Greetings All,
Locomotive Spotlight #6-2023
The 2434 Project
AKA Penn Central C425 #2434 Project
Welcome to another locomotive spotlight!!! Today the spotlight will shine on Penn Central C425 #2434. As usual we'll take a look at the model and the prototype.
Model Information
This locomotive project has been in the making since last summer when I purchased two used Atlas-Kato locomotives for repainting at my LHS, Trainmaster Models in Auburn, Georgia during a big sale on used merchandise. The locomotives were the SP RS11 and a D&H C424m as seen below.
After reading the article and noting the locomotives history I featured the D&H 451 in Locomotive Spotlight #4-2022.
As seen below the D&H 451 is leading a freight train towards Terminal Yard.
Once again based on the engines prototype history the D&H 451 got a reprieve from the paint booth that lasted until July 2023 as the locomotive continued to languish in its box and not providing any sort of enjoyment or revenue running on the layout.
This Atlas model comes in three parts that must be separated to get the shell off the frame and the windows, number board and headlight glass out of the cab.
"Pennsylvania Railroad Alco C425 2434" by Digital Rail Artist is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/?ref=openverse.
"Pennsylvania Railroad Alco C425 2431" by Digital Rail Artist is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/?ref=openverse.
"3/20/79, Conrail C425 2421" by OHFalcon72 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd-nc/2.0/jp/?ref=openverse.
"4/28/79, CR C425 2455" by OHFalcon72 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd-nc/2.0/jp/?ref=openverse.
"11/79, Conrail C425 5066" by OHFalcon72 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd-nc/2.0/jp/?ref=openverse.
The 2434 gets pulled out of the Terminal Yard Shop by PC 44 Tonner #9999
The 2434 heads to the engine terminal for fuel and sand.
On another weekend photo trip the KPRS guys catch the 2434 and sister 2422 lashed up to haul a coal train from Terminal Yard to Selkirk.
KPRS members TC, Benny, Chooch and Easy get a good profile shot of the 2434. The addition of the 2434 to my PC fleet gives me three PC C425s, one PC C424, and RS-11 #7608 that are all from Atlas Kato and m.u. together in DC very well.
The Coal Drag is forced onto the Belt Line thru Empire City to allow faster traffic to pass it on the mainline.
On another day the 2434 leads a four unit Century set with a unit grain train.
Another day and another train finds the 2434 bringing up the rear of this four unit consist.
The 2434 with four more Alco Centuries is back in mineral service lugging a long coal train towards RA Tower. The third unit is a non powered TYCO C430 painted and numbered as PC 2059.
The 2434 and friends at work hauling various trains.
As I wrote in that spotlight post the locomotive was good looking and I liked the prototype history but I wasn't really set up for the 1980-1987 time that it wore this paint scheme.
After the train was yarded and the power was cut off the 451 hung around in the engine terminal for a little awhile and then went back into it's box where it pretty much stayed until July 2023.
The SP RS-11 became ex NYC / Penn Central RS11 #7608 in the Fall of 2022. Here it is being released from the Terminal Yard engine shop.
The 7608 and was featured in Locomotive Spotlight #9-2022. At the time of the repainting of the RS11 I also cut decals for the D&H 451 to become Penn Central C425 #2434.
PC RS11 #7608 has been recently working out of Bedford Park Yard and servicing the Bedford Park Ford Plant as seen below.
In June I finally made the hard decision to repaint the 451 into a Penn Central unit but hesitated until July 1st to actually begin the paint process with the stripping of the D&H paint in 91% rubbing alcohol. There is no going back now.
Prototype Information
Alco or the American Locomotive Company introduced the Century 425 in 1964 with production running from October 1964 until December 1966. A total of ninety one units were built for six class one railroads.
The C425 was a four axle 2,500 HP diesel electric dynamic brake equipped locomotive utilizing Alco's 16 cylinder turbocharged 251C prime mover and the same main generator as the General Electric U25B.
The Pennsylvania RR signed up for the most purchasing thirty one units (#2416-#2446). The New Haven bought ten units (#2550-#2559). The New York Central bought none.
The PRR units would become Penn Central units on February 01, 1968 retaining their original PRR road numbers.
On January 1st, 1969 the NH C425s would be conveyed to the Penn Central and be renumbered to PC #2450-#2459.
Under Penn Central ownership the ex PRR C425s would be maintenance based at Conway Yard and the ex NH C425s would be based at New Haven.
