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3 units including an RS18u on this run?
@BradKetchen- Technically only two units, as 1117 is a former RS18u that was turned into a Control Cab unit mated with 8243.
Thanks Jason. What is a control cab as it is the middle unit?
@BradKetchen- A control cab is just what it sounds like. A cab- with controls. No engine. It was just a “daughter” to whatever unit it was mated to. A crew could operate from these units but that unit would provide no power/ traction to the rail. It would all be from the “mother” unit- in this case the 8243. Likely this day required the use of two “powered” units, so the 8208 would have been added to the consist and instead of switching out the cab unit it was just left along for the ride.
That air dump btw looks to be in tough shape!
CP converted a bunch of old 4-motor units (C424′s, RS18u’s and GP35′s) into control cabs in the 90′s for service that only really needed one powered unit, but either didn’t have turning facilities or needed cabs facing both ways. They were mated to a mother GP9u, GP38-2 or SD40-2, and were common on TripleCrown Roadrailers (when CP ran them), local freights, the frame train, and branchline runs.
The GP35 conversions (that operated mostly out west) were actually both control cabs and slugs, and had cables for powering their traction motors. All the MLW conversions were just unpowered control cabs (with engines left in place inside for ballast).
The air dump appears to be opened while sitting on the mainline. Was it moved like this for the whole trip?
@Matthew Whiteley- It came-up behind the power closed. It can kind of be seen in my first photo of this train that I posted. I’m not sure what happened or if they dumped somewhere before they arrived here to set it off in the spur.