Comments on: CN extra 9647 west (white markers), with a dimensional, pulling onto the Dundas Sub (mile 76.8) at London Junction, from the Thorndale Sub Powered by GMD built: GP40-2L(W) 9647 / GP40-2L(W) 9415 / SD40 5xx2 (dynamic brakes) at London, January 17,1981 Kodachrome by S. Danko Noteworthy: former Thorndale Sub now the west end of the Guelph Sub

By: awmooney

awmooney — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 21:37:28 +0000

Guess it must have been a bit chilly in ye olde outhouse as well !!!!

By: Stephen C. Host

Stephen C. Host — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 20:35:12 +0000

This is an awesome photo. The signals, the tower, and feller in the tower keeping warm..

and the frigid cold hands of a photographer capturing a scene forever.. thank you

By: Jakob Mueller

Jakob Mueller — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 05:03:59 +0000

Phil – you are right, I should have said dynamic blisters, not dynamics. I knew CN disconnected a lot of them, although I don’t get it – seems like it may have been useful for eastbounds coming down the hill into Bayview. Or at least saved some brake shoes.

By: Jakob Mueller

Jakob Mueller — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 05:01:06 +0000

Some GP40s started getting zebra stripes in the late 70s – there are lots of photos of 4016 on here, for example. Others kept the noodle for a while – when the 4000-series to 9300-series renumbering happened (in late 1981), numbers were just patched. I think it was just a matter of whether new paint was needed when it went in for servicing, and if there was time to paint it, or if it had to be kicked back into service faster. Same with the geeps and the RS-18s – they became zebras when they needed new paint. (When rebuilt, all of the 4000 and 4100 series geeps got zebra stripes, and the 7000 and 7200 series got noodles.)

By: sdfourty

sdfourty — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 19:47:55 +0000

The third unit may be GP40 9302 (with db), by 1997 the 9302 had black & white stripes. Did CN apply zebra to existing units during the eighties & nineties? Some geep 9′s when re-built/shopped did get zebras.

By: Dave Brook

Dave Brook — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 03:39:27 +0000

That’s got to be 411′s train that used the Guelph Sub to get to Sarnia.

By: ngineered4u

ngineered4u — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 01:14:52 +0000

@Jakob..The GP40 4000/9300 class do have leaf springs as do GP40-2W’s.
The dynamic brakes on the GP40′s as well as original GP9′s were disconnected by CN. The only units I operated with DB were some SD40′s

By: Jakob Mueller

Jakob Mueller — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 21:25:48 +0000

Amazing picture – I can’t believe those watchtowers lasted as long as they did. I think I see leaf springs sticking out from the trucks on the third unit. Any chance it is 4002? All of the GP40s had dynamics.

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 15:27:19 +0000

Know the location well. Never did get a shot as nice as this though.