Delaware & Hudson Legacy C-420 #404
| Item # | 1933421 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Lionel |
| Loco Type | Alco C-420 |
| Wheel Arr. | B-B |
| Proto. Manufacturer | American Locomotive Co. (Alco) |
| Loco Category | Diesel Locomotives |
| Road Name | Delaware & Hudson |
| Road Number | 404 |
| Prototype Era | 1960s-1980s |
| Catalog Year | 2019 |
| Catalog Season | Big Book |
| Product Line | Legacy |
| Features | |
| Scale | Scale |
| Min. Curve | O31 |
| Run Type | Catalog Run |
| MSRP | $499.99 |
| Notes | |
| 15" | |
| Control Systems | |
| Bluetooth | ● |
|---|---|
| Legacy Control System | ● |
| TMCC | ● |
| LC Universal Remote | ● |
| LC Individual Remote | |
| Conventional | ● |
| Features | |
| Sound | ● |
| Smoke Unit | ● |
| Odyssey Speed Control | ● |
| ElectroCoupler | ● |
The Alco C-420 was a 2,000-horsepower B-B road switcher introduced in 1963 as part of Alco's Century series — a renamed and refined product line intended to signal a fresh start after the reliability difficulties of the 244-engine era and to compete more effectively against EMD and the rising GE. The Century designation replaced the RS/RSD nomenclature that Alco had used since the early road switcher era, and the C-420's designation followed the new format: C for Century, 4 for four axles, and 20 for 2,000 horsepower. The 251B prime mover produced 2,000 horsepower in a well-proportioned B-B package, and the Century series locomotives incorporated detail improvements to cab comfort, accessibility, and electrical systems compared to earlier Alco road switchers.
Approximately 130 C-420s were built across its five-year production run, purchased by a range of railroads including the Long Island Rail Road, Lehigh Valley, and several others with established Alco preferences. The Century series represented Alco's most competitive product offering in the 1960s, and the C-420 served its customers reliably in general freight and commuter service. The Long Island Rail Road's fleet of C-420s served in New York suburban commuter service for many years, giving the model a specific and well-documented operational identity. In O Gauge, the Alco C-420 is a transition-era road switcher subject for modelers focused on northeastern railroads and the Alco product line of the 1960s.
The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company — later the Delaware and Hudson Railway — is one of the oldest transportation enterprises in American history, organized in 1823 to build a canal connecting the Pennsylvania anthracite coal region near Honesdale with the Hudson River at Kingston, New York, and thence to New York City markets. The company operated a pioneering stretch of railroad at the Honesdale end of its system as early as 1829 — among the first steam-operated railroads in the United States — before its canal was eventually superseded by an all-rail line. The D&H evolved over the 19th century into a conventional railroad, ultimately operating a system connecting Albany and the Hudson Valley with Montreal to the north, Scranton and northeastern Pennsylvania to the south, and Buffalo to the west.
The Delaware and Hudson developed a strong identity as a northeastern bridge carrier, its main line forming a key link in the route between Montreal and New York for both passengers and freight, and its territory encompassing the Adirondack foothills of New York and the anthracite region of Pennsylvania. The railroad was a committed user of Alco diesel power through the transition era, operating large fleets of Baldwin RF-16 Sharknose units, C-420s, and FA cab units that gave it one of the most Alco-intensive rosters in the Northeast. The D&H was acquired by Guilford Transportation in 1984 and eventually passed to Canadian Pacific, which continues to operate its former lines.
The Delaware and Hudson's blue and gray paint scheme, with its distinctive yellow crown and D&H herald, is one of the most elegant northeastern railroad liveries and gives the railroad a strong visual identity that belies its relatively modest size. The D&H's heavy Alco and Baldwin diesel roster — particularly the distinctive RF-16 Sharknose units in D&H colors — makes it a natural choice for modelers interested in the Alco and Baldwin traditions that flourished on northeastern roads, and the railroad's Hudson Valley and Adirondack setting gives layouts featuring D&H equipment a distinctly northeastern American character.
Modeling Significance & Notes[edit | edit source]
The 2019 Legacy Alco C-420 is a Scale fifteen-product release built to Legacy Control System standards with Bluetooth, whistle steam, fan-driven smoke, and ElectroCouplers on O-31 to O-54 curves — covering seven prototype operators with multiple road number variants including non-powered display units, a geographically focused set of northeastern and mid-Atlantic roads including the Delaware & Hudson, Lehigh & Hudson River, and New York Susquehanna & Western alongside the Detroit & Mackinac and Erie Mining Company industrial operator.
Find on Google
Search Google for current information, reviews, and discussions about this item.
Search Google for item 1933421Opens in a new tab — results may include retailer pages, collector forums, and reviews.