Nostalgia & History > Unfulfilled Promise

The pair of Alco C430's delivered to the Reading in 1966 never lived up to the Alco Products hype. This was an adverisement that appeared in Railway Age. Photos taken at the Klapperthal Curve just east of Reading, Pa on the mainline to Philadelphia.

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I wish they had worked out.  I always imagined them on the WP instead of the GE's.   Too bad ALCO didn't work out the kinks first.  They're a good looking unit.

"Ran them on the computer"
Must have sounded impressive in the 60s.

There weren't too many computers in the Sixties and this desktop probably is more powerful than any of those old klunkers that took up a room or two! Klapperthal was a great photo location!
Those bright shiny new locos look funny without the "Bee Line" logos the later units received. I still remember the first time I saw a Green and Yellow GP-30, what a surprise after seeing so many drab pullman green Geeps, Alcos, Baldwins et al.
Gonut

I wonder if the units in the photos are even running? No hint of exhaust and the radiator shutters are closed. The green foliage looks like it was the middle of summer.