Montreal Locomotive Works - Diesel-electric Production

Diesel-electric Production

In 1949, MLW began to introduce its first ALCO-GE-derived diesel designs in response to GMD, mostly switchers, some of which were given different names and slight modifications to distinguish between MLW and ALCO-GE versions. In 1951, MLW began to build ALCO-GE cab-units for freight and passenger service.

Canadian railways continued to rely heavily upon steam locomotives throughout the 1950s, a time when many U.S. railroads were dieselizing. Nevertheless, as in Canada, some Class 1 American railroads continued to use modern steam power through 1959, including the Norfolk & Western and the Union Pacific. However, with some isolated exceptions, and as in the U.S., Canadian railways were completely dieselized by 1960.

Throughout the 1960s, CN (MLW's largest diesel-electric locomotive customer) continued to implement purchase policies drafted by its government owners which spread procurement among the manufacturers. MLW / ALCO-GE road switcher designs were also preferred by several railways in North America due to superior rail adhesion at low speeds, making them especially useful on heavily graded rail lines.

Like GMD in London, MLW benefited from Canadian trade policies which were less restrictive than the those of the U.S. in regard to dealing with countries throughout the decolonizing and developing world, permitting MLW to expand a growing export business.