An Alco C424 diesel locomotive has joined the N scale Master Line from Atlas Model Railroad Co. The model is based on tooling originally introduced by Life-Like in the early 2000s. Since acquiring the model from Wm. K. Walthers Inc. in 2018, Atlas has made improvements to the four-axle road switcher, specifically to the cab and sills.
Prototype history
Alco produced the C424 from April 1963 until May 1967. During that time 190 diesels were built for railroads in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The road switcher, rated at 2,400 horsepower, had a 16 cylinder, 251B diesel engine.
The sample we received is decorated as Green Bay & Western No. 314. The Phase III C424 was built in April 1965 and assigned to subsidiary Kewaunee, Green Bay & Western, wearing the same road number. The GB&W and KGB&W merged on June 1, 1969.
The C424 was retired on Aug. 27, 1993, after Wisconsin Central took over the GB&W. Later that year, the 314 and two other ex-GB&W units were traded to Minnesota Commercial. In return, WC received a pair of Electro-Motive Division SW1500 switchers…