Comments on: I never really understood why a railroad would take a perfectly usable unit and turn it into a “B” unit, but maybe there is more to the story than what I know. I understand the former NS units as they were not Canadian approved leaders and had high short hoods but these units were originally standard “A” units. Thus day in Welland I finally was able to shoot one that was not nose coupled so I took the opportunity. Note the missing ditch lights and blanked out windows. That summer I even found a fully “beaver” painted one out west. They were neat units nonetheless.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 20:18:08 +0000

Thanks Dan for more clarity.

By: MrDan

MrDan — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 19:55:21 +0000

These were done to reduce costs associated with maintaining the cabs on certain SD40-2 units that were set up as Locotrol reciever/slave units for mid-train robot operation.

One source mentioned some of the early conversions had equipment placed in the cab making them unsuitable to lead (but initially didn’t have windows plated over, just markings applied to the cabs). When more SD40-2 units were converted into robots with Locotrol gear removed from robot cars (unknown of they were putting the equipment in the nose by then) they had windows blanked, ditch lights removed, and class lights plated over to avoid maintaining them as leaders, effectively converting them into B-units.

Some did get converted back into leaders in later years, others didn’t.

By: Eric May

Eric May — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 06:09:43 +0000

Thanks for sharing this. I don’t think that I have ever seen a shot of one not coupled to anything.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 06:26:32 +0000

Thanks everyone for the clarification

By: Ravensworth

Ravensworth — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 06:23:50 +0000

CP turned some of these units into ‘B’ units so they didn’t have to maintain the cabs as per transport Canada and teamsters union operating requirements. So basically no radio, upgraded seats, fridge, hot plate, toilet etc… the controls and basic seats are still in the locos for hostling only. Hope that helps

By: mberry

mberry — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 02:29:22 +0000

You’d still see these B-units on CP into the early 2010s.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 23:23:59 +0000

Thanks Matt, that does make sense. I believe many of these were also renumbered as well. At least they added some variety either way to a consist.

By: mattwatson

mattwatson — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 23:13:41 +0000

FWIW: My understanding is that this was to accommodate the RC equipment after the “Robot Cars” were phased out, but while there was still a distinction between the equipment required for a unit to be a “master” or a “slave”. I bet if you look through some old shots of SDs as “robots” after the “robot cars” were phased out, there will be one of these in the consist.

By: Marcus Stevens

Marcus Stevens — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 19:45:09 +0000

I believe all the ex NS units were set up long hood forward.

By: Driver8666

Driver8666 — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 19:38:02 +0000

Are the numbers crooked? My question is if the former NS units had dual controls.