Review

The wonderful variety of diesel locomotives now available to N scalers just increased again with Life-Like's release of the American Locomotive Company's Century Series C424. In their premier release of this model, LifeLike is offering the Alco unit decorated for Erie Lackawanna, Burlington Northern, Penn Central, and Norfolk & Western. Each roadname is available in two different roadnumbers and, for those wishing to detail and paint their own roadname, an undecorated version is available as well. While these models are in the stores now, Life-Like has already announced the roadnames for their second release of the C424 due out in late spring/early summer 2004: Chicago & Northwestern, Conrail, New Haven, Pennsylvania, and Spokane Portland & Seattle.

Alco's new Century Series, which debuted in 1963, was the Schenectady based company's response to General Electric's and Electro Motive Division's entry into the high horsepower locomotive market. The GE U25B and EMD GP30 offered railroads 2500 and 2250 horsepower respectively for pulling fast freights and Alco could not afford to let this new competition go unchallenged. Their comeback was a series of 2000, 2400, 2500, and 3000 horsepower four-axle locomotives. The best selling model of this series was the 2400 horsepower DL-640-A better known as the C424. Although the C420 had more sales in the US (131), the C424 was very popular in Canada (92) and Mexico (45) adding to the 53 built for US customers. These 190 units were constructed between 1963 and 1966 for the Erie Lackawanna, Reading, Pennsylvania, Spokane Portland & Seattle, Green Bay & Western, Erie Mining, Toledo, Peoria & Western, Wabash, the Belt Railway of Chicago, National of Mexico, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific.

The C424 utilized the Alco 251E 16cylinder prime mover to supply its 2400 horsepower. While it shared many of the components and subassemblies of its 2000 horsepower 12-cylinder C420 brother, the 59-feet4-inch locomotive was actually 12 feet shorter in length. This can be attributed to the lack of a steam generator compartment in the nose of the C424. Starting with the 2400 horsepower model, Alco wisely determined that passenger service was on a serious decline by the early 1960s, and the orders for new passenger locomotives were few and far between. Thus the C424 and higher horsepower C425 are easily recognizable from the C420 due to their short nose. One characteristic all the C424s built had in common was that they all rode on AAR Type B trucks. On the other hand, units were ordered with varying size fuel tanks as well as optional dynamic brakes.

However, the visual differences don't end here. Alco made several modifications to the C424 design during its years in production and railfans have split these external changes into three Phases. Phase 1 models are easy to identify with their rear overhanging number boards and twin horizontal engine air intakes in front of the radiator housing on the rear side of the carbody. Due to safety concerns, Alco later changed the numberboard housing to a recessed design, as the overhang caused a problem for employees climbing the rear of the hood. Also, the dual engine air intakes were reduced to just one vertical opening. Finally, Phase 3 carbodies are very similar to the previous Phase except that the battery boxes, which in the past were located on the sides beneath the cab, were relocated to the rear of the locomotive under the walkway.

Derived directly from the C424, the 2500 horsepower C425 was introduced in October of 1964. It was nearly identical to the 2400 horsepower model's Phase 2 and 3 carbody except that its larger generator required design changes to some of the access doors around the generator compartment and a noticeable bulge is present on the sides of the radiator housing. All 91 C425s were built for US railroads.

Keeping this discussion of Phases and differences between the C424 and C425 in mind, Life-Like has been advertising their new N scale model as an Alco "C424/425" diesel locomotive. Having studied our review sample, the plastic carbody shell is correct for the as delivered Phase 1 C424. The overhanging rear numberboard housing is a dead giveaway. Furthermore the 1:160 sized locomotive appropriately exhibits the twin horizontal engine air intakes of this Phase as well as the dynamic brake option.

While Life-Like is taking some liberties offering these models decorated for later Phase C424 and C425 prototypes, no N scaler can deny the exquisite level of detail that the manufacturer has put into their tooling of this locomotive. I was thoroughly impressed with the delicate molded-on screens, ratchet-style brake lever, vent openings, radiator shutters, and access doors - complete with hinge and handle representation. Also recognizable are the unique Alco class lights located above the windshield, as well as the MU receptacles and coupler lift bars molded on the pilots. One-piece railing and stanchions, air horns, and window glazing have been added to the carbody. The handrail scales out to be about 2.5 inches in diameter. Even though they are oversized, the railing still has a nice delicate look, while maintaining the required material strength as needed when handling the model. The end platforms also include non-working drop steps. Last, but not least, the Life-Like Alco rides on accurately modeled AAR Type B trucks with the proper scale 9-feet-4-inch wheelbase and 40-inch diameter blackened metal wheels.

I found the general scale dimensions of this miniature Alco are within very close tolerances to those of the prototype. Furthermore, I found all the various carbody features are present when comparing the model to Alco company photos of Phase 1 C424s. This is where Life-Like really shows off their skill at reproducing a detailed, scale model, even though it is only a little over 4 inches in actual length!

Life-Like asserts itself in the decoration category as well. Our Cascade green and black painted Burlington Northern C424 was skillfully painted and lettered. Paint application was very smooth leaving only the crisply molded details to show through. The white graphics were completely opaque and followed the prototype road's practices down to the diagonal stripes on the nose. As with their past N scale offerings, the handrails are molded in color, but are a pretty good color match to the green on the carbody.

Representing roadnumber 4243, this BN locomotive was built in June 1964 as Spokane Portland & Seattle #303 (1 of 7 units). After the BN merger, the renumbered unit remained in service until being retired in August of 1980. Number 4243 was a Phase 2 C424, so the Life-Like model is not 100 percent correct for this prototype. Looking past this discrepancy, however, the modeler would only need to change the location of the air horns, add some detail for a rotary beacon, and paint the handrails at the steps white and they would have a good representation of BN's C424 fleet.

The mechanics of this N scale model include a split metal frame, can motor with flywheels, and all wheel drive. There are no traction tires on this model, as its 2.8-ounce weight provides for sufficient traction. LifeLike is equipping their model with standard Rapido style body mounted couplers, but these may be replaced with Micro-Trains #1015/1016 couplers by those modelers wanting a more scale looking operating knuckle coupler.

As far as DCC goes, the LL C424 does not appear to be set up for digital conversion. As is, I don't think any decoder would fit under the shell. Instead the modeler will need to mill out a space in the frame or purchase an aftermarket frame designed to fit a micro-sized decoder.

Saving the best for last, I was most impressed with this model on the test track. It is relatively quiet and runs ever so smoooooothly! Low speed operation was excellent and I have tested locomotives much more expensive than this model that didn't run anywhere near as well under conventional transformer control. Life-Like has designed an outstanding drive system for their C424, and I encountered no anomalies during testing. The wheels were correctly gauged and the couplers were positioned at the right height. The properly functioning bright, directional lighting also added to my high marks in the operational category.

Even though Life-Like is not touting their C424 as a "Proto 2000" model, the blue-boxed locomotive certainly should be considered as being Proto 2000 quality in my book. It receives an A for level of detail, an A for decoration, and an A for operation. Overlooking the possible problem with the Phase issue, depending on the roadname chosen, I think most N scalers are going to be quite pleased with this newest addition to the 1/160 scale locomotive fleet.