Rapido Trains SW1200RS Operator's Manual - Break-In
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brought an end to DAR steam operation. In September 1960, SW1200RS No. 8171
had the distinction of being the final new diesel locomotive delivered as part of CPR’s
dieselization. It also proved to be the final example of the model to be built.
CPR’s locomotives shared the front number board/headlight assembly with the CN units,
but the rear of the cab had a more conventional arrangement and did not have integral
marker lights. Many CP units were extensively rebuilt in the 1980s and renumbered in
the 1200 series. The biggest spotting difference was the super ginormous sand filler
hatches on the hood. Others received ditch lights and other upgrades but remained in
their original numbers. CP’s last SW1200RS was retired in 2012.
What’s in a name?
Unofficially, the road-switcher variant of the SW1200 came to be known as the
SW1200RS. While at GMD’s London, Ont., plant conducting research for his book
Locomotives From London (UCRS, 1968), the late Peter Cox sought to clarify production
quantities for the SW1200, because out of the total number built by GMD only a few
were purely switchers; the majority were multi-purpose road switchers. Cox suggested
SW1200RS as a model designation for the Canadian road-switcher variant and GMD
staff concurred, although neither the builder nor CN revised their official records.
Railway historians and modellers adopted Cox’s unofficial model designation, and it
remains in use.
BREAK-IN
Don’t break in to anyone’s layout room to steal their SW1200RS. Just buy more for
yourself. But this isn’t about that kind of break-in.
Every locomotive needs a break-in period. Your SW1200RS has been tested at our
factory for about two minutes. That is not enough time to get the gears to mesh nicely
or to even out any jerky operation in a new motor. We suggest that, after reading this
manual, you put your SW1200RS on a test loop and just let it run in each direction for
an hour or two. Fast and slow.
There already should be enough grease in the gearbox so you don’t need to add any.
Just let the thing run.
HOW TO HOLD YOUR SW1200RS
The SW1200RS has numerous very delicate parts. If you want to back date it to be
the quality of a model produced in 1978, then rip all the parts off and handle it like
a pigskin going for a touchdown. We’re assuming you don’t want to do that, so the
SW1200RS should be picked up carefully. The fuel tank and the middle of the long hood
are both easily accessed and well balanced — if your hands are big enough, the best
way to pick up the unit is to grab it from above with your thumb and forefinger on either