Prototype:

The RS-23 was a 1000 hp diesel expressly built for the Canadian market by Montreal Locomotive Works. It was a road switcher version of the MLW S-13 switcher (another Canadian-only diesel), and thus could make transition to reach road speeds above 30 mph. A total of 40 RS-23 locos were built, with Canadian Pacific ordering the most by far with a fleet of 34 (road numbers 8013-8046). Of these a number were built in a light-weight configuration, intended for use on light rail branchlines in the Atlantic region, and CP’s prairie branch network around Prince Albert SK. CP 8020 was one of these light-weight units, and was initially assigned to Little Current ON on the Sudbury Division in 1959. It replaced the steam locomotive which switched CP trackage on Manitoulin Island and the mainland dock at Turner Yard. However by the mid ’60s a full-time locomotive was no longer required there, and CP 8020 roamed the CP Eastern Region in various capacities over the remainder of her service life.

Model:

CP 8020 is an old Van Hobbies brass model produced back around 1980, and thus was a poor runner. The model was purchased pre-painted by Ted Kocyla, who understood its history as a former Sudbury Division locomotive. In the spirit of WRMRC collaboration, the brass shell was gutted and the drive completely rebuilt by Anthony Fletcher, combining the small can motor and flywheels from a current-production Bachmann S-2, and the truck/gear components from an old Atlas ‘yellow-box’ RS-11. Additionally the 8020 is equipped with an ESU-Loksound decoder, with the proper sound files from an ALCO model 251D-6L prime mover. Paint touch-ups, additional details and light weathering were applied by Ted after the rebuild. So now CP 8020 not only looks great, but runs and sounds great too.