Just an interesting note that came up in a recent discussion on the D&H Yahoo! group. Somebody asked the following: Why when a CSX phosphate train comes up from Florida and is delivered to the CP in Albany does it need a CP engine on the front? I have seen NS leading engines on the D&H before so why can't CSX locos lead? The answer, in short, is that the locos are not "qualified" to lead in Canada, and actually, the NS units aren't either (but they can lead on the D&H and other US subsidiaries of CP). Does anybody know the answer to why the CSX and NS units (and many more, btw) are not "qualified" to lead in Canada? I do, but let's see who else does. Anybody on the D&H list is excluded, I already gave it there.
Just a wild guest here, but I think it's merely a certification issue. The standards for railroads are not the same in Canada and in the US
CSX Locomotives don't have in-cab color signals? I don't know much about them, but I can assume it is a valid guess.
There are several issues here, the biggest being that the Canadian EOTs work on a different frequency and so a locomotive operating in Canada much have a Canadian band EOT radio. Also, by law locomotives operated in Canada must carry a stretcher, first aid kit, and a few other odd things not required here. Finally, by union agreement, Canadian road locos or locos operated by CN or CP crews must have a hotplate and teapot. I'm sure there are a few other tings I missed, but those are the big ones. When the UP leased those CEFX SD90MACs they were intended for international service and so came equipped with all the bells and whistles.
i'll bet the US crews liked them loco's, hehe. Sounds like a home away from home compared to the NS "trashbag-toilets" i've heard about.
cthippo has it right, the primary reasons being the stretcher/first aid kit combo and the "food heating device" - some CN units have microwaves! CEFX SD90/43s and AC4400s are all equipped for International Service. I'm pretty sure the SD40-2s Alstom rebuilt are as well. As for the differing EOT frequencies, NS occasionally runs on a different frequency down here, so that is not an issue (besides, the train I gave an example of runs up with a CSX marker). Also, before they became a US standard, ditchlights were also required in Canada to lead. This is no longer an issue.
An additional snippet of a reply by one of the dispatchers on the D&H list. And they need to have a water kettle (teapot) as well as the hotplate.
Good day, eh! I can see the use of the teakettle in the after noon, and the microwave would be handy for reheating your poutine's. My question is, where do they store the 2-4? Mark
