Montreal Locomotive Works

Montreal Locomotive Works, or MLW, was the Canadian subsidiary of Schenectady, NY based locomotive manufacturer ALCo (American Locomotive Company.) MLW continued to manufacture locomotives for Canadian and export markets for several years after the demise of ALCo. Eventually Bombardier, who continued in the locomotive business until 1985, acquired the assets and designs of ALCo/MLW. # Schenectady locomotive works, in Schenectady, NY was a dwindling business…until the new manager had the insight to join several other very small companies into the one new company, thus…ALCo was born. ALCo produced many a locomotive throughout its long life, making its owner and close employees very rich men, and women. ALCo was one of the first railroad related employment opportunities for women. MLW was the Canadian version of ALCo, producing many of ALCo’s famed designs, but giving them same but different names to distinguish between the American and Canadian versions. For example, an M636 is the MLW variant of the ALCo’s C636. Basically, the same locomotive…just a different designation and possibly a few changed spotting differences on the car body. ALCo crashed and burned in 1969...leaving only MLW to produce locomotives, fortunately, there was still another locomotive manufacture in the USA, General Motor’s Electro-Motive Division; or EMD. This left MLW with the Canadian market, which EMD also helped to supply, and the dwindling overseas market. MLW finally gave up and sold to Bombardier (BBD) only a few years after ALCo’s closing. BBD gave up producing locomotives in 1895. They started producing aircraft and related items. Now, BBD is back, producing locomotives, including there newest, a Jet-powered high-speed monster…and guess what; it’s based on old MLW/ALCo designs. I guess the saying is true; the good never die!

For more information, please contact me: reidpeter76@eastlink.ca