RAPIDO TRAINS: MLW S-13 & RS-23
- Charls Gendron
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
The MLW S-13 and RS-23 locomotives are virtually identical from the frame up. In fact, they both used the same MLW-style switcher body and underframe of the previous S-11 and S-12 designs. Under the hood both used an ALCO 251c prime mover which generated 1,000hp. The major difference between the two versions was that the S-13 rode on “switching style” type A AAR trucks, while the RS-23 utilized road trucks (type B or lightweight truck).
British Columbia (formerly PGE) received the first MLW S-13s with an order of three, delivered in January 1959. Canadian National was the largest owner of S-13s, rostering 49 units with the first also arriving in 1959. Of these, 26 were assigned hump service in sets of three units. These were a variety of paint schemes for both BCR and CN before being retired or sold to short lines.
Canadian Pacific was the largest owner of the RS-23 locomotives with a total of 34 built between August and September of 1959. These were classified as “Diesel Road Switcher, 1,000hp” (DRS-10c). Initially assigned to Ontario, the RS-23s were reassigned to the Atlantic Region and Saskatchewan. It was not uncommon to see them working in sets of four or five units in northern Saskatchewan on branchline freights. Out in the Maritimes, the RS-23s could be seen in the same capacity, albeit in smaller sets of two to three units. As road switchers, CP's RS-23s often ran in multiple with larger 4-axle and 6-axle freight locomotives. During CP's motive power shortage in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the RS-23s worked hard in mainline freight duty. By the late-1990s, CP retired its fleet but many continue to survive on short lines throughout North America.
HO Scale S-13/RS-23 Locomotives Features:
Heavy die-cast frame with many separate details
Correct Canadian-style AAR (Type A or B) or MLW lightweight trucks
Photo-etched radiator grilles
Road-specific fuel tanks
Traction motor details on trucks
New thinwall cab design with complete interior lighting
Prototypically correct tread patterns on walkways
CN S-13s feature strobe "fink light" on roof where appropriate
Metal grab irons
Rapido’s innovative dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions
Rubber air and sanding lines
MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
DC/DCC ready or Dual-Mode DCC/Sound (Recorded from a real S-13!)
Suggested minimum radius: 18”
MLW S-13
BCR - Two-Tone Green Scheme
Numbers available: 1001, 1002, 1003
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW S-13
BCR - Green Lightning Stripe Scheme
Numbers available: 1001, 1002
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW S-13
BCR - Red/White/Blue Hockey Stick
Numbers available: 503, 1003
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW S-13
CNR - Delivery Scheme
Numbers available: 8500, 8506, 8521
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW S-13
CN - Noodle Scheme
Numbers available: 8512, 8514, 8517
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW S-13
CN - Noodle w/ Red Cab
Numbers available: 8513, 8515, 8519
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW S-13
Ex-CN For Your Railroad
Unnumbered
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW RS-23
CPR - Block Scheme
Numbers available: 8020, 8023, 8028
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW RS-23
CPR - Script Scheme
Numbers available: 8025, 8029, 8041
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW RS-23
CP Rail: Action Red (5" Stripes)
Numbers available: 8017, 8032, 8044
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW RS-23
CP Rail: Action Red (8" Stripes)
Numbers available: 8018, 8026, 8030
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW RS-23
CP Rail: Action Red (8" w/ no Multimark)
Numbers available: 8024, 8035, 8039
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW RS-23
Canada Atlantic Railway
Numbers available: 8019, 8023
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW RS-23
Minnesota Commercial
Numbers available: 80
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
HO MLW RS-23
DEVCO
Numbers available: 200, 201
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW RS-23
Windsor & Hantsport
Numbers available: 8036, 8042
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW RS-23
Industrial Yellow
Unlettered
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
MLW RS-23
Industrial Red
Unlettered
DCC Sound: $393.95 CAD
DC Silent: $271.95 CAD
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