The HO Scale MLW M420 - Never Before Made in Plastic

Rapido Trains Inc. is proud to reveal its latest all- Canadian model in HO Scale, Montreal Locomotive Works M420 locomotive, MLW’s answer to the popular GMD GP38-2.

The early 1970s were a time of massive change in Canadian locomotive design. CN’s mechanical boss, Bill Draper, 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 ALCO trade-in FA trucks. 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.

Photo Courtesy Ken Goslett

3D Render of the Rapido MLW M420

The HO Scale MLW M420 Features:

• 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

• Operating headlights, rear lights, tri-colour class lights, and illuminated cab control stand

• Separate grab irons and handrails installed at the factory

• Highly detailed cab interior with optional open front door (yes you read that correctly)

• Heavy, die-cast chassis with Rapido’s new coreless motor with dual flywheels and silky-smooth drive

• DC/Silent (21-pin DCC Ready) or DC/DCC/Sound (Rapido Sound by TCS)

• Accurate sounds recorded from a real M420

• Factory-installed Macdonald-Cartier couplers mounted at the correct height

The infamous postcards

Stack of the postcards received to date. HO Budd mid-train dome for scale.