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(erielack) May calendar photo

Here we go again...

May's EL calendar photo shows a somwhat grimy set of three C424's in the
original black/yellow scheme rolling a train west through Akron, OH on
November 11, 1965. The photo is a bit muddy and very grainy, and dark, too.
There are lots of piggyback cars immediately behind the motive power,
indicating a hotshot of some sort.

Part of Erie 63800 can be seen just beyond the power. The overall picture is
kind of "blah," with no scenery and grimy engines. Sooo.... Let's take a
look at the prime subject, the Centuries...

Dumb little trivia tidbits... The C424s (and C425s) were the only new EL
motive power delivered with older "Roman" style numberboards (all other new
power from GE and EMD had more modern "block" or "sans-serif" typefaces) -
wonder if this is an analogy for Alco's way of thinking "old school?" ;)

While I'm commenting on lettering, let's take a look at the paint styling
here. These units were the first and only new units to wear black/yellow
paint. Alco's variation of this scheme featured the Gothic 9" cab numbers
("skinny" Gothic or Roman numbers were more common on EL-painte dunits).
Also, it seems to appear that the EL roadname isn't centered on the side,
but rather moved up closer to the cab (look at the trailing units as well)

These units still have the as-delivered back-to-back single chime "blat"
horns - the EL later replaced these and moved them to the engineer's side of
the cab with multi-chime horns that were mounted on brackets to make them
lower profile (which makes me wonder - did the clearance issue that forced
the movement/lowering of the horns not exist in 1965?)

Also note the holes along the sidesill (look past the grime!) that I've only
seen a few people replicate on their models. These were for (surprise!)
inserting a wrench to bolt down the handrail stanchions above (note that the
air reservoir is blocking access from below)

	- Paul


Paul R. Tupaczewski_______________________
Lucent Technologies
Mobility Solutions                              Phone: 973-386-4966
MASD Innovations                                Fax: 973-386-4147
67 Whippany Road, Room 15D-116  
Whippany, NJ 07981                            
_______________________________________________

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