The Corman GP9 9010 and 9005 have the “F” sign at the long hood side. However, there are only very few photos I can interpret in a way the engine is leading a train or consist with the long hood forward.
I would like to know how those engines are “usually” used today (long or short hood forward).
Background: I did repaint some Bachmann GP9 in Corman red and would like to use the 9005 and 9010 similar to the prototype.
I can’t answer about that specific RR, but diesels are required to have an “F” on them indicating the front of the engine. The front is determined by how the controls are set up in the cab. If the controls are set so the engineer would be sitting with the cab window to his right, and he is facing the long hood when facing the controls, the engine’s front is the long hood. (Even engines that have dual controls still have to have a front designated.)
In day to day practice, road engines and switchers work fine in either direction, so a single engine working a branch line might run long-hood forward going up the branch, and short hood forward coming back. Of course if several engines are m.u.'ed together, you’d want to have the lead engines facing forward. If you have several engines together, generally railroads try to have the two ‘outside’ engines facing away from each other, so if their next train is going back the way they came, they don’t have to be turned on a wye or turntable, but just left together as a lash-up.
I don’t know for sure about “usually,” but many of these locos were built to run long hood forward, so the F would say on that end of the frame absent a rebuilding that moved the controls. The WP had first-generation Geeps built with dual controls, and liked to run them long hood forward in certain built-up areas for grade crossing safety purposes (i.e. protecting the crew), but placed the F on the short hood end. There are/were probably a lot more units out there with dual controls that could have the F at either end.
Reinhard,As I mention on the other forum 9010 is a exB&O GP9(6523).I just rechecked my RJC roster and find 9005 is also a exB&O GP9(6469) so,we know B&O geeps was setup to run long hood forward.
To answer your question like all geeps they can be ran in either direction just as easy.
I do know from first hand observation and chase 9007(exB&O 6533) was normally operated long hood forward to Lima from St.Marys and short hood forward back to St.Marys.
Great looking Corman geeps! [tup]
Thank you all for the answers. I am amazed how “easy” a Geep can be run in both directions. I assumed it would be very uncomfortable for the engineer to run “backwards” with the left hand on the throttle and the right hand on the break valve.
Actually the seats can be rotated 180 degrees and that’s what a engineer would do to save back stress.He would also sit the seat side ways while switching.
There was a folding seat for the head brakeman attach to the wall.However,if there was a two unit consist a savvy head brakeman would ride there looking back over the train.
BTW…The right hand need not be on the brake handle while running…Most former steam engineers would shut the throttle off and then use the brake handle.
These guys could really manipulate the throttle and brake.
Thank you for the kind explanation
The view out the back door of a GP7, set up with short hood as the front.
Not terrible.
Typical control stand.
!(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x218/MFJ_album/WSOR engines/10-24-07005.jpg)
Seat swivels. After a while you learn where the levers are without looking directly at them, so you can hang out the window and watch for signs and stuff while running the engine. I feel the roughest part about running backwards is turning your head often to check the speedometer. Some newer engines have a second speedometer in the back wall of the cab.
I usually use my left hand for the air, right hand for the throttle. Sometimes there is quite a bit going on.
Mike:The view out the back door of a GP7.
Sigh How railroad terms have changed.
We use to call that the “fireman’s door” since that was in front of the fireman’s seat.
Yup…The other door was known as the engineer’s door.
Corman geeps are colorful. Reminds me of the M&StL diesels.