Atlas Master Gold Alco C420 Low Nose Detroit & Mackinac #976 Bicentennial ESU LokSound DCC N Scale

Product Overview

ALCO built a total of 131 Century 420 locomotives between 1963 and 1969, when the builder ceased all new locomotive production. Powered by a 12-cylinder, turbocharged, 2,000-horsepower 251-series prime mover, the C420 offered a distinctive alternative to contemporary EMD road switchers. Its shorter 12-cylinder engine block helped create the model's characteristic set-back cab and extended short hood.

The first C420s were purchased by the Lehigh & Hudson River in 1963, while the Long Island Railroad became the largest original buyer with 30 units built between 1963 and 1968. Louisville & Nashville ultimately assembled an even larger fleet through purchases, mergers, and acquisitions. The design proved remarkably durable, with C420s continuing in service long after their original production era.

This Atlas production represents Phase 2 C420s in both low- and high-nose configurations. Early Phase 2a locomotives retained Phase 1-style walkways and sills with stanchions mounted into the top walkway deck, while later Phase 2b units used revised side-mounted stanchions. Phase 2a production ran from December 1964 through September 1965, followed by Phase 2b production from December 1965 through the end of C420 production in August 1968.

Why We Love This Model

The C420 already stands apart from more common EMD road switchers with its unmistakable ALCO profile, and Detroit & Mackinac #976 takes that personality another step further with its Bicentennial decoration. Atlas pairs the distinctive appearance with road-appropriate details, smooth Scale Speed™ drive performance, full DCC capability, and ESU LokSound. For ALCO fans, D&M modelers, or collectors of Bicentennial locomotives, this is a particularly memorable addition to an N scale roster.