Way back ConCor made a model of an Alco 636 with high adhesion trucks. Ok, so it was pretty lame in many ways, but the darn thing was pretty cool at the same time. A real brute of an engine. Even though the C&O never had one I would be mighty tempted if someone made one. Who is with me on that?
Wasn't many built... with nearly half of the production being built for Australian lines. Only the IC, PC and SP&S bought some new with the demonstrators being sold to Quebec Cartier Mining. It, along with the C415, was ALCOs last gasps... and both were less than what was hoped for.
So, some questions. Were the PC units all retired before Conrail? If not, there's another possibility. Of course the SP&S units went to BN and lasted about ten more years, so another potential sale. I am guessing the IC units made it to ICG days? How close would a US C636 be to the slightly later Canadian M636? I know there are a couple of spotting differences.
I don't know all the spotting differences between a C636 and an M636, but I believe the chassis at less would be the same.
Looks like the primary difference was the bogies and of course BC rail's wide cab version. Also, this article mentions at least 2 more second hand owners. http://www.american-rails.com/alco-c636.html
In a word, no. http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/alco/c636/c636repaint.html http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/alco/c636/c636.html
I seem to recall that I.C. had 6 ALCO C636 's numbered 1100- 110? . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALCO_Century_636#Original_owners Tom
I guess you could ask Atlas how their other Alco's sold and that would tell you. Especially the 630, although I do recall a few re-runs over the years. Personally, I want the 424 in Belt Railway of Chicago scheme my self.
Wonder if Walthers still has the old Life-Like tooling, and, if so, what's the likelihood of them ever reissuing that model?
I had one in N scale ages ago (late 70's). I can't remember who made the N scale Alco 636. It was a great looking locomotive but it didn't run worth a darn. I was really disappointed. Poor running locomotives back then is why I dumped N scale and moved to HO scale. Modern N scale locomotives are a world of difference compared to what was being offered back then.
Or at least SELL the tooling to someone who cared. Walthers doesn't seem to care one whit about N. At least offer it to the likes of BLMA, Model Power, Atlas, FVM, or whom ever! At least it isn't sitting collecting dust is some warehouse, or worst still, scheduled for destruction. Do you mean to tell me we will never again see Baldwin Sharks? DL-109s? FA/FBs? Erie Builts? C-Liners? When the tooling exists collecting dust somewhere? What a complete waste.
Given that the Life-Like model was produced in China, one would presume that the tooling is being held captive overseas. Several years ago, a rep from Walthers told me that they wouldn't re-release any of the old Life-Like locos unless they could be offered with DCC. So, they would have to weigh the demand for a reissue against the cost of, at least, updating the mechanism to accommodate a decoder board and replacing the Rapido-style couplers on the shell.
Hi There is one ex-PC C-636 still running out of Scranton on the D-L. Sadly the 2 ex demos at Cohocton were scrapped early this year. Here are an N-Scale C-636 and an M-636. Cheers Steve NZ
Walthers has been pretty short sighted when it comes to N scale. They seem like they would rather sell a handful of super-high end locomotives with DCC and sound than a moderate amount of more reasonably priced offerings. The plastic framed Life Like locos are sorely missed in the market, even Bachmann is slowly abondoning entry level modelers. It's tough to get younger people involved in the hobby when all of the new equipment is out of their price range, and requirements, and the good used stuff is becoming harder to find at a decent price.
I'm surprised a C636 hasn't been offered yet via 3D printing. I'm defiantly for someone doing the 636, the more Alcos the better!
