@davidmbedard Basic differences between CN 5000-5240 and CP 5500-5564 (none of these pictures are mine). Generally correct, however over time there wound be units that were modified from the norm as would be expected over a fleet of 241 units over three decades:
- most CN not equipped with dynamic brakes (30 units, CN 5000-5007 & 5111-5132 were so equipped)
- CN units have intake snow shields behind the cab like CP's ex QNSL units
- CN units weren't equipped with winterization hatches over the first radiator fan while CP's were
- CN units have sheet metal flaring protecting the step up along side the cab both sides, CP only on the conductor's side
- CN and CP all units headlight in nose
- CN and CP all units bell between number boards
- CN units have the split air reservoirs on each side to accommodate a centrally located fuel filler, as well as a circular recess (gauge?) in the fuel tank both sides
- CP units have a recepticle? on the upper engineers side nose front, CN do not
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- CN units have a raise edge along the top face of the cab
- CN units 5000-5087 or 88 have dual horizontal headlight on rear, 5088 or 5089 and up have the single rear headlight like CP
- CN units 5000-5087 or 88 have rear number boards on each side, while CN 5087 or 88-5240 do not have rear number boards
- CN units 5000-5087 or 88 have a single rear class light on each side below the outer side of the number board, while CN 5087 or 88-5240 do not have any rear class lights
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- CN units 5088-5240 have two pairs of single class lights above number boards on cab, while CN 5000-5087 have a single class light (one per side of bell)
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- CN units have the brake wheel mounted on the conductor's side of the nose like CP, although CN 5000 seems to have had it relocated on the rear of unit on engineer's side as seen in photos 1999 and 2005
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The radiator fans... that's definitely a CN thing and there's no rhyme or reason to the varying height of the fan housings. I want to say from photographic evidence that the SD40 fleet's fans were uniform until the GP40-2L's were delivered, but I'm honestly not sure when the mixing began. I've personally seen three different height housings on the same unit, but generally speaking there are two sizes and you'd have a tough time finding a unit with three matching housings after the late 70's (this goes for the GP40, GP40-2L & W, SD40-2W... better odds to find two matching on a GP38-2 or -2W). You can also find the odd unit running around with a domed fan grille (like most GP9's had) as evidenced by shot of CN 5091 from 1983.
