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Caption:
Following Via CN train #98, Northland – due into Union at 08:00 – a CN transfer, Extra 9547, for Oakville rolls through the Don Valley,
powered by GMD 1976 built GP40-2(W) #9647 and three GP9's: GMD 1956 built GP9 #4575, GMD 1967 built GP9 #4102, and sister #4523, with empty bi level auto rack CN#710218 first up in the moderately sized consist.
At mile 6 Bala Subdivision, 7:50 a.m. April 23, 1977 Kodachrome by S.Danko ( with John Baker on the right)
Question, for those in the know: the GP40W appears to be sans dynamic brakes, the Geep 9's are equipped with dynamics: do non dynamic brake units have a controller to allow the engine man to operate other dynamic equipped units in the MU lashup?
First capture of that day:
classic FP7-A's
sdfourty
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I don’t recall any of the non-DB CN units I’ve run having the ability to control the DB on trailing units. Here’s the typical control stand found on CN’s non-DB EMD units with the original safety/comfort cab, the blank plate above and slightly to the left of the throttle is where the DB controller would go.
https://www.railpictures.net/photo/192214/
It is also worth noting that CN disabled or removed the DB on some early diesels that came with it, to save on maintenance.
It is possible to put a DB controller handle on the control stand of a non-DB unit so it can control the DB on trailing units, but the only unit I’ve ever seen so equipped is FP9RM 6304, and I suspect this was an aftermarket modification done after VIA sold it.
I can’t answer the question about the controller, but I believe it’s a moot point. I don’t know this first-hand, but from what I’ve been told, CN disconnected all those dynamic brakes at some point.
I do know that CN 4523 would be in a wreck the following year, and would be rebuilt with a long hood from a retired GP7. Two other GP9s would end up looking like GP7s – 4483 and 4524. Of those, 4483 would have the dynamic brake blister on its new GP7 hood, but the grilles and fan were plated over. Both 4523 and 4524 had no dynamic brake blister after the rebuild.
Non dynamic brake equipped locomotives cannot control dynamic brake equipped units when they are leading in a consist.
CN’s early db equipped units did indeed have the db disconnected, including Alco/MLW units as well.