I live next to a short line. They have at least one SD unit that has a high hood.
What was the purpose of the high hood? Did they cause visibility concerns?
Good place in an EMD for a boiler to produce steam if passenger service was to be an option. On Baldwin diesels, that’s where the dynamic brake was. Visibility with high hoods was better than most steam locomotives, but not as good as without the high hood. Crew protection was greater with the high hood.
Mark
The high hood was left over from the early diesel era and for grade crossing protection in coal country…
As far as visibility yes,there was problems but,nothing like looking along the long hood.
A hold over from the steam days, Norfolk & Western and Southern were advocates of long hood forward, It improved the crews survival chances during grade crossing incursions at the expense of unobstructed forward visibilty.
Dave
Dave,Also the short high hood was leftover from the early diesel years if you consider the HH SD24s,GP18s and GP20s.A lot of railroad men didn’t understand why EMD didn’t start chopping the short hood sooner.
Ever see a “coal bucket” crossing the tracks from the cab of a low hood as he crosses the track just in front of your train?
Gives one plenty of quick thoughts along with will I have a open or close casket?
Those 18 wheel coal haulers looks like they’re the size of a barn at close distances.
Fairbanks-Morse diesel switchers didn’t have a choice, due to their “OP” opposed-piston diesel engines. Unlike GM or Alco, the FM diesel engines were very tall since the pistons were directly across from each other (one set above and one set below) rather than a “V” shaped engine.
Suddenly realized it’s a good thing Baldwins went long-hood forward considering the venting of hot air from the short hood while braking.
The visibility, at least during the transition era, was probably not a big issue as the high hood diesels running long hood have that same narrow ‘tube’ view as a steam locomotive.