Re: (erielack) ALCO"S Valley Centuries

["Bill K." <pontiac_@_dreamscape.com>]

That and due to major failures - according to the Monon book they about
redesigned the entire piston assembly because they kept failing on the
units.

I'm not entirely convinced the designs were poor, but more a lack of funds
to completly work out the design, test and elminate bugs before production.
When the track is iffy to begin with, a big unit with a long wheelbase truck
is definate trouble.  But some roads were able to operate even the big
Alco's much longer than others, particularly the Canadian units with the
more conventional trucks, but also in Mexico - where the D&H C628's finished
their careers.  Also there were the N&W units that went to the C&NW and
lasted probably the longest of any big Century on a US road.



Bill K.

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Tupaczewski, Paul R (Paul)" <paultup_@_lucent.com>
To: <TGAC2_@_aol.com>; <erielack@lists.railfan.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 10:25 AM
Subject: RE: (erielack) ALCO"S Valley Centuries


> > Based upon my reference materials, the Valley C628s were
> > restricted from
> > service west of Sayre, due to excessive wear on track.
> > Seeing them at Oak
> > Island is, of course, consistant with that restriction.  All
> > the Valley's
> > significant grades were on the east end.
>
>
> The ex-Monon C628s the LV got were because the Monon returned them for
beating the track rather badly. The Monon opted for more C420s to replace
'em.
>
> >From what engineers have told me, the C628s rode very rough, but did have
quite a bit of pulling power in them...
>
> - Paul
>

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