In April 1963, ALCo Products, Inc., introduced the Century line of diesel-electric locomotive models to the North American market. Designed to compete with the latest designs from General Motors and General Electric, initial offerings included the 2,000-horsepower C-420 and 2,400-horsepower C-424. Both models rode on B-B trucks, production of a C-C truck model, designated the C-628, began in late 1963.

But this was to be the last hurrah of what was, at one time in aggregate, the nation’s largest locomotive builder. Between 1848 and 1963, the American Locomotive Company (its name was changed to ALCo Products in 1955) and its multiple predecessors built more than 90,000 locomotives. Most of these were steam locomotives, with the builder producing its first successful diesel-electric in 1924. Century production lasted for only five years, as competition from a onetime ally, General Electric, ate away at ALCo’s market share. Production of the Century line ended in 1969, although the designs continued to be built in Canada for another six years. In all, 805 C-series and 168 M-series (the Canadian designation for post-1968 production) models were produced.

These distinctive models will be covered in three books. Each book will contain 160 8.5 x 11-inch vertical-format pages and be perfect bound. Each book will feature more than 250 crisp color and black-and-white photographs. The first book will cover the four-axle models, the second will cover the six-axle models, and the third will cover the Canadian M-series models, as well as secondary owners and operators in North America.

Contents:
Ch. 1: Introduction, pp. 4-7;
Ch. 2: ALCo Four-axle Century Roster (by model), pg. 8;
Ch. 3: ALCo Four-axle Century Roster (by builders date), pg. 9;
Ch. 4: Century 415, pp. 10-23;
Ch. 5: Century 420, pp. 24-65;
Ch. 6: Century 424, pp. 66-99;
Ch. 7: Century 425, pp. 100-127;
Ch. 8: Century 430, pp. 128-144;
Ch. 9: Centuries in Color, pp. 145-168.

Withers Publishing, soft cover, 168 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w and color photographs, roster. WP383 
Price: 27.95 USD

The American Locomotive Company's introduction to the diesel locomotive came from the industry practice of commercial steam locomotive builders supplying carbodies to electric locomotive builders, such as General Electric Co. and Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.

In 1927, GE decided to bring all of its locomotive work in-house and build complete locomotives at its Erie, Pa., plant. This ended GE’s commercial partnership with Alco, which had been in effect for approximately 30 years. As a result, if Alco were to remain in the diesel locomotive building business, it would have to do so at its own manufacturing facilities at Schenectady, N.Y.

The first step taken by most builders of then-new diesel-electric locomotives was to acquire an existing company that produced diesel engines. Alco acquired the McIntosh & Seymour Corp. in 1928 and by 1930, was offering a line of 300- and 600-horsepower locomotives. This line soon developed into what is known today as the High Hood or HH series of locomotives.

Between 1932 and 1940, Alco built 176 HH units, ranging from 600 to 1,000 horsepower, for a wide cross-section of America’s railroads. Even today, some 60 years later, a handful of the units remains in service at industrial operations across the country.

Contents:
Preface, Introduction, pp. 4-8;
Early Locomotive Production, pp. 9-11;
Demonstrators, pp. 12-14;
Production Begins, pp. 15-42;
The Model 538 Engine, pp. 43-76;
Secondhand Owners, pp. 77-89;
Under Construction, pp. 90-97;
Prime Mover, pp. 98-103;
Trucks, pp. 104-112;
Spotting Features, pp. 113-114;
Appendix A: Guide to Major Purchasers, pg. 115;
Appendix B: Dispositions, pg. 116;
Appendix C: Surviving High Hoods, pg. 117;
Appendix D: Owners and Basic Equipment, pp. 118-120;
High Hoods in Color, pp. 121-124;
Index, 125-128.

