The ALCo Century 636 was the most powerful single-engine diesel-electric locomotive constructed by the American Locomotive Company (ALCo). It used their 251 prime mover. The locomotive had a C-C wheel arrangement and 3,600 horsepower (2,700 kW).

Dec 23, 2024 · The most powerful standard model diesel Alco ever built, the C636 could produce 3,600 horsepower using the company's 251E model prime mover. Likely due to Alco's haste to keep pace with GE and EMD the C636 was plagued with problems that this time was not due to the prime mover.

The C636 was launched in 1967 in response to the introduction of the EMD SD45, which offered more power than anything in production at the time. The C636 was powered by a 3,600-horsepower, 16-cylinder, Model 251F engine.

Dec 11, 2010 · Mt Newman Mining C636s were constructed for Bechtel as 100.0001 to 100.0005. Additions / corrections provided by: Nicholas Todd.

The C636 also proved as Alco’s last entry into its long and storied history and the company sadly closed its doors during the fall of 1968, no longer able to compete with GE and EMD. Today, Century series models can still be found roaming the …

Jan 13, 2015 · COHOCTON, N.Y. – Two former Alco C636 demonstrators are in the process of being scrapped in Cohocton. The units were former Alco demonstrators C636-2 and C636-3. After they finished their time as demonstrators, they were sold to Canada’s Chemin De Fer Cartier, or Cartier Railway, and renumbered 77 and 78 before returning to the U.S.

ALCO CENTURY C636 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE. The ALCo Century 636 was the most powerful single-engine diesel-electric locomotive constructed by the American Locomotive Company (ALCo). It used their 251 prime mover. The locomotive had a C-C wheel arrangement and 3,600 horsepower (2,700 kW).

Big C636 PC 6338 is jostled around the sand track at Croxton yard.

ALCo built their most powerful single-engined unit, the 3,600hp C636, from 1967-1968. Of the 34 total units built, Conrail inherited 15 of the ALCo 251E V16-powered units from the Penn Central. They were numbered in CR series 6781-6794.

There was four ex C&O C636's (#2100 to 2103) on Cliffs Robe River and an ex-BN chassis was brought down and turned into a GE. Hamersley Iron had five C628's built by Alco and sold direct. As mentioned above, the C415 was the ex-demo and it went to HI.