New Power for the Paper Mill

The long anticipated SW1200RS from Rapido has arrived and I immediately had to try it out at the paper mill.  All I can say is what a beautiful piece of model railroading engineering and manufacturing.  I purchased the unit with DCC sound, as the price difference isn't enough to go for a non-DCC unit, and DCC version includes sound.  For anyone who has followed the development of a suitable Canadian version of the SW1200, designated by the trailing letters RS, there has been on-going controversy for some time as both Rapido and True Line Trains announced intentions to build this model.  It was actually an interesting story as it developed, as Rapido announced their intentions and showed production samples, while TLT announced their version and showed a photo of an OMI model as their unit.  In any event, Rapido delivered the goods and TLT (as of a May 2017 web site posting) has not.  Knowing the quality of work that goes into a Rapido model, I spent my modeling $$$ and ordered CN 1341, with the idea that this would become my main power for switching at the paper mill, similar to use of the SW1200RS units at paper mills in Marathon and Iroquois Falls, Ontario. 

A little history for the SW1200RS, which comes from the Rapido website.  General Motors Diesel (GMD) delivered the first example of what would come to be known as the SW1200RS model to Canadian National in September 1955. As its dieselization progressed, CNR needed a compact, lightweight locomotive to replace steam power on branch lines and other over-the-road assignments (freight and passenger) not requiring a full-fledged mainline road switcher. General Motors’ 1,200-hp SW1200 switcher model, in production since January 1954, combined the right size and muscle, but needed modifications for use out on the road.

First impressions out of the box...Rapido just continues to produce detailed, quality products which get better each model produced.  Starting off it is very well packaged and the model rides snugly in its plastic cocoon.  A detailed instruction manual (more on that to come) is included and one of the first things you see after opening the box.  Sound is very good and matches what I have seen with my RDC unit.  Engine noises are very throaty and nice chugging sound on acceleration.  Lots and lots of detail included on the model.  My only initial complaint after running it for about 30 minutes is a slight jerky movement at very slow speeds although it's getting better with more running.  My other concern is that the motor seems to have a slight whiny sound when the sound is off and you can hear the engine running alone.  Hopefully both of these problems will continue to work themselves out of the unit.  

The instruction manual is a typical Rapido manual.  Too much frivolity and joking for my tastes.  I understand that maybe a couple of humorous lines of text breaks up the monotony of a technical manual but let's focus on tech issues and specifics to the loco rather than more attempts at humor.  For example I searched and could not find if there is anyway to turn off the side lights on the trucks but I did find the oblique reference to Quantum Physics while dancing the Watusi.  Nice to know but my question remains unanswered.  Maybe a little more thought given to some tech drawings such as showing the 21 pin socket and less jokes.

I am quite please with the unit after running it on the layout.  Now comes the hard part, how much weathering should be done to give it that proper industrial locomotive feel versus how it currently looks.  I choose to loosely model the 1341 using the 1305, which was used at the Abitibi-Consolidated mill in Iroquois Falls, Ontario.  Abitibi acquired the 1305 in January 1994 (ex CN 1305) and a photo taken in 2003 clearly shows that the CN noodle is long faded away and the CN red is heavily faded.  Sounds like a topic for another posting if I decide to weather the unit to this condition.  The last photograph I have of these unit was after it was repainted into the green/black scheme and was serving the Resolute Forest Products (last reported as DESX 1305) in Thorald. 

Hearty Recommendation - Mike Rose Hobbies

I like to recommend companies and vendors who do an outstanding job in this hobby that we pursue.  So with that in mind, I want to discuss the excellent care given by Mike Rose Hobbies for DCC sound installation.  I recently sold off some horsepower that I had not been using for years and had come to the conclusion that modifying these units was just not a project that had any priority.  So why not sell off those old units, and take some of the funds to pay for some DCC sound installation in other units?  

After some searching and review of vendors who provide this service, I opted to send the units to Mike Rose, as he offered what I considered a fair price and could complete the work in a reasonably short period of time.  Now I need to go back and say that I had previously met Mike years ago at a SIG which was organized by modeler Jim Six and held in northeast Ohio, and knew he was a terrific modeler.  I had corresponded with him at different times and his web site was very informative as to what would be done and the different potential costs. So I asked Mike for a quote to add sound to a Proto 2000 ONR unit which I knew would require some frame modifications and an older Atlas C-424.  

Mike is very professional and walked me through the process for decoder selection as well as how the speakers would be mounted.  After some back and forth discussions, which are really needed for both parties to understand exactly what is going to be done, I agreed on a price and shipped the units to his work shop.

During the install, Mike would send me a series of questions so that the installation would reflect how I wanted lights to be turned on and associated with the non-standard headlamps on the GP38-2.  When I say non-standard, the Proto 2000 units are built to replicate American power, with twin lamps on the nose and no lamps above the windows.  Unfortunately in my haste to get my engine converted and sent to Mike, I actually sent him the wrong unit, one that I had not removed the headlamps and replaced with a bell.  Mike immediately caught the mistake and at some point I will add the bell in the correct position to this unit. 

So if you need some DCC and custom sound work done, check out his web site and the work he has done for others.