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Atlas - N Scale - C420 Phase 2B - British Columbia Railway (Two Tone Green/Black) # 631 (Decoder Equipped) (SKU 150-40000121)

Available On: August 1, 2008

Photo courtesy of David Othen

BRITISH COLUMBIA RAILWAY ALCO C-420s
by Timothy J. Horton

The British Columbia Railway acquired two Phase 2b ALCO C-420s from the Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad in July 1972. They operated on the BCR in their original colours for a time and with their original numbers of 25 and 26 (see pages 128-129 of John Garden??s book on the BCR). The new Atlas HO Scale model of L&HR No. 25 will be completely correct for No. 25 as it arrived on the BCR.

No. 26 was repainted into BCR colours (two tone green with lightning bolt white stripe) and renumbered No. 632 in May 1973. There were few external modifications at this time. No. 25 was repainted in BCR colours (two tone green with lightning bolt) and renumbered No. 631. The new Atlas HO Scale model will be completely correct for the 632 as repainted at this time.

During the late 1970s both units received the bell and five chime airhorn above the cab windows, and additional lights on the nose. The radiator compartment and carebody filter arrangement was also modified substantially at this time, and the units were derated to 1800 horsepower. No. 632 was repainted at this time with a straight white stripe. In 1981 No. 632 became the first unit to be fitted with master controls for trials with the railway??s first slug unit.

No. 631 was the very first unit to be repainted into the railway??s red, white and blue paint scheme in February 1985. During the 1980s and 1990s both units were operated in yard service until their retirement in December 2001. At that time they were the last Alco-powered motive power on what at one time had been an exclusive Alco/MLW roster.

Both units continue in service today on the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad, which has a large collection of second-hand ALCOC-420s on its roster.

Caption re pecture

(BCR No. 632 at Squamish in July 1973 at time of repainting?? no major modifications made at this time)









$139.95 US