| North American Car Corporation C420 213 at Igloo, South Dakota on August 25, 1983, Kodachrome by Jim Altman, Chuck Zeiler collection. Number 213 was built in April 1964 as Long Island C420 213 (c/n 84784). The smoke deflectors (items protruding from the side at the top of the long hood) were added by the LI after delivery. The characteristic Alco turbo lag was not a particular problem on these locomotives for their intended application, freight work. But in the start and stop world of commuter service, the plume of smoke presented a problem and often filled the cab with smoke. The smoke deflectors did little to alleviate this problem at startup, but worked acceptably well at speed. The C420's lasted on the LI until then end of their 15 year lease (about 1979). |