RDG 5201 Image Link: RDG 5201 at Railroad Picture Archives	Built: 10/63 Serial number: 84560 Retired: 3/78 Scrapped: ? DISPOSITION:   To Conrail #2490 CURRENT STATUS:   Scrapped
RDG 5202 Image Link: RDG 5202 at Railroad Picture Archives	Built: 10/63 Serial number: 84561 Retired: 1/79 Scrapped: ? DISPOSITION:   To Conrail #2491 CURRENT STATUS:   Scrapped
RDG 5203	Built: 10/63 Serial number: 84562 Retired: 3/78 Scrapped: ? DISPOSITION:   To Conrail #2492 CURRENT STATUS:   Scrapped
RDG 5204	Built: 10/63 Serial number: 84733 Retired: 1/24/79 Scrapped: -- DISPOSITION:   To Conrail #2493   Sold to Green Bay and Western #322, 6/79   Sold to Helm Leasing #322, 1994   Sold to RCT&HS 5204, 5/94 CURRENT STATUS:   Preserved at Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, Hamburg, Pa., (in modified GBW red paint)
RDG 5205	Built: 10/63 Serial number: 84734 Retired: 1/79 Scrapped: ? DISPOSITION:   To Conrail #2494 CURRENT STATUS:   Scrapped
RDG 5206	Built: 11/63 Serial number: 84735 Retired: 5/29/79 Scrapped:   DISPOSITION:   To Conrail #2495   Sold to Delaware and Hudson #452, 1979   Rebuilt to C424m, 5/80   To Springfield Terminal #71, 1988   To Delaware and Hudson #71, 1991   To Maine Central #452, 1992; (retired 1994)   Sold to Livonia Avon and Lakeville #452, 9/29/96   Renumbered to LAL #421   To Western New York and Pennsylvania #421, 2006, (rebuilt and in service) CURRENT STATUS:   In Service at Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad, Falconer, NY
RDG 5207	Built: 11/63 Serial number: 84736 Retired: 5/29/79 Scrapped: ? DISPOSITION:   To Conrail #2496   Sold to Delaware and Hudson #456   Rebuilt to C424m, 5/80   To Springfield Terminal #75, 1988   To Delaware and Hudson #75, 1991   To Maine Central #455, 1992 (retired 1994)   2001: Last reported as stored unserviceable, to be scrapped CURRENT STATUS:   Presumed Scrapped
RDG 5208 Image Link: RDG 5208 at Railroad Picture Archives	Built: 11/63 Serial number: 84737 Retired: 3/78 Scrapped: ? DISPOSITION:   To Conrail #2497 CURRENT STATUS:   Scrapped
RDG 5209 Image Link: RDG 5209 at Railroad Picture Archives	Built: 11/63 Serial number: 84738 Retired: 3/78 Scrapped: ? DISPOSITION:   To Conrail #2498 CURRENT STATUS:   Scrapped
RDG 5210 Image Link: RDG 5210 at Railroad Picture Archives	Built: 11/63 Serial number: 84739 Retired: 3/78 Scrapped: ? DISPOSITION:   To Conrail #2499 CURRENT STATUS:   Scrapped

Info from Reading Company technical drawings: Eight wheel diesel road switching locomotive - 2400 H.P. - Model Century 424 Built by ALCO Products, Inc. in 1963 - Nos. 5201 to 5210 Using trucks, traction motors, main gen., aux. gen and exciter, all rebuilt, from Class DF-3 locos Locos. equipped with Watchman heater - Vapor Corp. model 4916 Continuous rating tractive effort 53,000 lbs. at 14 M.P.H.
Locomotive Diagrams
Weight on drivers 258,650 lbs.	Engine - ALCO Series 251VEE Type Four
Total Weight 258,650 lbs.	Cycle 16 cyl. 9" bore x 10 ½ stroke
Tractive Effort 64,662 lbs.	Speed - 1025 R.P.M., max. 400 R.P.M. idle
Factor of Adhesion - 25%	Main Generator - Type GT-581
Max. Permissible Speed - 70 M.P.H.	Exciter - Type GY-27
Gear Ratio - 74:18	Aux. Generator - Type GY-27
Curavature - 191' rad. M.U. coupled to train	Traction Motors - Type GE-752E3
Curavature - 150' rad. (one unit) coupled to train	Battery - 32 cells - 64 volts
Air Compressor (1) Model 3CDCL - 2 sta.	Sanders - Prime One Line
3 cyl. air cooled, displacement - 231 C.F.M.	Journals - 6½" x 12" for Timken R.B.
@1025 R.P.M., 90 C.F.M. @ 400 R.P.M.	Couplers - Type "E" top operated
Brakes - clasp and dynamic	Fuel Oil - 2000 gals. Lube Oil - 250 gals.
Brake cylinders (4 per truck) 10" x 8"	Cooling water - 320 gals.
Air Brake - W.A.B. 26L	Sand - total capacity 48 cu. ft.
Air Reservoir Capacity - 60,900 cu. in.	Speed Recorder - Type CP-75
Draft Gear - National Malleable Tye M-381	Radio - Motorola - Model R43HHT-1179AA

Prototype Information

Reading purchased a group of 10 C424's from Alco in 1963. The main reason for the purchase was Alco's higher trade-in incentive for the Reading's FA-1 locomotives, resulting in a significant cost savings over purchasing additional GP30's at the time. They were delivered in the green and yellow scheme and were assigned numbers 5201 to 5210. In typical Reading style, the C424's used the trucks, traction motors and other parts from the traded-in FA's.

Conrail received all ten units and assigned them numbers 2490 to 2499. All were retired in 1978 and 1979, as Conrail sought to dispose of its Alco fleet. Three units escaped the scrapper's torch. #5204 was rebuilt by GE and acquired by the Green Bay and Western, becoming their #322. When Wisconsin Central purchased the GB&W, their Alco fleet was deemed surplus and sold to Helm Leasing in 1994. #322 was acquired by the RCT&HS that May. It is currently in operating condition and remains in modified GB&W paint.

#5206 and 5207 were acquired by the Delaware and Hudson and were rebuilt to C424m's in May, 1980. They were assigned D&H numbers #452 and 456. To raise cash, the units were sent to fellow Guilford subsidiary Springfield Terminal in 1988 and renumbered #71 and 75. They returned to the D&H in 1991, keeping their ST numbers, before they were sent to Maine Central in 1992 becoming #452 and 455. D&H 452 was sold to the Livonia, Avon and Lakeville in 1996. The unit was assigned LA&L 421 and placed in storage until at least mid-2002. The unit was rebuilt and restored to service for LA&L subsidiary Western New York and Pennsylvania. The last reported news on MEC 455 is from 2001; the unit was reported as stored unserviceable on MEC and was to be scrapped. This is presumed to have happened, but this writer has not been able to find verification of the scrapping.