Several of the cabeese in my fleet have cupolas that are near to one end rather then centered.
What was the purpose of having an off center cupola?
With this type of caboose, was any effort made to turn the caboose so the cupola was always near the rear or did they just attach it to the train whichever way it was facing?
At least on the Great Northern, it didn’t matter a whit which direction a caboose faced. You could see them in either orientation. As for reasons for offset cupolas, I suspect it has much to do with the way each individual railroad preferred to have the interiors arranged, i.e. bunk space and numbers, how much coal capacity (in olden days) for the stove, sizes of equipment lockers, that kind of thing.
One popular interior arrangement had the conductor’s desk, ‘outhouse’ and supply lockers in the short end and the other amenities in the longer end. The cubic below the cupola seats was also available for storage.
Seats in the cupola faced both ways, so there was no preferred direction of travel.
Chuck.
Depending on the Terminal, some Crews Preferred Cabooses that had the Cupola at one end, as this gave a more open ‘Living Space.’
However, End Cupola Cabooses had only ONE Stove and could be Cool when in Motion at Thirty Below.
The Stove was used for both Heat and Cooking, and was usually WAY TOO HOT in Summer.
Some Conductors had a Removeable Small Circular Heavy Steel Insert made up which sat Inside the Regular Firebox and it held a Small Briquette Fire just for Cooking in Summer.
Altho’ probably NOT Sanctioned by The Company, one Conductor had a Propane Camp Stove on top of Coal Stove, and was fed by a Hose from Tank Located in one of the Coal Bunkers/Seats.
Some Assigned End Cupola Cabooses were Modified by their ‘Owners’ with a Hinged Door between the Living Space and the Cupola and Lockers Space, that could be Closed to keep Heat in Living End when Tied Up.
God help ANYONE who entered the ‘Sleeping End’ of a Caboose when Tied Up.
Centre Cupola Cabooses seemed Cramped and Dark, but, did have TWO Stoves for Very Cold Weather.
The Post War ‘Steel’ Cabooses were not admired, as they ‘Drummed’ Inside.
Leaf Springs gave a Better Ride.
Once Oil used for Heat in Seventies, Cabooses REEKED from Spillage.
Run Thru Cabooses that had Diesel Electric Generator WITHIN CARBODY were AWFUL!!
If Gen Set Beneath it still Surrounded the Caboose with Ugly Fumes when Stopped.
The Gen Set Masked Train Noises like Approaching Slack, Air Brake Applications or Releases or Noise of Approaching Trains on Adjacent or, Worse Yet, SAME Track from Behind.
Having the Yard Engine Couple On to an Occupied Caboose could cause Heart Failure if It’s Approach was Covered by other Noise.
In Certain Terminals, Conductors would have a Preferred Direction for ‘Their Caboose’ as this Orientation would give Better Light over Desk and remove Miles of Staring at Moving Rock Faces a Few Feet A
I’ve noted that off-centered capola cabees were more prevelant as you go west, with the center capolaq cabees seeming to be preferred more towards the east. With that said, there were certainly plenty of exceptions to both sides of that observation.
I had a chance last summer to work on the restoration of an old wooden caboose and I have a few pics for those interested. Keep in mind, when I shot these the restoration was not complete.
Here’s the caboose:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/aeh.jpg
This is the end closest to you in the previous pic:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/aei.jpg
And heres the capola area:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/aek.jpg
And heres the far end:
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/aej.jpg