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Amtrak
(No.)
Dressed in the pumpkin orange maintenance colors, this is among the second
set of roadnames for AHM's Alco Century 424.
Image from eBay auction
Burlington Northern
(No.5015-G)
(No.5015-07)
This view of AHM's Burlington Northern Alco Century 424 provides a good look at the non-prototypical
round EMD-like fan located just behind the unit's cab.
Central New Jersey
(No.5015-F)
(No.5015-06)
Thanks to Gareth in Canada for supplying a picture of this model.
Chessie System (not pictured)
(No.5015-D)
Chicago & NorthWestern
(No.5015-C)
(No.5015-03)
Above are two views of the AHM Chicago & Northwestern Alco
Century 424. Notice the model includes two different CNW slogans, one on each long hood side. The rear
view also provides a good look at the early phase correct slanted proturding numberboards found on this AHM model.
Milwaukee Road
(No.5015-B)
(No.5015-02)
Missouri-Kansas-Texas (not pictured)
(No.5015-E)
Spirit of '76 Seaboard
(No.5015-H)
(No.5015-08)
Built by Roco in Austria, this HO-Scale Century 424
is an above average example among AHM's diesel offerings. Detail on the model is very good and the loco benefits from all-wheel
drive.
There are a couple odd details regarding this model of ALCO's Century 424. Most notable is the inclusion of
an EMD-like dynamic brake fan on top of the unit just behind the cab. This is totally incorrect with respect to the prototype.
The error likely can be traced to a drawing published in RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN, which included this incorrect feature.
The other interesting spotting feature of AHM's C-424 is the slanted rear number boards. Correct only for early Phase
I prototypes, this makes AHM's Century a very unique example of this ALCO diesel.
The C-424 appears first in AHM's
1980 product catalog with a suggested retail of $19.98. Powered versions were only way the model was available.
The May 1980 issue of Model Railroader includes a review of new proudct releases announced
at that year's HIA Trade Show. AHM announced a new group of roadnames for the Century 424: Penn Central; Pennsylvania;
Erie-Lackawanna; Conrail; Spokane, Portland & Seattle; Reading; and Amtrak. Two roadnumbers were to have been available
for each of the announced new seven roadnames. To date, I've never seen any of these C424 models, with the possible
exception of the Amtrak example, and can not confirm if any/all were produced.
AHM's Century 424 is missing from catalogs as of the 1981 edition.
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