MLW M-420W
Encyclopedia
The Montreal Locomotive Works
M-420 is a diesel-electric locomotive built between 1973 and 1977 in Montreal Quebec, Canada. A total 88 units were built for Canadian railways, including 8 B-units built for the British Columbia Railway; most of production went to the Canadian National Railway. Only two units were sold outside of Canada, to Ferrocarriles del Estado in Venezuela.
The M-420 was one of the first locomotive models (along with the GMD-built GP38-2) to use the wide-nosed Safety (or Comfort) Cab, pioneered by Canadian National Railway
. By the early 1990s, variations on this cab design had become the standard of the industry. As with wide-nosed GMD 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.
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.
and GE units. Bombardier-built HR-412 units, purchased by CN and designed as successor to the M-420, were retired at the same time.
used a fleet of eleven former CN M-420 units as road power from 1998 to 2001. The Great Western Railway
in Saskatchewan uses an entire roster of MLW M-420s.
Due to the high cost of painting, many M-420s on shortlines still retain their CN livery with the CN logo painted over.
Montreal Locomotive Works
Montreal Locomotive Works was a Canadian railway locomotive manufacturer which existed under several names from 1883–1985, producing both steam and diesel locomotives. For a number of years it was a subsidiary of the American Locomotive Company...
M-420 is a diesel-electric locomotive built between 1973 and 1977 in Montreal Quebec, Canada. A total 88 units were built for Canadian railways, including 8 B-units built for the British Columbia Railway; most of production went to the Canadian National Railway. Only two units were sold outside of Canada, to Ferrocarriles del Estado in Venezuela.
The M-420 was one of the first locomotive models (along with the GMD-built GP38-2) to use the wide-nosed Safety (or Comfort) Cab, pioneered by Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
. By the early 1990s, variations on this cab design had become the standard of the industry. As with wide-nosed GMD 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.
Variations
Other variations of the M-420 were the M-420R built for Providence and Worcester, the M-424 built for service in Mexico and the M-420TR switcher. The M-420R utilized 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 2400 horspower. The M-420TR was built in two variations, with two M-420TR units sold to Roberval and Saguenay RailwayRoberval and Saguenay Railway
The Roberval and Saguenay Railway is a small railway company, wholly owned by Rio Tinto Alcan. It carries raw materials in portions of northern Quebec province, Canada. With about of track in total, it touches on such spots as Chicoutimi and Arvida and connects to the Canadian National Railway....
and fifteen slightly different units (sometimes referred to as M-420TR-2) sold to Ferrocarril del Pacifico
Ferrocarril del Pacífico
The Ferrocarril del Pacífico is a former railroad line of Mexico that operated from Benjamín Hill, Sonora to Guadalajara, Jalisco via Mazatlán, Sinaloa. It was absorbed into Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México in 1984....
. 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
CN M-420 units 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 EMDEMD
- Music :* E.M.D., a Swedish band* The Explorations in Music and Dance / EMD Network, represents diverse higher education institutions of dance and music in Greenland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with additional institutional partners in the European...
and GE units. Bombardier-built HR-412 units, purchased by CN and designed as successor to the M-420, were retired at the same time.
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 QC in order to provide power in the community. The engine was driven approximately 1000 feet under its own power to the city hall, where it then became a portable power generator. 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
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 and Atlantic RailroadSt. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad
The St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad , known as St-Laurent et Atlantique Quebec in Canada, is a short line railroad operating between Portland, Maine on the Atlantic Ocean and Montreal, Quebec on the St. Lawrence River. It crosses the Canada-U.S...
used a fleet of eleven former CN M-420 units as road power from 1998 to 2001. The Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway (Saskatchewan)
The Great Western Railway is a Canadian short line railway company operating on former Canadian Pacific Railway trackage in southwest Saskatchewan. GWR is the operating company whereas Westcan Rail Saskatchewan Ltd. is the owner of the track and structures...
in Saskatchewan uses an entire roster of MLW M-420s.
Due to the high cost of painting, many M-420s on shortlines still retain their CN livery with the CN logo painted over.
Original owners
| Railroad | Quantity | Road numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian National | 80 | 2500–2579 | |
| British Columbia Railway | 16 | 640-647 & 681-688 | 681-688 are cabless B units |
| Ferrocarriles del Estado | 2 | M001 & M002 | |
| Providence & Worcester | 5 | 2001–2005 | M-420R |
| Roberval & Saguenay | 2 | 26,27 | M-420TR |
| Ferrocarril del Pacifico | 15 | 522-536 | M-420TR |