier C628s my way to help in my search for a chassis to put under a John Bruce custom built and painted C630 shell. The C628s however did not work for that project. When I told 1:1 Sir Neal that I was going to send them back he generously said 'keep em'! Thanks Sir Neal!!!

My PC C628 in a 2017 photo. At some point this engine was remotored with an Athearn BB engine. The original IHC Premier chassis went to my son's poorly running AHM US Army C628 and the AHM chassis received the BB motor.    

The downfall of the remotoring was the large weight in the gas tank had to be removed and the engine lacked pulling power.

Here it is being rescued by a GP30 after stalling with a short train while going up the grade on Main 1. To quote Big Mike this unit would slip in the 1/2 notch.

Here is an IHC Premier C628 with it's flywheel equipped motor and the large weight in the fuel tank. The chassis is plastic so that weight is crucial. The motor runs OK with little amperage draw making them good candidates for multiple unit lash ups. But be careful these models seem to have a top speed of about 200 mph!

These IHC engines came with talgo mounted transition type couplers that are way to low.

After fooling around with coupler boxes and seeing how much cutting and filing I would need to do I opted for this simple application.

The Kadee #22, medium overset shank coupler, as installed, matches up well with the Kadee height gauge. Kadee has this conversion application  using the #29 coupler on their website. 

Penn Central C628s #6303 and #6304 are fresh out of the paint shop. The 6304 and 6309 are ready to receive their ACI labels and Conway maintenance base identification and shown on the 6303. 

The motors and trucks were removed to allow the frames to be painted. I've reclaimed my original IHC chassis and motor from the AHM US Army unit to better m.u. with the two additional C628s in this project.

Fuel tanks and trucks have been painted flat black. The fuel tank printing reads Made in Slovenia By Mehano.

Some ALco C628 Prototype info:

The PRR purchased fifteen ALco C628s between March and December 1965 numbering them 6300-6314. The units were equipped with C-C trucks, an Alco 251 engine and capable of producing 2,750 HP.

In early 1970 the Penn Central placed some of the former PRR C628s in helper service at Pitcairn PA to assist with loaded coal trains and heavy freights on the 30 mile long 1% grade from Pittsburgh to Derry PA. Other C628s would join the Alco party at Mingo Junction.     

The trio of C628s have arrived at Terminal Yard

The 6303 sports the small PC logo common on many PC C628s.  

The 6304 wears the early red 'P'. It would later receive an all white PC herald.

The guys have gathered to check out the 6309 and the other beasts from Alco. 1/87th scale Big Mike is quick to point out that this C628 consist is enough to scare any track foreman.  

1/87th scale senior engineer Sir Neal will be doing the honors of running their first coal train out of Terminal Yard. 

The C628s on the move. 

Right now these three C628s are running very well together. They easily pulled the 25 loaded hoppers with track cleaning caboose around the layout and up the grade back to Terminal Yard.

Prototype information courtesy of Penn Central Power by Robert J. Yanosey and Penn Central Bi-Annual by Robert H. Reid.

Big Mike's C628 quote can be found here starting around the 1:00 minute mark.  

Thanks Sir Neal!!!

Thanks for reading and watching!!!!

More Alcos coming out soon!!!