Rapido Trains SW1200RS Operator's Manual

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Rapido Trains SW1200RS Operator's Manual Manual pdf 4 page image

4PROTOTYPE HISTORYWhat exactly does the “RS” mean?In short: Road Switcher. The SW1200RS is equally comfortable in the yard or on themainline.As produced, the GMD (General Motors Diesel Division in London, Ontario) SW1200RSdiffered from the standard SW1200 by having distinctive Flexicoil trucks (a GM designoffering improved suspension and ride quality versus the standard AAR-type switchertruck); 62:15 gearing for a 65-mph top speed; multiple-unit capability; and largeheadlight/numberboard fixtures on both ends. A 775-gallon fuel tank – vs. 500 gallonson a comparable GMD yard switcher – helped the “RS” units venture beyond yardlimits. As with the standard SW1200, GM’s 12-cylinder 567C engine provided themodel’s 1200 hp.Canadian NationalCNR acquired a total of 192 SW1200RS units between 1955 and 1960, numbered1204-1397 (there is no 1269 or 1270). Because they were internally pretty muchidentical to the GMD-1, they received the same classification: GR-12. General Motors,Road switcher, 1200 HP. There are two main spotting variations on the CN SW1200RS.The earlier units, 1204-1290 (GR-12d/f/h/k/l) had a different style of number boardabove the cab. As well, 1204-1318 and 1324 had EMD-style steps rather than theusual Canadian straight steps. Contrary to modelling lore for those of us who pre-datethe internet, the 1200s and the 1300s have nearly identical hoods. The louvers are thesame.Many CN SW1200RS locomotives were rebuilt into 7000-series locomotives in the1980s, including 7100-7107. These are the famous “Sweeps,” a combination ofSW1200RS and GP9 uprated to 1350 HP. Man we would love to make those one day.CN’s last SW1200RS was retired in 2014.Canadian PacificBetween April 12 and 20, 1957, CNR SW1200RS No. 1257 was loaned to CanadianPacific for evaluation out of Winnipeg, as CPR accelerated its dieselization timetableand sought an effective “Branch Line Unit” (BLU) for service on low-density secondarylines. This testing led to placement of CPR’s first order for this model, 31 units deliveredby GMD between June and October 1958 as Nos. 8100-8130 (class DRS-12a). Theyarrived in CPR’s then-standard maroon-and-grey livery with Roman lettering, althoughmany units received script lettering prior to the introduction of the CP Rail Action Redimage in 1968.CPR acquired two more groups of SW1200RS units: Nos. 8131-8146 (class DRS-12b)in the spring of 1959, and Nos. 8147-8171 (DRS-12c) in mid-1960. Among the 1959purchase were ten units (Nos. 8131-8140) earmarked for assignment to subsidiaryDominion Atlantic Railway in Nova Scotia (but with standard CPR lettering), where they