Description
Railroad Short Name: IAIS
The early 1970s were a time of massive change in Canadian locomotive design. CN’s mechanical boss, Bob Radford, worked with MLW designers, locomotive crews and the unions to devise a new cab design for freight road locomotives. This would become known as a (Canadian) Comfort/Safety Cab. The first units to be equipped with this cab was the M420 and it hit the rails in 1973, just a few weeks before the similarly-equipped GP38-2(W).
The M420 was equipped with the ALCo 12V-251c3 prime mover producing 2000 H.P. Most M420 units rode on MLW ZWT (Zero Weight- Transfer) trucks. The only exception to this were the 5 units built for the Providence & Worcester, which rode on Type B road switcher trucks as commonly found under most ALCo-designed 4-axle locomotives. The P&W required a different bolster design and different truck spacing, making them unique.
MLW constructed 103 M420s between May 1973 and February 1977 for four railways including CN (80), BCR (16 including eight B units), Ferrocarriles del Estado (2), Providence & Worcester (5).
CN would take delivery of the M420s in 3 groups: MR-20a class 2500-2529 (delivered 1973), MR-20b class 2530- 2559 (delivered 1974), and MR-20c class 2560-2579 (delivered 1976).
All of the CN units were retired by 1998 and today many of these locomotives have found second careers on short lines all over North America.
Features:
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- 3D scanned from an actual M420. This is as close to real as it gets!
- MR-20b and MR-20c classes available in the first run
- Rapido’s innovative dead straight metal side handrails with plastic stanchions
- Incredible underframe detail including traction motor cables and other piping, rerailer and a silly number of separately applied parts
- Two or three panel radiators, louvered or large opening electrical cabinet door, open or closed truck bearings
- Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory
- Operating headlights, rear lights, tri-colour class lights, and illuminated cab control stand
- Highly detailed cab interior with optional open front door
- DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/ESU LokSound
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- CN 3500s feature rebuilt long hood with knuckle buster door latches, paper air filters, retention tank, ditch lights and relocated horn
- BC Rail has correct fuel tank size and location, four rock lights (in nose and pilot) and rebuilt steps
- B-units are part of A/B set, single A units can be purchased separately.
- P&W version has correct Type B trucks and headlight variation
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