Ive always wondered why NS ordered so many units with the high hood? I dont mean now obviously, but back when they could have ordered the low hood, or even safety cab. It just seems so much better to have a wider view, but ive never heard why they bought the high hood.
I’m not sure about the NS but railroads that ran long hood forward usually had high short hoods. They ran long hood forward for crew safety reasons, a carry over from steam days I believe. Another reason could be they used that space for steam generators for passenger service. These are general reasons, someone may be able to be a bit more specific for you.
With a high short hood, you get a lousy view no matter which end leads. This minimizes the griping when a crew has to operate long hood forward. The SOU and NW high short hoods generally had bi-directional cabs and this eliminated the need (or desire) to turn power.
What does this says about management focus and practice?
The high hoods were kept as both the Southern and N&W were late to dieselize and most of their early locos , GP7 , GP 9’s and trainmasters all had high hoods , so the management was happy with this style . The long hood forward was for safety . I have had the chance to ride in both high hood and low hood locos . The lack of center windows in the cab was not as troublesome as you may expect .
The high hoods were not ordered aftre the NS merger. N&W ceased purchasing the high-hoods with their second order of SD40-2s in July of 1974. Southern on the other hand ordered them right to the end.
Those N&W SD40-2s have the F on the long hood end, tho’! [;)]
And they’d run them both ways…
Well, even though my area is specialty is PRR. NS is my next best besides form NYC, NH, and PC just because they were involed with the PC merger. NS had the high hoods from the mergers, NW and Southern Ry. They to my knowledge didnt buy anymore high hoods but did keep the long hood forward ops. for safty for a long time and still do use it alot more then other roads. They also stuck with the standard cabs longer and have more then most other roads. The SD40-2’s that are short hoods are used for both short hood foward and long hood forward ops. but are painted for long hood. Just my [2c]. Mike
I am assuming you are talking about the units with the dual control stands. I have never been in one, but it seems that layout would leave a lot to be desired as far as how roomy the cabs are.
My grandfather worked for the Southern on the CNO&TP division. The Southern was one of the 1st to dieselize in the early 50’s. When D.W. Brosnan became president and the Southern placed their 1st order for the new road switchers they were of the high hood design, which gave them the ability to run in either direction without turning the engine. The early GP-7’s were short, high hood to the front, as well as GP-9’s, and in the early 60’s the GP-30’s. The SD 24’s were also short high hood to the front. Later the Southern would order the high hoods with the long body to the front. I do not know if the Southern had dual controls as the N&W did, but I do not think so.
Sou Rwy locomotives did not have dual controls. just one control stand set up for LHF operations.
The high short hood unit I have seen at the Tennessee Valley RR Museum in Chattanooga actually had a toilet inside the hood.
Southern and N&W continued to opt for high short hoods on their diesels out of saftey concerns. I think the reason Southern stopped going for high short hoods was due to EMD and GE charging more per locomotive to have one equipped with a high hood on the short end. N&W may have seen the light sooner regarding what became an extra cost option, and opted for buying locomotives with low short hoods.
Southern ordered the high hoods on there locomotives to store the locotrol equipment for mid train and head end helpers
Weren’t all the initial orders of GP7’s and GP9’s delivered to all railroads in with the High Short Hood (and that also includes the SD7’s and SD9’s)?
Most, but not quite all. SP’s last order had low hoods. I think there was at least one more order with short hoods, but to who escapes me at this point.
The only other GP9’s with factory-built low short hoods were a handful built for Phelps Dodge for their open-pit mines. I’ve read that they led with the long hood and the low short hood was for better visibility over the train. I would assume that this was to help in spotting the cars near the power shovel for loading back in those pre-remote control days.
I’ve always wondered about this too. Glad to find this posting!