MLW RS-18

This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "MLW RS-18" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2014)

MLW RS-18
BC Rail No. 629 at Lillooet, British Columbia in 1987
Type and origin Power type Diesel-electric Builder Montreal Locomotive Works Model RS-18 Build date December 1956 to August 1968 Total produced 351
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo'Bo' Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Prime mover Alco 251B RPM range 1000 (max) Engine type Four-stroke V12 diesel Displacement 8,016 cu in (131.36 L) Generator DC generator Traction motors 4 DC traction motors Cylinders 12 Cylinder size 9 in × 10.5 in (229 mm × 267 mm) Transmission Electric Loco brake Air, optional dynamic Train brakes Air
Performance figures Power output 1,800 hp (1,340 kW)
Career Locale Canada

The MLW RS-18 was an 1,800 hp (1,340 kW) 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.