MLW RS-18 explained

MLW RS-18
Powertype:Diesel-electric
Builder:Montreal Locomotive Works
Buildmodel:RS-18
Builddate:December 1956 to August 1968
Totalproduction:351
Aarwheels:B-B
Uicclass:Bo'Bo'
Primemover:Alco 251B
Rpmrange:1000 (max)
Enginetype:Four-stroke V12 diesel
Displacement:8016cuin
Generator:DC generator
Tractionmotors:4 DC traction motors
Cylindercount:12
Cylindersize:9x
Transmission:Electric
Poweroutput:1800-1NaN-1
Locobrakes:Air, optional dynamic
Trainbrakes:Air
Locale:Canada

The MLW RS-18 was an 1800sigfig=3NaNsigfig=3 diesel-electric locomotive built by Montreal Locomotive Works between December 1956 and August 1968. It replaced the RS-10 in MLW's catalogue, and production totalled 351 locomotives, to eight customers.

It was the Canadian version of the ALCO RS-11, although MLW did manufacture the RS-11 for Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México.

Canadian National Railway, by far the largest buyer of the RS-18, continued to specify the long hood as the front. By contrast, while all of Canadian Pacific Railway's RS-10s were long-hood-forward, all of their RS-18s were short-hood forward. All of CN and CP's locomotives were delivered with full-height short hoods, as were the first four Pacific Great Eastern Railway, and first Roberval and Saguenay Railway unit. The remaining production was for locomotives with a low short-hood, giving the train crew much better forward vision.

Original owners

Railway Quantity Road number Notes
225 3615–3745, 3830–3893, 3100–3129
72 8729–8800 68 of the 72 were rebuilt in to RS18u's numbered 1800 to 1868
8 101–108
3 208-2 – 208-4
29 587–599, 614–626, 628–630 578–599 renumbered 601–613; to British Columbia Railway 601–630. They were rebuilt into CRS20's[1]
1 6 Renumbered 16
2 24, 25
11 901–911
Totals 351

Preserved

West Chester Railroad #1803 is an ALCO RS-18 built in 1960 by the MLW for the Canadian Pacific Railway and was numbered 8762. In 1998, it was retired from service by the Canadian Pacific Railroad and was bought by the West Chester Railroad that same year, where it currently remains in service. It was re-numbered as 1803 and repainted into a Brunswick green with a yellow frame stripe.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: October 1992 . CRS20 Operator's Manual . Rev. B 10/93 . . BC Rail.