Withers Publishing, soft cover, 120 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., 37 color and 293 b&w photographs, advertisement reproductions, drawings. WP475 
Price: 25.95 USD

To fill the gap between the 600-horsepower SW1 and the 1,000-horsepower SW7, EMD introduced its 800-horsepower SW8 model in 1950. Over the next four years, General Motors built a total of 366 SW8s for 49 U.S. and nine Canadian customers at both its Electro-Motive Division plant at La Grange, IL and General Motors Diesel Division facility at London, Ontario. Class 1 carriers received 217 units, short lines and terminal railroads, 97 units, and industrial operators, 52 units.

Powered by the same basic 567-series prime mover as that first introduced in 1939, the SW8 carried an eight-cylinder version of the 567B engine. The car body and equipment layout nearly duplicated its predecessors, but options ordered by customers, and in some cases, added after their delivery, helped to customize the SW8s look. From the optional dynamic brake equipment specified by Lehigh Valley and Southern Pacific, to the distinctive handrail cages by Nickel Plate Road, each owner gave its SW8s a distinctive look.

Contents:
Introduction, pp. 5-11;
SW8 Roster, pp. 12-13;
Class One Operators, pp. 14-52;
Short Line, Terminal and Government Operators, pp. 53-70;
Canadian Class One Operators, pp. 71-74;
Canadian Regionals and Short Lines, pp. 75-76;
Industrial Owner's Gallery, pp. 77-80.

Withers Publishing, soft cover, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., 80 pages (4 color pages.), 250 photographs (20 color photographs). WP338 
Price: 16.95 USD

The Contemporary Diesel Spotters Guide: A Comprehensive Reference Manual to Locomotives Since 1972. Year 2008 Edition.

When it first appeared in 1967, the Diesel Spotters Guide by Jerry A. Pinkepank brought much-needed organization to the sport of diesel spotting in North America. Subsequent guides have covered the evolution of the diesel-electric, including Diesel Eras The Contemporary Diesel Spotters Guide, 2000 edition.

Now, more than 40 years after the original guide was published, authors Louis A. Marre and Paul K. Withers have teamed again to update The Contemporary Diesel Spotters Guide, putting a Diesel Era spin on the newest edition. The year 2008 edition will help you identify diesel locomotives from such spotting features as hood shape, truck type, and the location and number of fans, louvers, and doors. Printed in standard 6 x 9 size for easy carrying in the field, this 248-page book contains more than 500 color photographs. It is a must for railfan and model railroader libraries alike.

Contents:
Acknowledgments, Foreword, Preface, pp. 2-5;
Electromotive Diesel Inc., EMD, EMC: pp. 5-132;
General Electric, pp. 133-221;
MLW and Bombardier, pp. 222-231;
Morrison-Knudsen Co., MK Rail, pp. 232-240;
Alstom, pg. 241;
National Railway Equipment, pp. 242-244;
Appendix A, General Dimensions, Generator/Traction Motor Type, Page Index: pp. 245-248.

Withers Publishing, soft cover, 248 pages, 6 x 9 x .5 in., color photographs with text and captions. WP536 
Price: 29.95 USD

Following up on the success of its streamlined main line passenger diesels in the late 1930s, Electro-Motive Corp. challenged the century-long dominance of steam locomotives in freight service. The vehicle for this attack was a four-unit A-B-B-A demonstrator set of a new model, the FT. When it finished an 11-month, 83,064 mile tour over 20 railroads in 1939-1940, the contest was already over. Only the urgency of World War II traffic demands stood between the great steam fleet and the scrap yard. 250-plus color and black-and-white photographs with a four-color cover printed on heavyweight stock.

Contents:
The Revolutionary FT, pp. 6-10;
Railroad-by-Railroad Owners of the FT, pp. 23-120;
A Rebirth, pp. 121-122;
Dynamic Brakes, pp. 123-124;
Appendix, pp. 125-126;
Bibliography, pg. 127;
Index, pg. 128-130.

Withers Publishing, soft cover, 130 pages, 8.5 x 11 x .25 in., b&w photographs. WP024 
Price: 21.95 USD