Draper Taper

The Draper Taper
Dakota Missouri Valley & Western #5500 at Falkirk, North Dakota on 31 August 2021.(Ben DZiechciowski photo)
New: 1 March 2023
Production of the so-called "Draper Tapers" ran from 1988 until 1994 and saw 232 built. Throwbacks to the days of E and F-cab units, these unique locomotives incorporated a full-length cowl-type carbody and were primarily a Canadian "phenomenon." The design concept was created by Canadian National's chief motive power officer William Draper. Other than a few trackside encounters, they were strangers to me. So I approached a number of crew members with "Buku" hours in the right-hand seat and solicited their thoughts, along with those of shop personnel. Some of their comments appear here in no particular order. It might be generally expected that any wide cab, safety cab, "crew comfort cab" was an improvement over the standard cab locomotive. However, cowl units were not the best unit for reverse movements such as backing into or off a shop track, coupling onto cars even with only a single unit consist. Some of that I contribute to the "desk top" control stand as compared to the old style standard control stand. Cowl units were not the warmest of cabs in winter and conversely could be quite warm in the summer. An easy solution in warm weather was to open both cab side doors for some cross ventilation breeze. A wide cab restricts visibility out the front windshield. For example, if a crew member is riding on the bottom step, the engineer might not be able see the person down below unless the engineer looks out the side-window. The ability to see track-work and switch-points immediately in front of the loco requires added attention when entering or exiting the mainline. Cowl units were not the warmest of cabs in winter and conversely could be quite warm in the summer. An easy solution in warm weather was to open both cab side doors for some cross An advantage to the full body cowl units is being able to walk through the engine room instead of being outside during in-climate weather; however the engine compartment could be a greasy, oily and LOUD experience. Long backup moves are avoided when cowl-units are leading. The cab noise levels in the cowl units were about the same as any other locomotive. Candidly, the standard carbody simply offers an engineer better visibility. It should be noted that a few of the unusual breed are still in revenue-generating service. And lastly, one of them (ex-CP 9024 maybe instrumental in ushering in a new era of main-line locomotive technology as the first hydrogen fuel-cell powered locomotive - CP H2OEL #1001. blank
EMD SD60F
Canadian National #5533 N/B at Dafter, Michigan on 4 July 2008 Chuck Schwesinger photo	Dakota Missouri Valley & Western #5501 at Coal Creek Junction, North Dakota on 20 May 2021 Pete Ruesch photo
Northern Plains #5518 at Thief River Falls, Minnesota on 21 March 2022 Robert Ball photo	SD60F Roster Canadian Pacific -- 5500-5003 (s/n A4468-4471, b/d 8-10/85) -- 5504-5523 (s/n A4709-28, b/d 2-11/89) -- 5524-5562 (s/n A4761-4800, b/d 2-11/89) Note: CN 5500-5503 were delivered originally as proto-types 9900-9903 Dakota Missouri Valley & Western -- 5500, 5501 & 5544 (ex-CN same #s) Northern Plains Railroad -- 5513, 5518, 5525, 5535 & 5537 (ex-CN same #s) -- 5540-5543 & 5547 (ex-CN same #s)
EMD SD50F
Canadian National #5456 N/B at Dafter, Michigan on 13 December 2003 Chuck Schwesinger photo	Dakota Missouri Valley & Western #5454 at Spirtwood, North Dakota on 31 July 2019 Ben Dzeichciowski photo
Montana Lime #54xx at xxxxxxx, Montana on 21 xxxx 2022 permission pending	SD50F Roster Canadian National -- 5450-5003 (s/n A4468-4471, b/d 8-10/85) -- 5xxx-5523 (s/n A4709-28, b/d 2-11/89) -- 5xxx-5562 (s/n A4761-4800, b/d 2-11/89) Dakota Missouri Valley & Western -- 5438 & 5439 (ex-CN same #s) -- 5451 & 5454 (ex-CN same #s) Montana Limestone -- 5404 (ex-CN same #s) -- 5438 (ex-CN same #s)
EMD SD40-2F
Canadian Pacific #9023 Haralson, Georgia in October 2004 Dave Stewart photo	Central Maine & Quebec #9022 at Farnham, Quebec on 9 Feb. 2018 Michael Berry photo
Bangor & Aroostook Heritage (CM&Q) Heritage painted #9017 Michael Berry photo	SD40-2F Roster Canadian Pacific -- 9000-9019 (s/n A4806-4826, b/d 11/88) -- 9020-9024 (s/n A4827-4831, b/d 12/88) Central Maine & Quebec -- 9004, 9010, 9011 & 9014 (ex-CP same #s) -- 9017 & 9020-9023 (ex-CP 9017 & 9020-9023) Note: CP re-acquired SD40-2Fs through merger, and is converting 9024 to hydrogen-fuel
General Electric C40-8M
British Columbia Rail #4603 near mile 222, BC Rail Lillooet subdivision ion 5 May 2009 Doug Lawson photo	Canadian #4615 at Prince George, British Columbia on 10 November 2008 Doug Lawson photo
Field of Forward Vision View from the engineer's seat	Field of Rearward Vision View from the engineer's seat
Quebec North Shore & Labrador #403 at Labrador City in October 2000 Rod Miller photo	Anderson Inc. #100019 near Opelousas, LA on 2 April 2015 (Donovan Reed photo)
GE C40-8M Roster British Columbia Rail -- 4601-4622 (s/n A4806-4826, b/d xx/90) -- 4623-4626 (s/n A4827-4831, b/d xx/93) Canadian National -- 2400-2429 (s/n A4806-4826, b/d xx/90) -- 2430-2454 (s/n A4806-4826, b/d xx/92) Quebec North Shore & Labrador -- 401-403 (s/n A4827-4831, b/d 3/94) Anderson (AEX) -- 10017-10019 (ex-QNS&L 401-403)	Anderson Inc. AEX 100019 Cab Interior (Donovan Reed photo)
MLW/Bombardier HR616
Bombardier Ltd Demonstrator #7003 at Montreal, Quebec on 29 June 1983 John C. Benson photo	Canadian National #2101 at Hyde Park, Ontario on xx xxxx 1989 R. Craig photo
HR616 Roster Canadian National -- 2100-2109 (s/n M6118-01 to 10, b/d 2-6/82) -- 2110-2119 (s/n M6118-11 to 20, b/d 6-8/92) Note: CN 2100-2103 were "borrowed" by Bombardier during 1983 to serve as demonstrators 7000-7003.	Resources Canadian Trackside Guide (2013 & 2021) EMD Order Numbers on TrainWeb Flickr.com Rail Pictures.CA Rail Pictures.net RRpictures Arghives.net TDS Rosters
New: 1 March 2023	Compiled by: R. Craig

