ALCO C-424/425
Hello, I am tring to identify a loco that I picked up at a show/swap meet a few years ago and determines if it is worth installing a decoder. I believe it is an ALCO C-425, but not sure of the manufacturer, Rivarossi, possibly Rocco?
I am attaching photos below. The frame is plastic.The bottom of the weight/fuel tank reads 'Made In Austria'.
I know this is not the best loco to install a decoder in because there is no ventilation inside the body, but this is my only working loco and my bidget is very tight. I will have to settle for a NCE Power Cab if I am going to play with any DCC for now. Hoping for an income tax refund
I figure I can drill out the exhuast stacks and make some minor modifications; I am not very skilled yet, so I won't be out too much if I really foul things up.
Thanks in advance for any information and suggestions on the DCC conversion.
Ben Carhoff, Iowa.
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Got any larger photos?
If it says Made in Austria, it's probably a Roco design. I know Atlas and Roco combined for several units, but I think the C42x was an Atlas/Kato combination.
I think we need a larger version of that last photo to see about a DCC install - as long as you can isolate the motor from the frame it should be possible - you might want to see if you can free up some space by taking out some of the weight.
--
Jeff Shultz
http://www.shultzinfosystems.com
The Willamette & Pacific RR - Oregon Electric Branch
Model Railroad Hobbyist Technical Assistant
Larger Photo for Alco c-425
Jeff,
I'll try for a larger photo by this weekend( my two-year-old son tends to get in the way, He loves Daddy's trains).
The loco is already pretty light, it has a plastic frame. The large weight is over the front drive gear, no drivers in rear truck only electric pickups. I may have to make a custom weight of lead to get traction.
I have found just yesterday that this might be an AHM, even found photos somewhere. They seem to be a distributer for many european companies. The loco appeared in a catalog for only one year (1980) and then it was gone. I think AHM was bought out by IHC, which is now carried by Walthers. All this was on an old MR forum. Some of the other info over there says these are usually collector items since the dynamic brake fan was not per prototype.
Thanks for the information. Ben
Yeah, it's AHM
It looks like the old AHM C424. It's a low-end trainset loco, and as you say lacks something in accuracy, to say nothing of the mechanism. I had one once and started trying to rebuild it into something accurate, but gave up. If you want a C424 or C425, I think you would be far better off with one of the Atlas models.
Jurgen
Visit the Sudbury Division at www.wrmrc.ca
Yes. It's a Mehano C424,
Yes. It's a Mehano C424, imported by either IHC or (more likely) its predecessor AHM.
These were nice locos when introduced, until the Atlas/Kato C424/425 completely blew them away.
AHM
I have two of those somewhere back in the drawers. It was a AHM import, built by Roco. The loco has - as was said before - one powered truck. I would not work on it, it's time well wasted. Maybe if you want to practice kitbashing or make a nice gutted out wreck for the deadline.
If you want a well running loco, look for an Atlas from one of the earlier runs. They have Kato drives and, while not state of the art shells, run and pull just fine....
My 2 cents
Martin Stierlen, from Germany