On April 1st, 1976 all forty one Penn Central C425s would be conveyed to the newly formed Conrail with their original PC numbers with many getting full Conrail paint.
Ex PC #2455, nee NH #2555 hard at work in 1979. The 2455 would later become CR #5085 and retired in March, 1981
Twenty nine of the forty one ex PC C425s would later be renumbered to CR #5060-#5068. The twelve units not renumbered were ex PC 2416, 2417, 2418, 2419, 2420, 2428, 2430, 2433, 2434, 2454, 2456.
Ex PC #2429, nee PRR #2429 also in 1979. The 5066 would be retired in March, 1981.
Back to the Model
On July 9th, 2023 newly painted Penn Central C425 #2434 was released from the Patti O Paint Shop and delivered to the Terminal Yard shop for final assembly.
Now both in PC paint as originally planned the 2434 and 7608 are reunited for a revenue run one year after their initial purchase. The Kings Port Railway Society guys in their signature VW once again have the inside scoop on the happenings at Terminal Yard.
The four axle Penn Central Alco Centuries are capable of hauling the heaviest freight trains I put on the layout running in two, three or four unit sets. Below a three Century lash up comes thru Empire City with newly painted 2434 in the rocking chair.
The 2434 and friends at work hauling various trains.
Final thoughts and Comments
Now that the 2434 project is complete I am happy with the results and don't have any painters remorse. The newly Penn Centralized 2434 is now a featured member of my Penn Central stable and as seen in the above video is at home working various trains on the layout.
The prototype Alco Centuries were strong engines capable of lugging a lot of tonnage. There is just something about the Alco C424/C425s in their dip job paint, small PC herald and large number on the cab sides that just screams Penn Central workhorses to me and I really like how they look in multiple unit consists with each other.
Additional Information and Photos
PC C425 #2416 leads a six unit consist from three builders at Boston, Mass in July 1971.
PC C425 #2419 at Mingo Junction in May, 1974.
PC C425 #2425 visits Morrisville Yard in June, 1973.
PC C425 #2428 with a GE U25 at Jackson, MI in 1976.
PC C425 #2433 under wire with two EMDs at Harrisburg, PA in 1976.
PC C425 #2441 with #2242 at work in Crestline, OH in 1976.
PC C425 #2452 at Detroit in November 1975. Note the ex NH unit has been reassigned from New Haven to Conway possibly for the Mingo Junction power pool that became an Alco stronghold.
PC C425 #2458 at Waterbury, CT in December, 1972.
Railroad Picture Archives photo page of Penn Central C425s
Thanks for reading and watching!!!
See you soon!!!
Another excellent addition to the N.Y.C.T.L. motive power roster! I liked the D&H livery but it wasn't the classic gray and blue paint job of the Penn Central era so I totally support stripping the blue paint to make it Penn Central #2434! Very nicely done as always! The new unit looks great in consist with some of your other Penn Central Power. Railfans like the KPRS armed with cameras could possibly compile a photo illustrated book about Penn Central Power with all of the different makes and models of locomotives seen in Empire city! I wonder if such a book would sell? :) The new Alco looks really good in photos and video. I especially liked the slow moving, bell ringing entrance into North Side Yard. Well done John!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all of the compliments Ralph!!! A Penn Central Power at Terminal Yard book would be cool to put together. Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteAnother great work from the NYCTL and of course, Sir John! Your background information is always interesting and enjoyable to read. The D&H railroad was a line I used to model, until I found the PC and it took center stage. These 4 axle Alco units as well as 6 axle Alco's do have a lot of power. The Delaware-Lackawanna still maintains a fleet of 6 axle engines today! Glad to see the Alco engines alive on your railroad. Top Notch Sir John!!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much 1:1 Sir Neal!!! The PC definitely took center stage for me as well.
DeleteVery nice paint job! The D&H #451 looked good, but your repaint is VERY good! The repaint of the RS11 looks sharp as well. Do you have any repainting plans for the B&O Alco switcher? On another note, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your information on the history of the PC as well as your postings on operations on your rail system. Tell Benny, Chooch, and Easy I said hello!
ReplyDeleteAnd please tell TC hello too!
DeleteThank you very much Robert!!!! If I can figure out how to get the B&O Alco shell off the frame I'll probably paint it as an NYC or PC unit. For now I've placed it in my son's B&O fleet.
DeleteI'll forward your greetings to the KP&W gang!!