The Draper Taper

Dakota Missouri Valley & Western #5500 at Falkirk, North Dakota on 31 August 2021.(Ben DZiechciowski photo)

New: 1 March 2023

Production of the so-called "Draper Tapers" ran from 1988 until 1994 and saw 232 built. Throwbacks to the days of E and F-cab units, these unique locomotives incorporated a full-length cowl-type carbody and were primarily a Canadian "phenomenon." The design concept was created by Canadian National's chief motive power officer William Draper. Other than a few trackside encounters, they were strangers to me. So I approached a number of crew members with "Buku" hours in the right-hand seat and solicited their thoughts, along with those of shop personnel. Some of their comments appear here in no particular order.

It might be generally expected that any wide cab, safety cab, "crew comfort cab" was an improvement over the standard cab locomotive. However, cowl units were not the best unit for reverse movements such as backing into or off a shop track, coupling onto cars even with only a single unit consist. Some of that I contribute to the "desk top" control stand as compared to the old style standard control stand.

Cowl units were not the warmest of cabs in winter and conversely could be quite warm in the summer. An easy solution in warm weather was to open both cab side doors for some cross ventilation breeze.

A wide cab restricts visibility out the front windshield. For example, if a crew member is riding on the bottom step, the engineer might not be able see the person down below unless the engineer looks out the side-window.

The ability to see track-work and switch-points immediately in front of the loco requires added attention when entering or exiting the mainline.

Cowl units were not the warmest of cabs in winter and conversely could be quite warm in the summer. An easy solution in warm weather was to open both cab side doors for some cross

An advantage to the full body cowl units is being able to walk through the engine room instead of being outside during in-climate weather; however the engine compartment could be a greasy, oily and LOUD experience.

Long backup moves are avoided when cowl-units are leading.

The cab noise levels in the cowl units were about the same as any other locomotive.

Candidly, the standard carbody simply offers an engineer better visibility.

