Long hood handrails?

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I’ve been meaning to ask this for ages…

Earlier road engines and switchers had long hood handrails bolted to the long hood above the doors… and this changed to handrails mounted on stanchions along the outside of the loco…

    1. Was the change made compulsory? (If so who by please)?
    1. Did all locos in regular RR service (as distinct from museums) get changed?
    1. Was there a change-by date or did it happen over a short or long period?
    1. Were handrail changes standard retro-fit parts from makers or local “modifications”… I guess with the possibility that a RR could buy the bits from the maker and fit them themselves?
    1. Were there any interesting oddities?

From the modelling point of view

    1. has anyone converted either the early type or the late type to the other kind - if so can you make any suggestions please? Pics please?

Thanks

[:P]

2

I’m not aware of an compulsory change, or of railroads being required to retro-fit outside handrails to earlier diesels. Steam engines had handrails attached to the boiler, I would imagine early diesels did the same thing just because that’s the way the steam engines had done it - just as many early diesels were normally set up to run long-hood forward.

3

Absolutely not a requirement to change the handrails. Here’s RDG 103, now owned and operated by the RCTHS:

–Randy

4

Thank You.