Do CN’s SD70M-2’s have conventional or desktop control stands?
I know the new ES44DC’s have conventional stands, like the C44-9W’s and SD70/75i locomotives before, but I have yet to see a cab shot of an SD70M-2.
They have a conventional control stand.
And when you say conventional, that means desktop, right?
No, it is a slightly modified version of the upright stand found on locomotives built prior to the introduction of the widenose cabs.
did crews not like the desktop arrangement?
It would seem that most engineers prefer the original AAR control stand to the desktop, at least according to some engineers on the UP…
Conventional is NOT what the C44-9W’s have. They have DESKTOP.
The SD70M-2’s, along with the ACe’s, have the CONVENTIONAL control stand, like the SD40-2, but with minor adjustments. A guy i know who works for CN took a pic of the cab and its on rialpictures.net.
The conventional control stand (with the throttle/reverser mounted opposite the window instead of on the desktop) has not exactly gotten rave reviews. It allows better visibility when backing up, so it’s good for yard switching, but it’s rarely needed for road work, so the controls are in a more awkward position for your primary job (and on a widebody cab, rear visibility is not very good anyway). In general, the engineer’s station is more cramped, and it’s hard to get in and out of the seat without knocking against the controls (accidental horn sounding off is common).
I think if they made it so that you could move the control stand closer and farther away as needed, it would be a lot better (but that’s my futuristic crazy talk, to be filed away along with my idea for remote-control helocopters with video to watch the opposite end of shove moves).
LOL Or have the chair slide up.
Cn’s dash9’s don’t have desktops at all, they have they conventional style. i beleive the only ones that had the desktops on CN were the SD50F’s and SD60F’s.
This might have been one of their aquired ex-Illinois Central units, because all of the Dash 9’s actually built for CN were done with conventional control stands.
Illinois Central never had any Dash 9s before CN took over, so there wouldn’t be any “ex-IC” Dash 9s…
The Dash 9’s that are lettered for the IC are ex LMS units that under a lease agreement spent six months on the CN and the other six months on Conrail prior to the splitting up of Conrail.
I have not been on any of the CN EMD or GE locomotives ( it will be a loooong time before we see them at Flat Rock, MI) but have operated the new NS, CSX and BNSF SD 70’s and like the new control stand layout. I never have cared for the desk top. It is an absolute pain in the neck to run these backwards. I guess the designers of the desk top never “anticipated” the need to run the units backwards for any distance.
Saxman
I despise desktop controls, they’re uncomfortable, there is no way to get the proper distance from the seat to the desktop, the space for your legs isn’t adequate, they’re awkward to run, don’t like the automatic or independent brake setup, I can’t say enough bad about them.
Exabopper, I’ll take a chance on accidentally sounding the whistle (and yes, I have had that happen), give me conventional controls every trip.
I’ve met a few engineers. Most seem to like the AAR style conventional control stand. Years back one engineer in a magazine article referred to the desktop control as “Trolly Car Desk that gives you no room for your knees”.
The LMS units (Blue Boats?) are actually Dash 8-40CWs (IC 2455-2466). CN has also lettered some of a new order of Dash 9-44CWs for Illinois Central (IC 2697-2726).
Aren’t there any adjustment to the seats? No up/down, side to side, back and forth?
The underside of the desk isn’t L shaped, it’s at a 45 degree angle, for who knows what reason, get the seat too far away and you’re always reaching, get it too close and there’s no room for your knees. I can’t emphatically state just how much I dislike these units and how grateful I am that I don’t have to run them EVERY trip.
Almost all CN locos are teh standing AAR cab minus the SD60/50. The Dash 8-40CM I think are desk top as well… The first order of Dash 9, were Dash 9-CWL correct, and thse 25 locos have desk top as well but the others have the standard.
I think Doug Harrop also wrote about no leg room with desk type controls.