Comments on: Three CN GP9′s, 4411, 4499 & 4414, pull a string of pulpwood racks off the Kashabowie Sub into Neebing Yard in the west end of the Thunder Bay (former Fort William) area, passing a cut of 40′ boxcars ubiquitous in these parts for hauling grain to the lakehead elevators. That mound of dirt piled on one of the pilot footboards is curious, maybe the unit hit a small washout somewhere along the line. The lead and trailings units, 4411 & 4414, part of CN’s first GP9 order (4400-4426, built 1955, originally delivered in the 1700-series) and featured the old-style Pyle “garbage can” headlights at both ends. Many later had a dual sealed-beam conversion plate added inside the housing, and eventually the entire headlights were changed out for more modern Pyle dual sealed-beam headlights. Other notable features are the long-hood bell (all of CN’s early Geeps were long hood forward), the typical rooftop spark arrestors, early style “bolted” handrail stanchions, and the rectangular brackets welded to the front handrail stanchions (used for mounting CN’s early-style removable ditch lights used out west). All three of these GP9′s were later cut down and rebuilt as slugs 258, 219 & 234 respectively. Original photographer unknown (duplicate), Dan Dell’Unto collection slide.

By: robin lowrie

robin lowrie — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 02:57:56 +0000

As an old friend of mine on CN said, “long hood forward, as God intended”: