Rapido HO – MLW S-13 and RS-23 Locomotives

Looking for the quintessential little switcher — that rugged Canadian machine that shuffled cars in yards and worked branchlines for over fifty years? This collection brings together the MLW S-13 and RS-23 locomotives from Rapido Trains. Compact, versatile, and full of character, these 1,000-hp units are a must-have for anyone modeling Canadian rail — a perfect addition to bring a yard to life or lead a branchline freight.

Rapido recreates these locomotives with the attention to detail the brand is known for. Built by Montreal Locomotive Works, the S-13 and RS-23 are virtually identical from the frame up: they share the MLW-style switcher body and underframe inherited from the S-11 and S-12, along with the same 1,000-hp ALCO 251c prime mover. The key difference is in the trucks: the S-13 rides on AAR switching trucks, while the RS-23 uses road trucks. British Columbia (formerly PGE) received the first S-13s in January 1959, but Canadian National was the largest owner (49 units, of which 26 were assigned to hump service in sets of three). On the RS-23 side, Canadian Pacific was the largest owner (34 units), often seen pulling branchline freights in sets of four or five in northern Saskatchewan. Retired in the late 1990s, many still run today on short lines. This collection captures all that variety across the S-13 and RS-23 configurations and multiple liveries. The model pairs a heavy die-cast frame, a thinwall cab with full interior and lighting, photo-etched radiator grilles, the correct Canadian trucks, and Rapido's signature dead-straight metal handrails. Offered as DC silent or with sound and DCC (recorded from a real S-13!), these locomotives bring your layout the realism Rapido is known for.

What this collection brings together:

• MLW S-13 and RS-23 switchers (1,000 hp, ALCO 251c prime mover), HO scale (1:87)
• DC silent/DCC-ready versions and dual-mode DCC/sound versions (sound recorded from a real S-13)
• S-13 and RS-23 details specific to prototype and road
• Correct Canadian trucks: AAR switching trucks (S-13) or MLW lightweight trucks (RS-23)
• Heavy die-cast frame with many separate details
• Photo-etched radiator grilles, road-specific fuel tanks
• Traction motor details on the trucks
• New thinwall cab design with full interior and interior lighting
• Strobe "fink light" on the roof of CN S-13s (where appropriate)
• Prototypically correct walkway tread patterns, metal grab irons
• Dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions, rubber air and sanding lines
• MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted power
• Multiple liveries and operators (Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, British Columbia Railway, Industrial, and more)
• Ideal for yard, hump, and branchline service, 1960s to today