Locomotive Spotlight #4-2022 / Delaware & Hudson Alco C24m #451

Locomotive Spotlight #4-2022

Delaware & Hudson Alco C424m#451

 

Greetings All,

Today's focus will be on the Atlas model D&H #451 which I found  had a very interesting prototype history.

Model Information:

Delaware & Hudson #451 is an Atlas-Kato yellow box model of an Alco C424 that I picked up in the great train store haul on June 3rd, 2022. The as purchased model was like new, came with the horn hook couplers and looked to be run very little if at all.

The model is readied for service with the installation of Kadee #5 couplers.

The 451 ran smoothly and flawlessly in local switching and transfer train service. Below it switches a boxcar at Empire City Produce.

D&H #451 brings a train thru Bedford NY. The prototype D&H #451 had white number boards and black numerals.

The D&H specified that the protruding rear number boards be removed during rebuilding and replaced with a smooth contoured rear.

Prototype Information:

The prototype information for D&H #451 draws heavily from the Alco Treasury edited by Steve Barry and Otto M. Vondrak and published by White River productions. Excerpts from the articles "When Alcos came from GE Parts 1 and 2" by Jim Rowland were used to follow the D&H #451's very interesting story. 

 

D&H C424m #451 History

D&H #451 started life as Erie Lackawanna C424 #2401 similar to the EL #2405 seen below in this photo. 

Photo: Rails4me courtesy of Creative Commons. 

EL C424 #2401 would be conveyed to Conrail on April 1st, 1976 and be renumbered CR #2475. from what I can see it did not receive a CR blue paint job. Conrail Cyclopedia reports that CR #2475 was retired in 1978 and sold to General Electric. 

Enter General Electric

As Railroads were transitioning from first generation to second generation power GE, a one time Alco partner, received a substantial amount of traded in Alco units that contained their own equipment. With a surge of traffic and expanded territories in the mid 1970s GE entered the locomotive refurbishing market opening the former Erie RR locomotive shop located in Hornell, NY.

The ex EL #2401/ CR #2575 was rebuilt in June 1980 by GE at Hornell as D&H C424m #451. The rebuild was part of a six car order (#451-#456) by the D&H that specified among other things that the 16 cylinder C424 prime movers be replaced with Alco 12 cylinder prime movers. This was preceded by a similar three car order for the D&H (#461-#463) in May 1980 that was financed by interchange partner Genesee& Wyoming RR. 

Guilford Rail System Takes Over 

In 1984 the D&H became part of the Guilford Rail System. The D&H C424ms retained their numbers until 1987 when Guilford began transferring some assets to its Springfield Terminal subsidiary. D&H #451 would become Springfield Terminal #70 in 1987 and get a full Guilford / Springfield Terminal paint job. Guilford Rail System MEC and Springfield Terminal paint jobs as seen in this 2007 photo. 

Photo: Voluntary Amputation courtesy of Creative Commons

D&H Placed into Bankruptcy / NYS&W Takes Over

In 1988 the Guilford placed the D&H into bankruptcy and the rebuilt C424ms were returned to home rails with the NYS&W becoming the court ordered operator of the D&H.

Canadian Pacific Buys the D&H

In 1990 Canadian Pacific began to take over the day to day D&H operations. For a short time the active C424ms found themselves coupled to CP red units as they hauled freight from one end of the system to another. The sale became official in 1991 however the CP declined to accept the C424ms.

Back to Guilford Rail System 

The remaining C424ms were court ordered back to Guilford who had initiated the bankruptcy and they were assigned to Guilford's Maine Central (MEC) RR. D&H #451, ST #70 would now become MEC #450. 

In 1995 the C424ms 15 year lease was ending the units were withdrawn from service. In preparation for end of lease return the operable rebuilt C424ms, #450, #451, #452 and #454 were stored at East Deerfield, Mass with a murky future. 

East Deerfield Yard 2009. Photo: traingeek. Courtesy of Creative Commons.

Livonia, Avon & Lakeville to the Rescue: 

Western NY short line LAL expanded significantly in 1996 and was in need of additional motive power. Learning that the Guilford C-424ms were available the LAL chief mechanical officer went to inspect the units. Pleased with what he found the LAL was able to purchase all four units from the leaseholder. The ex EL #2401, Conrail #2475, D&H #451, Springfield Terminal #70, Maine Central #450 would be painted as Livonia, Avon & Lakeville #424. The LAL #424 was last photographed in service at Avoca NY on May 2nd, 2017 as reported on the RR picture archives website.

Various paint schemes of our subject locomotive

EL C424 #2401

Conrail C424 #2475

D&H C424m #451

D&H C424m #70 (Guilford)

Springfield Terminal #70 (Guilford)

Maine Central C424m #450 (Guilford)

LAL C424m  #424

Other Links

Conrail Cyclopedia / C424 #2475

Final Thoughts

The bargain basement purchase price for the used Atlas 1:87 scale D&H C424m #451 seems quite prototypical after reading the Alco Treasury articles. The story of the GE rebuilds was very interesting and I highly recommend the Alco Treasury book for its excellent articles and photography.

The D&H C424m #451 model is a fine running engine but it faces an uncertain future in this livery. It's 1980-1987 era paint job puts it well into the Conrail era which is pretty much beyond my modeling scope. 

Giving the D&H running rights to my Terminal Yard in a 1980-1987 operating session is something that can be considered but I'm really not set up for the years 1980-1987. When I purchased the model my intent was to repaint it but after learning about its history I'll keep the model in D&H paint for the time being. Knowing the history is however a double edged sword. Now when I look at the model it clearly states 1980-1987.

Thanks for reading!!!

See you soon!!!