Box and pipes..

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

On the loco pictured, what is the box on the top of the hood and the two pipes? Anything to do with dynamic brakes?

Jarrell

2

Nope, sorry. Its part of the exhaust system. The two “pipes” are the engine’s exhaust stacks.

3

Ok, thanks Dave.

Jarrell

4

I don’t think a switcher would have dynamic brakes. The stacks are the exhaust stacks as said, and the box is probably just cosmetic, added to give more room under hood for things. A good article in Railroad Model Craftsman was about Conrail and I want to Penn Central, rebuilding old RS3’s. They were reffered to as RS-3m’s and part of the rebuild was to build a box on top of the hood for added room. If I remember right part of that reason was because they were re-engined with EMD diesels. They also removed the pair of small windows over the short/long hood. They looked pretty unique and the model made the HO RS-3m’s look exactly like the prototypes. It was in the latest issue, I want to say March but it could be April.

5

Ugh, I forgot all the info again. Some manufactorers also put a silencer on the exhaust which usually turned out to look like a big metal box built around the exhaust stacks. So it could also be that.

6

This is the first I’ve heard of the silencer. Thanks,

Jarrell

7

I know a few EMD switchers going to cold-weather buyers were fitted with a version of a winterization hatch (as is common on GP’s and SD’s) that was kinda like the box shown. The engineer could adjust it from the cab so hot exhaust could go back into the engine’s motor area to help keep it warm.

Course I don’t know why they’d need that in Tennessee, but it might be a second-hand loco??

8

Winterization hatches are on radiators not exhaust.