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The Alco C425

The Alco C425 was the builder's third B-B, four-axle road switcher in the series and was essentially a slightly upgraded version of the C424. Once again, the American Locomotive Company (Alco) found only marginal success with the C425 as less than 100 were built for a handful of Class I railroads in the US. By the mid-1960s Alco was withering as a competitive builder of diesel locomotives. General Electric itself had yet to hit its stride (still decades away from doing so) as well, as leader Electro-Motive Division simply outclassed everyone else at the time. However, GE was still selling its Universal designs a few hundred at a time while Alco was lucky to sell 100 units of any particular Century model. The writing was on the wall and sadly, Alco's Schenectady plant would be closed before the decade had ended. Today, several examples of the C425 remain either preserved or operating in freight service on shortlines.

The Alco C425 was a 2,500 horsepower unit and used Alco's by then standard 251C model prime mover. The model had only a two year production from the fall of 1964 through December of 1966. Unfortunately only 91 units were built for six different Class I railroads including the Pennsylvania, SP&S, Norfolk & Western, New Haven, Chicago & North Western, and Erie Lackawanna (virtually all of these lines were Alco regulars purchasing at least a few of nearly every model the company built). Interestingly, even as late as the mid-1960s Alco continued to use internal components from now-competitor GE (such as its standard model 752 traction motors and GT598 main generator, the latter of which could be found in the U25B as well).

It could be argued that the iconic builder simply was losing interest in attempting to remain competitive in the market or that its management simply did not know what railroads really wanted. Whatever the case, even in Alco's last few years in business it made no real attempt to offer anything new and innovative to stay competitive. Perhaps it was only Alco's perception as a marginal locomotive builder with its troublesome early prime mover designs or maybe railroads simply did not like their models, instead choosing the simplicity and known reliability of those built by GE, and in particular, EMD. Whatever the case, Alco could find little success selling locomotives throughout the 1960s selling less than a thousand units in its entire Century series line.

Overall, the C425, as with all of the Century series B-B designs were well built, reliable, and rugged locomotives. The model featured phenomenal pulling power, an Alco trademark and offered the most continuous tractive effort of any of its four-axle designs to date, 57,200 pounds. All of these factors resulted in many railroads using their C425s for several years before retirement, trade-in, or resale. Several were still in use through the late 1980s and you can still find C425s hauling freight on shortlines like the Navajo Mine Railroad, Livonia, Avon & Lakeville, and New York & Lake Erie.

For a total production roster of Alco C425s please click here. Also, for technical data concerning the model please click here. Finally, for more information about the C425 and all Century series designs please refer to the chart below.

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Century Series

Model Type	Units Built	Date Built	Horsepower
C-415	26	1966-1968	1,500
C-420	131	1963-1968	2,000
C-424	190	1963-1967	2,400
C-425	91	1964-1966	2,500
C-430	16	1966-1968	3,000
C-628	186	1963-1968	2,750
C-630	133	1965-1969	3,000
C-636	83	1967-1968	3,600
C-643H	3 (Built For SP)	1964	4,300
C-855	3 (Built For UP)	1964	5,500

For a comprehensive look at the American Locomotive Company and all of the motive power types it built from steam, diesel, to electrics consider the book Alco Locomotives by Brian Solomon. Covering more than 175 pages Mr. Solomon's book details the history of Alco from its esteemed 4-6-4 Hudsons and 4-6-6-4 Challengers to vaunted RS and PA series diesel locomotives. If you have any interest in Alco this book is a must have!

Also consider Mike Schafer's Vintage Diesel Locomotives which looks at virtually all of the classic builders and models from Alco PAs to early EMD Geeps. If you’re interested in classic Alcos, or diesel locomotives in general, this book gives an excellent general history of both. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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