From: tarumph@uncc.edu (Timothy Allen Rumph)
Subject: Re: Why long end of engine forward?
Reply-To: tarumph@uncc.edu
Organization: University of NC at Charlotte
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1992 01:04:35 GMT

In article 6543@gw.wmich.edu, 737ochs@gw.wmich.edu () writes:
>In article <921123101940@d-cell.ftp.com>, stev@vax.ftp.com (stev knowles) writes:
>>>    >Does anyone know why Norfolk Southern (and their ancestors, N&W and
>>>    >Southern) runtheir engines long end forward?
>>>
>>>    I always speculated that the powers that be had such a strong tie
>>>    to steam power that they chose to operate diesel locomotives in a
>>>    way resembling steam locomotives, with the cab at the rear end.
>>>
>>>I think it was actually because the crew is better-protected when the long
>>>hood is between them and a gravel truck they're about to crunch.
>>>
>>>James B. VanBokkelen            2 High St., North Andover, MA  01845
>>>FTP Software Inc.               voice: (508) 685-4000  fax: (508) 794-4488
>> 
>> i have read that the reason for the long hood forward was as james sez, the
>> crews were much better protected in the event of a collision. the high short
>> hoods were ordered to allow for more space for crew and for radio control of
>> mid train slave diesels ( LOCO-TROL, as i recall?). it also may have had
>> something to do with the high short hoods on the GP9's, and having them buy
>> stuff they understood . . . . .
>> 
>> recent purchases by NS have not had the high short hood, and have been set
>> up to run short hood forward. i believe that the GP 50's were the last units
>> bought with the high short hoods.  on occasion i have seen GP60's and
>> DASH8-39B's with the F on the long hood. i am somewhat surpised that NS
>> hasnt been buying wide short noses, since they have always been concerned
>> with the space in the cabs. maybe it is that ole time southern conservatisim
>>  . . . .
>> 
>> does anyone know why NS seems to have liked buying their high power road
>> diesels with B trucks rather than C trucks? i noticed that their future
>> purchase plans (from CTC board?) indicated they were going to purchase
>> mostly 6 axle units, but i dont think i have ever seen any 6 axle units
>> other than the SD40's and SD40-2's (but, then again, living in mass i only
>> see NS when visiting my parents in virginia)
>> 
As I understand it, the high short hoods and long hood forward were origionally 
pruchased that way for protection at grade crossings. It was also a cheap way for 
(Southern and NS) to get a bidirectional unit. The engineer was on the right side when running long hood forward, and could see either around or over the short hood going the other way, so it only needed one control stand. From before the merger until about a 
year ago, I would see these engines running either direction apparently at random.

The Southern order units with horns on both ends. This practice has stopped with the NS.
The Southern units that were equipted with plows (on both ends!) were also for grade 
crossing protection. There was an accident in SC where a car rolled up under the loco, 
derailing it and causing a great deal of damage, so the plows were order to plow stupid 
people rather that snow.

Recently they have been running short hood forward, I think because of an accedent on the 
ex-Wabash where there was an accident because the engineer could not see a signal looking 
around the long hood.

>> does anyone know if the SD-60 or SD-70 are available with a high short nose?
>> i would imagine that if it came down to it, EMD would put high short noses
>> on SD-60's if NS promised to buy some, but i dont know. i wont ask about
>> the GE's, since they were *always* homely with high short noses. . . . . 
>
>NS has C39-8's  which are C trucked, I  don't believe they have DASH 8-39B's
>I think only BN has those (Leased from LMX) They also have 4 SD70's on order,
>they are the first railroad to order these, as far as I know. They will be the
>standard cab design. They supposedly have an Early 93 delivery date.
>I'm also sure that if someone ordered a high-short hood, that EMD would build
>it. They usually will custom build, rather than lose the business to GE.
>(Oh yea, I just remembered, they have a TON of C40-8's. [I prefer calling them
>Cxx-* rather than DASH 8-xxC , and so do most railroads :^)]
>
The Southern had a large number of SD40's and SD40-2's. They were also one of only two rr's
to buy the C39-8's (also UP). These engines were low short hoods and long hood forward.
The current oprder of GE's are being set up short hood forward.

The Southern GP35's and GP 30's were high short hoods set up Short hood forward.

Tim Rumph
Newsgroups: rec.railroad