As everyone knows, in the 1970s C&NW rebuilt several ex-UP E8Bs with the unimaginative Crandall Cab. EMD stopped building bulldog noses with their last E9A in 1963. The Aussies, however, continued to build bulldog nose EMDs into the 1970s. The Clyde AT26C, essentially a cabbody SD40, had the classic EMD bulldog nose. Now, which one looks better, a plain-unstylish Crandall cab welded to an E-unit, or a classic bulldog on a F45-style body? Maybe C&NW should have outshopped their cab construction to the Aussies!
I'd have to go with the later over the former. The bulldog nose looks 10000000000000% better than the Crandall cab.
That Crandall cab has a face only a mother could love
No question that the Crandall cab locos were plug ugly but they were designed to reuse older units in an efficient manner and, from what I've read, gave good service in the commuter operation they were rebuilt for...
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
GMS-AU Even cheaper possibly is if they built a flat front on the carbody.
Flat-faced locos aren’t popular here in the states due to crossing accidents and collisions. Cab crews probably would have voiced safety concerns if C&NW tried a flat face like Rock Island’s AB6.
I didn’t realize the Crandall had 3-pane windows until I looked closer at the photo. Safety cabs in early SD60Ms and F59PH have 3-pane windows too.
I will admit that these Cradell cabs were a plain jane but you need to remember that when the CNW did this they like most railroads in the 70s were strapped for cash. They were doing everything possible to keep from going under. It was about the same time that the CNW offered a buy in progran to thier employees and they were known as Employee Owned Just a thought Larry
And what kind of mother could do that to a child.
Al - in - Stockton
passengerfan And what kind of mother could do that to a child. Al - in - Stockton
Lyon_Wonder As everyone knows, in the 1970s C&NW rebuilt several ex-UP E8Bs with the unimaginative Crandall Cab. EMD stopped building bulldog noses with their last E9A in 1963. The Aussies, however, continued to build bulldog nose EMDs into the 1970s. The Clyde AT26C, essentially a cabbody SD40, had the classic EMD bulldog nose. Now, which one looks better, a plain-unstylish Crandall cab welded to an E-unit, or a classic bulldog on a F45-style body? Maybe C&NW should have outshopped their cab construction to the Aussies!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
carnej1 No question that the Crandall cab locos were plug ugly but they were designed to reuse older units in an efficient manner and, from what I've read, gave good service in the commuter operation they were rebuilt for...
They were incredibly slippery.
They did not seem to have as much power as a regular E8.
They were extremely loud in the cab, especially the horn, due to no insulation (as these were former B units).
They were very cold and drafty for the same reasons.
The cab heaters were terrible and noisy.
The side windows were thin plexiglass, which rattled and flapped in the wind. After about a week after installation, the windows became so cloudy that it was nearly impossible to see out the side windows at night. This made finding one's spot at a station stop rather difficult.
The Cummins engines that were used for HEP sprayed oil all over the back of the engine room.
The ladder and side steps were too narrow to get a good toe-hold, especially during snow and ice season.
Due to the lousy design of the side windows, when the units were in push mode in the snow, the snow would get in the cab and cover everything. And because the heaters were so ineffective, this sometimes led to frozen controls.
On the plus side, the air brake system was the 26L, a much improvement over the 24RL of the E8's.
Just out of curiosity what ever happened to these units? I remember reading somewhere that one of the rebuilt E's frame was originally a City of San Francisco or City of Los Angeles B unit.(making it a very vintage frame)
Thx IGN
narig01 Just out of curiosity what ever happened to these units? I remember reading somewhere that one of the rebuilt E's frame was originally a City of San Francisco or City of Los Angeles B unit.(making it a very vintage frame) Thx IGN
The only unit I knew what happened to it was Metra 511, which went on to become the UP 949.
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