Delaware & Hudson: A Haven for Discarded Alcos

Delaware & Hudson had been a long and loyal Alco customer during the era of the first-generation diesel; however, the New York State-based railroad was forced to look elsewhere for Alco power, once the Schenectady builder announced its plans in 1968 to cease operations. Fortunately they did not have to look far; much of it was found in their own backyard (relatively speaking). The Lehigh & Hudson River, Lehigh Valley and Long Island had sizable numbers of Alco C420s that were made available. There were also numerous Alco RS3s and C425s available on the secondhand market that were ready to receive a gold shield. These acquisitions were quickly put to work; rarely, did they make it into the paint shop. Consequently, it made for an interesting gallery of color in motion.

Of course, this discussion would be incomplete with out at least one mention of the four Alco PAs, which D&H repatriated from Santa Fe in 1967. The 30 September 1976 photo above shows remanufactured D&H PA4s #18 and 16 (ex-ATSF #62L and 59L respectively) at Oneonta NY.

(Charles Maxim photographer and guest contributor)


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A Photo Study

C420 Hi-nose #218 (ex-Long Island)

Charles Maxim photo

C420 #401 (ex-Lehigh & Hudson River)

Doug Kroll photo

C420 #404 (ex-Lehigh Valley)

Charles Maxim photo

C420 #413 (ex-Lehigh Valley)

Charles Maxim photo

C420 #414 (ex-Lehigh Valley)

Charles Maxim photo

C420 #415 (ex-Lehigh Valley)

Charles Maxim photo

C420 #420 (ex-Guilford)

Charles Maxim photo

C424m #456 (ex-Conail)

Charles Maxim photo

RS3 # 4049

George Turnbull photo (R. Craig collection)

RS3 #4078 (ex-Providence & Worcester)

Charles Maxim photo

RS3 #4098 (ex-Vermont)

Charles Maxim photo

RS3 #5005 (ex-NYC)

Charles Maxim photo

RS11 #5006 W/#1508 (ex-Boston & Maine)

Charles Maxim photo

RS36 #5015

Charles Maxim photo

Notes & Credits

References:

  • Extra 2200 South Locomotive Newsletter: D&H roster: (Nov.& Dec. 1972)
  • Extra 2200 South Locomotive Newsletter: D&H summary (April-June 1976)
  • A Decade of D&H by Karl Zimmermann
  • PA4 by Norm Anderson and C.G. MacDermott

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