The M-420 was one of the first locomotive models (along with the EMD GP38-2) to use the wide-nosed Canadian comfort cab, pioneered by Canadian National. By the early 1990s, variations on this cab design had become the standard of the industry. As with wide-nosed General Motors Diesel units from the same period, references to the model commonly add a "W" at the end of the model name, but it is not part of the official model designation. Most M-420 units rode on MLW ZWT (Zero Weight-Transfer) trucks.
Other variations of the M-420 were the M-420R, the M-424 built for service in Mexico and the M-420TR switcher. Five examples of the M-420R were built for the Providence and Worcester Railroad using trade-in parts and rode on Type B trucks, but otherwise resembled the M-420. The M-424 was an M-420 with dynamic brakes uprated to 2,400 horsepower (1.79 MW). The M-420TR was built in two variations, with two M-420TR units sold to Roberval & Saguenay and fifteen slightly different units (sometimes referred to as M-420TR-2) sold to Ferrocarril del Pacífico. Both M-420TR variations bore little resemblance to the other models, with a lowered hood, shorter frame and end-cab design.
Service with CN and BCOL
The first Canadian National M-420 was delivered in 1973.[3] They provided service on the eastern side of Canada until their retirement in the late 1990s. By the time they were retired, many units were over 20 years old, and major Canadian railroads were purging their rosters of MLW and Alco locomotives to replace them with newer EMD and GE units. Bombardier HR-412s, purchased by CN and designed as successor to the M-420, were retired at the same time.[4]
Service as power generators in Winter 1998
During the winter of 1998, a severe ice storm cut off power to many homes and businesses in Ontario and Quebec. CN M-420 3502 was hoisted off the rails by crane and rolled along a street in Boucherville in order to provide power in the community. The engine was driven approximately 1,000 feet (305 m) under its own power to the city hall, where it then became a portable power generator.[5] M-420 3508 was also lifted from the tracks to provide power to a school being used as a shelter, but problems prevented this from happening, and 3508 remained on standby. Both engines suffered minor gear case damage and carved grooves in the pavement.
Following their retirement from CN and BC Rail, some M-420 units were scrapped, but many were sold to shortline railways across North America for continued service. Omnitrax purchased several units, including some of the M-420B units from BC Rail. Larger shortlines such as Omnitrax have begun to scrap or sell their MLW units as a result of increased maintenance and reliability issues. The St Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad used a fleet of eleven former CN M-420 units as road power from 1998 to 2001. The Great Western Railway in Saskatchewan used an entire roster of MLW M-420s until 2017 when they announced that they are replacing the MLW fleet with GE fleet.[6]
Media related to MLW M-420 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons
March 05, 2023
this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2022, learn, when, remove, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources MLW M 420 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The MLW M 420 was a diesel electric locomotive manufactured between 1973 and 1977 in Montreal Canada by the Montreal Locomotive Works A total of 88 units were built for Canadian railways including eight B units built for the British Columbia Railway most of production went to Canadian National 2 Only seven units were sold outside of Canada to the State Railways Institution in Venezuela and the Providence and Worcester Railroad in the United States MLW M 420M420W 3569 of St Lawrence amp Atlantic RailroadType and originPower typeDiesel electricBuilderMontreal Locomotive WorksBuild dateMay 1973 February 1977Total produced90 8 B unitsSpecificationsConfiguration AARB BGauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gaugeLength61 ft 0 in 18 59 m Width10 ft 3 in 3 12 m Height15 ft 6 in 4 72 m Loco weight272 000 lb 123 400 kilograms Prime moverALCO 251C 1 Engine typeFour stroke diesel 1 CylindersV12Performance figuresMaximum speed67 mph 108 km h Power output2 000 hp 1 49 MW CareerLocaleNorth AmericaThe M 420 was one of the first locomotive models along with the EMD GP38 2 to use the wide nosed Canadian comfort cab pioneered by Canadian National By the early 1990s variations on this cab design had become the standard of the industry As with wide nosed General Motors Diesel units from the same period references to the model commonly add a W at the end of the model name but it is not part of the official model designation Most M 420 units rode on MLW ZWT Zero Weight Transfer trucks Contents 1 Variations 2 Service with CN and BCOL 3 Service as power generators in Winter 1998 4 M 420 today 5 Original owners 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksVariations EditOther variations of the M 420 were the M 420R the M 424 built for service in Mexico and the M 420TR switcher Five examples of the M 420R were built for the Providence and Worcester Railroad using trade in parts and rode on Type B trucks but otherwise resembled the M 420 The M 424 was an M 420 with dynamic brakes uprated to 2 400 horsepower 1 79 MW The M 420TR was built in two variations with two M 420TR units sold to Roberval amp Saguenay and fifteen slightly different units sometimes referred to as M 420TR 2 sold to Ferrocarril del Pacifico Both M 420TR variations bore little resemblance to the other models with a lowered hood shorter frame and end cab design Service with CN and BCOL EditThe first Canadian National M 420 was delivered in 1973 3 They provided service on the eastern side of Canada until their retirement in the late 1990s By the time they were retired many units were over 20 years old and major Canadian railroads were purging their rosters of MLW and Alco locomotives to replace them with newer EMD and GE units Bombardier HR 412s purchased by CN and designed as successor to the M 420 were retired at the same time 4 Service as power generators in Winter 1998 EditDuring the winter of 1998 a severe ice storm cut off power to many homes and businesses in Ontario and Quebec CN M 420 3502 was hoisted off the rails by crane and rolled along a street in Boucherville in order to provide power in the community The engine was driven approximately 1 000 feet 305 m under its own power to the city hall where it then became a portable power generator 5 M 420 3508 was also lifted from the tracks to provide power to a school being used as a shelter but problems prevented this from happening and 3508 remained on standby Both engines suffered minor gear case damage and carved grooves in the pavement M 420 today Edit A Thunder Rail M 420R in 2010 still wearing Providence and Worcester Railroad colors Following their retirement from CN and BC Rail some M 420 units were scrapped but many were sold to shortline railways across North America for continued service Omnitrax purchased several units including some of the M 420B units from BC Rail Larger shortlines such as Omnitrax have begun to scrap or sell their MLW units as a result of increased maintenance and reliability issues The St Lawrence amp Atlantic Railroad used a fleet of eleven former CN M 420 units as road power from 1998 to 2001 The Great Western Railway in Saskatchewan used an entire roster of MLW M 420s until 2017 when they announced that they are replacing the MLW fleet with GE fleet 6 Original owners Edit 7 Railroad Quantity Road numbers NotesCanadian National 8 80 2500 2579British Columbia Railway 9 16 640 647 amp 681 688 681 688 are cabless B unitsArgentine State Railway 2 M001 M002Providence amp Worcester 5 2001 2005 M 420RRoberval amp Saguenay 2 26 27 M 420TRFerrocarril del Pacifico 15 522 536 M 420TRSee also EditList of MLW diesel locomotivesReferences Edit a b M420W Data Sheet Retrieved 2009 02 27 M420W Production Retrieved 2009 02 27 CN gets its first M420 diesel Railway Age 11 June 1973 page 37 CN Locomotives Retired Archived from the original on 2009 09 13 Retrieved 2009 07 07 M 420W derailed Archived from the original on 2009 02 25 Retrieved 2009 03 04 Great Western Railway Archived from the original on 2009 04 05 Retrieved 2009 02 27 Roster Retrieved 2009 03 04 CN Roster Archived from the original on 2009 02 25 Retrieved 2009 03 08 BCOL Roster Retrieved 2009 03 04 External links Edit Media related to MLW M 420 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title MLW M 420 amp oldid 1142499039, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
