Alco C 424 with Blomberg trucks?

[Nieuweboer]

At a trainshow I saw a couple of Kato C424 shells. They were so cheap that I just couldn't leave them there. I intend to use them as dummies but the problem is that I don't have the appropriate type B AAR trucks whereas I haveplenty of spare Blomberg trucks. They say there is a prototype for everything so my question is: were there ever any C424's (rebuilds?) with Blomberg trucks and if so are there any pictures to be found on the internet?
Thanks for any comment.
Hans

[Anonymous]

Can not remember any photos of prototype C424s on Blomberg trucks; however, second generation diesels had an array of oddities crop up. Railroads traded in their older first generation units which lead to the salvage and reuse of components like trucks. I remember several EMD units riding on AAR trucks from these trade ins. The frames could be built to accomodate any differences in mounting and blower motor ducting at construction of the new units.
It thus would be possible that your new C424's could be riding on "trade in" trucks as ordered from the Alco Works. Have fun "Imagineering" your new power.
Will

[Anonymous]

Rock Island did repower some Alco FA's with EMD engines and at the same time replaced the AAR trucks with Blombergs. I can't recall any other Alco's getting Blombergs during a rebuilding.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

C&O's U23B's and Auto-Train's U36B's rode on Blomberg trucks, there may be other GE's with the same arrangement. Just remember, it's your layout and have fun.

[SSW9389]

All 36 Western Pacific U boats road on Blombergs.

[rrandb]

They will now . All you have to do is "rebuild" them at your "shop" and they will have Bloomburg trucks!!!!! [2c]

[Nieuweboer]

Thanks for the comments. I looked up a Western Pacific website with photos and saw that the U boats with Blomberg trucks looked as if they were born with them, they didn't look out of place at all so I expect my C424's to look as natura too.l

[Anonymous]

Most of SCL's U-boats had Blombergs, including B23's purchased in the Family Lines era. Maine Central's U18B's had 'em too, rumors had it that they were from a cancelled SCL order.

Now if you really wanted to get adventurous, you could try your hand at kitbashing the C624's that Alco catalogued but never built.....

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Another proposed Alco that was never built: the C636P, it would have had a full-width cowl-type carbody with an Alco Flatnose cab! It was offered in reponse to the same ATSF proposal that led to the FP45 and U30CG.

[Philcal]

Hans, I can't recall ever seeing a C424 riding on Blomberg trucks, nor do I recall seeing a photograph of one. That said, quite a few GE units rode on the Blomberg trucks including U36 B locomotives owned by Seaboard Coast Line, and the pre Amtrak Auto Train. The Auto Train units later went to Conrail. Now to your situation. As one gentleman noted previously, when you get those Kato shells home, and your shops mount them on Blomberg trucks, they will have made a modification quite common to American Railroading. in general, if not specific to a C424. I'll bet few people in the Netherlands will ever know. Not many in the U.S. would either. It's your railroad.

[tmcc man]

I believe that they actually did ride on them. I saw one in my issue of Classic Toy Trains, they were on the C424. I am always up there and occasionally down here.

[jimrice4449]

You don't say what kind of Blomberg trucks you have. If they're Athearn it's simply a pull and replace to replace the Blomberg sideframes with the AAR. Athearn has the AAR side frames and I believe Train Station also has them if you don't want to deal with the new Athearn regime.