ALCO Century 636

ALCO Century 636

RPRX 78, now NYSW 3660 is on the point of SU-100 at Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, September 2005.

Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder ALCO, AE Goodwin (licensee) Model Century 636 Build date 1967–1968 Total produced 63

Specifications AAR wheel arr C-C Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Prime mover Alco 251E Engine type V16 diesel engine Cylinders 16

Performance figures Power output 3,600 hp (2.7 MW)

The ALCO Century 636 was the most powerful single-engine diesel-electric locomotive constructed by American Locomotive Company (ALCO). It used the ALCO 251 prime mover. The locomotive had a C-C wheel arrangement and 3,600 horsepower (2,700 kW). The locomotive rested on a pair of trucks of all-new design, known as the Hi-Ad, standing for 'high adhesion'. Visually, it is similar to the Century 630, but can be distinguished by the intercooler box. The C630 has two grilles here, one above the other. The C636 only has the upper grille.

Production

The production of only 34 Alco C636s, built in 1967 and 1968, reflected Alco's dwindling locomotive market share. Despite many new and innovative features, the C636 could not hold its own. Three demonstrators were built costing Alco about $5.5 million. 636-2, the only former demonstrator operating, was a factor in dissuading potential customers from purchasing these locomotives. During an evaluation on the Santa Fe Railway, the same traction motor blower on 636-2 failed (which causes engine shutdown) and was replaced on three of four runs, and had other unsatisfactory results while being tested on the Southern Pacific Railroad.

AE Goodwin in Australia built 29 C636s between May 1968 and October 1970 for the Pilbara Iron Ore railroads. Hamersley Iron purchased 12 units in 5 separate orders. Bechtel purchased 5 C636s for use in the construction of the Mount Newman Mining facilities. The latter company ordered 12 C636s a year later and bought Bechtel's locomotives. Hamersley Iron had their fleet rebuilt in the 1980s by Comeng, Bassendean with General Electric engines.^[1]

Montreal Locomotive Works produced a M636 variant of the C636 on Dofasco trucks for Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway. This was also built in Australia for Hamersley Iron, Mount Newman Mining and Robe River Mining.^[1]

Original owners

Railroad	Quantity	Road numbers	Notes
Alco Products (demonstrators)	3	636-1–636-3	To Québec Cartier Mining Company 77-79[2]
Illinois Central Railroad	6	1100–1105
Penn Central	15	6330–6344	Ordered by PRR before PC merger; to Conrail as 6780-6794[3]
Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway	10	330–335, 340–343	To Burlington Northern 4360-4369[4]
Hamersley Iron	12	3006–3017	Built by AE Goodwin
Mount Newman Mining	17	5452–5468	Built by AE Goodwin
Total	63

Current usage

As of 2006, the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad (DL) and the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway (NYSW) own ALCO C636s. The Delaware-Lackawanna C636, number 3642, used to be Conrail 6792. The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway owns 2 ALCO C636s assigned numbers 3660 and 3662. The 3660 is former Québec Cartier Mining Company number 78 and had been temporarily numbered RPRX 78. NYSW 3662 is former Quebec Cartier Mining number 77. The 3662 has yet to be renumbered and has been out of service due to freeze damage as of 2005. Both the Delaware-Lackawanna and the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway also own MLW M636s built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in Montreal, Canada.

The NYSW C636s and M636s are now owned by Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad/Livonia, Avon and Lakeville Railroad.

As of March 2015, the Delaware Lackawanna is the last operator of the C-636. The two former Cartier, ex-Alco demonstrator units stored on the Bath and Hammondsport Railroad for many years have been scrapped by a local contractor. The NYSW is currently an all-EMD powered railroad. The WNYP still operates M-630 and M-636 MLW locomotives.

See also

• List of ALCO diesel locomotives
• List of MLW diesel locomotives

References

1. Clark, Peter (2012). An Australian Locomotive Guide. Kenthurst: Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 109–119. ISBN 9781921719554.
2. Komanesky, John. "Quebec Cartier Mining Railway Past & Present Power". The Diesel Shop. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
3. Waller, Robert S. "Loco Rosters: April 1, 1976". Conrail Cyclopedia. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
4. Ambrose, Brian. "Spokane, Portland & Seattle Section". Burlington Northern Tribute. Retrieved 24 February 2013.

External links

• Sarberenyi, Robert. Alco C636 Original Owners.