CN Hoods & Cabs

[Joe]

Does CN make/order special hoods and cabs? The EMD SD60F and GE C40-8M look exactly the same (except the trucks and tanks) and the Dash 9-44CWL has that same cab. Just hoping to become a more knowledgeable railfan!

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=55468

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=55465

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=55467

[Guilford350]

Those are the Candian-style saftey cabs. Only CN has had such units. BC Rail also has the C40-8M locomotives.

[Joe]

In what way are they safer than other cabs?

[Guilford350]

In what way are they safer than other cabs?

The wide cab uses soundproofing, desktop controls, a better forward view, and protects the crew in the event of a collision (due to a more structuraly sound cab).

If you take it from a crew's standpoint, the wide cabs are said be uncomforatable due to a lack of leg room under the desktop style controls and are awkward when performing switching operations and while traveling in reverse.

[J]

The "Canadian" cab has been around since the mid-1980's or so. Since 1990, all units manufactured new (and some rebuilds) for use by Class 1 roads in the US conform to Specification S-580. The standards are similiar but not identical to the CN specs. S-580 pertains to crashworthiness features such as thicker steel in the nose structure, a specification for the anticlimber (horizontal structure at the end platform) and rated collision posts. These features have proven to be pretty effective in a number of collisions. A later specification called for stronger fuel tanks to resist rips and punctures associated with derailments and crossing accidents.

The federal government is close to adopting these standards as "required" and will also be including standards for strengthening the cab around the windshield to better resist side swipes and colisions with heavy trucks.

[Traisessive]

The Dash 9 has two windows and a more streamlined nose, while the 9WL has 4 windows and a more "boxier" nose.

The SD60 and C40 you are pretty acurate.
If you look on the SD50 the classification lights are not on the nose.
that is the esiest was to determine 60 from 50

[Traisessive]

The Dash 9 has two windows and a more streamlined nose, while the 9WL has 4 windows and a more "boxier" nose.

The SD60 and C40 you are pretty acurate.
If you look on the SD50 the classification lights are not on the nose.
that is the esiest was to determine 60 from 50

[ryan87]

The "Canadian" cab has been around since the mid-1980's or so.


Don't mean To be picky but CN has used the Canadian cabs since 1970 starting with the M420 from Alco's Canadian subsiduary MLW.

Another inovation that came from Canada was ditch lights they were standard equipment on Canadian locomotives over a decade before there American counterparts.

[J]

You are correct and time certaily flies.

Canada regulations allowed other railroad innovations that can be admired - two way end of train devices were mandated in the US years later and US locomotives are still required to have working sanders (supposedly to improve emergency braking performance although Canadian studies show no worthwhile benefit). Sanders certainly are helpful for low-speed adhesion but that's an economic performance issue, not a safety factor.

[Black_Knight]

One cab design that catches my attention is the EMD SW- Series. The cabs on the SW1200 look so unique and I wonder why EMD choose that kind of design. The Cab is definitely higher than the Engine Compartment. Its not even streamed-lined, but yeah the EMD SW1200RS was the first Locomotive that I first laid eyes on and I feel in love with her.

I never been inside an EMD SW1200RS cab, but I would pay someone $1 Million Dollars if they would let me climb aboard and let me have a try at the Throttle and Brakes.

http://bswitzer.railfan.net/photos/cn/sw1200/cn7300&1387.jpg

[Traisessive]

Going back to the desktops .. they do suck for bigger and taller engineers.

The cowl units and the C44-9WL have them. I like how CN orders their units with control stands. I can't believe that CP is still buying only desktop.