CN GP40-2(W) # 9637
In 1973 Canadian National (CN) designed the safety cab, also known as the comfort cab, which featured a full-width nose that was intended to improve crew safety in the event of a collision. The first CN locomotives to feature this cab were GMDD GP38-2s and MLW M420s. GO Transit ordered the first safety cab equipped GP40-2s in 1973 with a three-unit order. CN then ordered their first safety cab GP40-2s from GMDD in 1974. Using CN’s locomotive classification system, these locomotives were assigned the designation GF-430 (General Motors, Freight, 4-axle, 3000hp). Letters are added after this designation to denote the separate orders for a given model. Our model represents the GF-430d series, of which 34 were built in 1976: CN 9633-9667. This order was constructed using a standard GP40-2 frame. Earlier GF-430 models were built on a frame that was a noticeable 4-5 inches taller. GO Transit would order a total of 11 safety cab equipped GP40-2s and all were built with similar dimensions to the CN GF-430d series. These units were later sold to Canadian National and renumbered as CN 9668-9677.