Calling all cn asshats: GMD-1 question

[cgw]

Ok so I got carried away and purchased a gmd-1. Cn 1012 and paired it with a cn point st chales van..      Would the be a plosible  combination in the early 60s.   Or is the combo miss matched if one want to be a a$$hat about things.    And last but not least did the engine run with long hood forward or the short hood.   Did it ever make it around sw Ontario area.??? Thanks in advanced.

[Puddington]

GMD-1's were introduced in 1959 and run on the CN until today....literally today, one passed behind us today..... To run one with a PSC van is as prototypical as it gets... in as much as you model a place (Canada - they got around) and era (1966 - 1999) where vans were still used..... SW Ontario - you bet ya; not an issue

.... and apparently there is something in TRW water today that is making people more verbose than normal.... fortunately I drank bourbon, not water.....

[cgw]

Thank you Gary for editing my miss typo and moving it over to the correct category. Bravo.
And thank you Puddington for the information.   Every time I pick up a foreign road (not what I normally model) I get ribbed at the club because I usually get the wrong era's  for the equipment.  The only question I have left it the short hood forward or it it the long hood?.         And you absolutely correct its gotta be something in the water or maybe its the beginning of spring fever.   
 
Take care and thanks again

[Lenny53]

I'd say no, the vans were produced in the seventies.

[shark_jj]

According to CN Historical Society the first Pointe St. Charles Van went into service on 3 April 1967.  Their website has a PR Announcement from CN to that effect.  We have a couple of GMD-1's operating around here and I've seen them operating in both long hood and short hood forward configurations so I am not sure which is correct.

[Lenny53]

According to CN Historical Society the first Pointe St. Charles Van went into service on 3 April 1967.  Their website has a PR Announcement from CN to that effect.  We have a couple of GMD-1's operating around here and I've seen them operating in both long hood and short hood forward configurations so I am not sure which is correct.

The ones from 1967 were produced by Hawker Siddeley in Nova Scotia.

[nkalanaga]

Most diesels will operate equally well either way, although the controls might be more comfortable to use one way.  One wouldn't see many carbody units running backend-first, by themselves, because it's too hard to see to the rear, but at least one shortline used an EMD F unit for local switching.  Hood units were very rarely turned, so most spent half their life going backwards.

[lock4244]

As built, the CN GMD-1's were operated long hood forward, same as all CN first generation hood units. The rebuilt ones in the 1400 and 1600 series were reconfigured for short hood forward operation. I would imagine back when introduced, the odds of catching a GMD-1 running short hood forward was less common as most terminals (mainline and branchline) would have still had a means of turning power still around from the steam era, so in the 60's you'd expect that it would be easy for the crew to turn the power, though not necessary as it would have been with steam.

The GMD-1's that operated in SW Ontario in the 1960's were the B-B trucked 1900 series and being equipped with steam generators, they were used on passenger runs... strange given the number of RDC's CN operated in Ontario at that time.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Also, various regulations have given a nice little cheat. Because locomotives have to have a designated "front", the end a railroad considers the front will have a small "F" painted near the front corner.

However, when looking at photos of the GMD-1s to illustrate this, it seems that the "F" is often missing, which I find really odd.

You can see it on this Conrail SW1500 (a much superior locomotive).

[Missaberoad]

I hate to question the manufacturer  but the Point Ste Charles Vans were built starting in 1970, not 1966 as stated. In 1967 there were a few Hawker Siddley vans built that shared basic dimensions but were very different...

As for the 1000 series GMD-1 while I'm sure they may have wandered east on occasion, they were primarily western engines Based in Winnipeg, Regina and Edmonton (with one on
Vancouver island usually) In fact the timetables for the light western branchlines had notes stating "only locomotives in the 1000-1076 series"

This is their typical service (with a Point Ste Charles van)
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1954356

Also this 1977 photo shows how long the paintschemes mixed
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/cn/cn1040ads.jpg

[Missaberoad]

You can see it on this Conrail SW1500 (a much superior locomotive).

Superior you say? I see your Conrail and raise you a Soo Line

[nscaler711]

Superior you say? I see your Conrail and raise you a Soo Line

http://www.mgdecals.com/L-271.1.jpg

Where's the blasted LIKE button?!?
Not even a fan of SOO but that is hilarious!

[Puddington]

I hate to question the manufacturer  but the Point Ste Charles Vans were built starting in 1970, not 1966 as stated. In 1967 there were a few Hawker Siddley vans built that shared basic dimensions but were very different...

As for the 1000 series GMD-1 while I'm sure they may have wandered east on occasion, they were primarily western engines Based in Winnipeg, Regina and Edmonton (with one on
Vancouver island usually) In fact the timetables for the light western branchlines had notes stating "only locomotives in the 1000-1076 series"

This is their typical service (with a Point Ste Charles van)
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1954356

Also this 1977 photo shows how long the paintschemes mixed
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/cn/cn1040ads.jpg

In truth; there were examples of GMD-1's almost everywhere, doing everything - we're got pictures of them in passenger service in Quebec. 1000-1007 (I think) started out of Toronto and used to wander into SW Ontario. The Maritimes saw their share of the 1000's as well. The bulk did ply the flat lands of the prairies for many years but these units got around..... ok; we haven't seen one on PEI.....

You are correct that the 1966-67 batch of center cupola vans were built by HS - the fact of the matter is that most people (except those weird CN freaks.... ) don't really differentiate between them as they are similar... but you are correct that the PSC shops began their production in late 1969.

[Missaberoad]

It would be cool to see those pictures... Definetly a severly underdoccumented phase of there service life!
Thanks for the responce 

Can't wait for a pair of 1900s to use as Thunder Bay ore dock switchers

[Lenny53]

You are correct that the 1966-67 batch of center cupola vans were built by HS - the fact of the matter is that most people (except those weird CN freaks.... ) don't really differentiate between them as they are similar... but you are correct that the PSC shops began their production in late 1969.

The PSC vans were built using 472000 series box cars and had different cupolas that extended down past the roof line whereas the HS one ended closer to the roof line.