It should be noted that a few of the unusual breed are still in revenue-generating service. And lastly, one of them (ex-CP 9024 maybe instrumental in ushering in a new era of main-line locomotive technology as the first hydrogen fuel-cell powered locomotive - CP H2OEL #1001. blank

EMD SD60F

Canadian National

#5533 N/B at Dafter, Michigan on 4 July 2008

Chuck Schwesinger photo

Dakota Missouri Valley & Western

#5501 at Coal Creek Junction, North Dakota on 20 May 2021

Pete Ruesch photo

Northern Plains

#5518 at Thief River Falls, Minnesota on 21 March 2022

Robert Ball photo

SD60F Roster

Canadian Pacific 
-- 5500-5003 (s/n A4468-4471, b/d 8-10/85)
-- 5504-5523 (s/n A4709-28, b/d 2-11/89)
-- 5524-5562 (s/n A4761-4800, b/d 2-11/89)
Note: CN 5500-5503 were delivered 
originally as proto-types 9900-9903

Dakota Missouri Valley & Western
-- 5500, 5501 & 5544 (ex-CN same #s)

Northern Plains Railroad
-- 5513, 5518, 5525, 5535 & 5537 (ex-CN same #s)
-- 5540-5543 & 5547 (ex-CN same #s)

EMD SD50F

Canadian National

#5456 N/B at Dafter, Michigan on 13 December 2003

Chuck Schwesinger photo

Dakota Missouri Valley & Western

#5454 at Spirtwood, North Dakota on 31 July 2019

Ben Dzeichciowski photo

Montana Lime

#54xx at xxxxxxx, Montana on 21 xxxx 2022

permission pending

SD50F Roster

Canadian National 
-- 5450-5003 (s/n A4468-4471, b/d 8-10/85)
-- 5xxx-5523 (s/n A4709-28, b/d 2-11/89)
-- 5xxx-5562 (s/n A4761-4800, b/d 2-11/89)

Dakota Missouri Valley & Western
-- 5438 & 5439 (ex-CN same #s)
-- 5451 & 5454 (ex-CN same #s) 
Montana Limestone
-- 5404 (ex-CN same #s)
-- 5438 (ex-CN same #s)

EMD SD40-2F

Canadian Pacific

#9023 Haralson, Georgia in October 2004

Dave Stewart photo

Central Maine & Quebec

#9022 at Farnham, Quebec on 9 Feb. 2018

Michael Berry photo

Bangor & Aroostook Heritage (CM&Q)

Heritage painted #9017

Michael Berry photo

SD40-2F Roster

  Canadian Pacific 
  -- 9000-9019 (s/n A4806-4826, b/d 11/88)
  -- 9020-9024 (s/n A4827-4831, b/d 12/88)
  
  Central Maine & Quebec
  -- 9004, 9010, 9011 & 9014 (ex-CP same #s)
  -- 9017 & 9020-9023 (ex-CP 9017 & 9020-9023)
  Note: CP re-acquired SD40-2Fs through merger, 
  and is converting 9024 to hydrogen-fuel

General Electric C40-8M

British Columbia Rail

#4603 near mile 222, BC Rail Lillooet subdivision ion 5 May 2009

Doug Lawson photo

Canadian

#4615 at Prince George, British Columbia on 10 November 2008

Doug Lawson photo

Field of Forward Vision

View from the engineer's seat

Field of Rearward Vision

View from the engineer's seat

Quebec North Shore & Labrador

#403 at Labrador City in October 2000

Rod Miller photo

Anderson Inc.

#100019 near Opelousas, LA on 2 April 2015 (Donovan Reed photo)

GE C40-8M Roster

  British Columbia Rail 
  -- 4601-4622 (s/n A4806-4826, b/d xx/90)
  -- 4623-4626 (s/n A4827-4831, b/d xx/93)
  
  Canadian National
  -- 2400-2429 (s/n A4806-4826, b/d xx/90)
  -- 2430-2454 (s/n A4806-4826, b/d xx/92)
  
  Quebec North Shore & Labrador
  -- 401-403 (s/n A4827-4831, b/d 3/94)
   
  Anderson (AEX)
  -- 10017-10019 (ex-QNS&L 401-403)

Anderson Inc.

AEX 100019 Cab Interior (Donovan Reed photo)

MLW/Bombardier HR616

Bombardier Ltd

Demonstrator #7003 at Montreal, Quebec on 29 June 1983

John C. Benson photo

Canadian National

#2101 at Hyde Park, Ontario on xx xxxx 1989

R. Craig photo

HR616 Roster

  Canadian National
  -- 2100-2109 (s/n M6118-01 to 10, b/d 2-6/82)
  -- 2110-2119 (s/n M6118-11 to 20, b/d 6-8/92)
  Note: CN 2100-2103 were "borrowed" by 
  Bombardier during 1983 to serve as demonstrators 
  7000-7003.

Resources

Canadian Trackside Guide (2013 & 2021)

EMD Order Numbers on TrainWeb

Flickr.com

Rail Pictures.CA

Rail Pictures.net

RRpictures Arghives.net

TDS Rosters

New: 1 March 2023

Compiled by: R. Craig

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