GP7's

Since there is no Chessie System forum or Western Maryland forum, I guess the is the best place. Why did Western Maryland chop nose their GP7's and GP9's the way they did? looking at photos, the visibility from the cab still looks limited. How would you do this style of choping on a modern locomotive? (ie SD40-2 etc.)

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http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=55950

I imagine WM chopped the noses of the GP7's and-9's for visibility. Second generation diesels came from the factory with the low nose except those rr's (N&W, Southern) that preferred the hign nose.