My steeplecabs are loosely based on the Chicago and Milwaukee electrics and the Sacramento Northerns electrics, but I have never seen where they carried the poles for poling cars on adjacent sidings. I have hardcopy photos of both roads poling cars, but have never seen where the pole was stored while the motors were under way. Any help?
Can’t say for those specific locos, but, as a general practice, poles were carried on a pair of hooks under the side sill, between and clear of the trucks. The same was true of steam loco tenders.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - without poles or poling pockets)
Yeah, that’s the issue. If the pole hung off the sill it would be too short to pole with and if it were long enough would interfere with the trucks. I have been looking for additional photos, and the only one I found had a caption that the motorman had thrown the pole on the deck, to be stored shortly.
Not a motor and not an especially long pole, but the TH&B carried theirs as show. It’s difficult to tell, but the hangers appear to be on the loco’s frame - truck swing is probably less than on your prototype, though.
Wayne
Try the Fallen Flags Website:
Scroll down to the CSSSB section to see poles on a Little Joe and the 901, also there is a photo of the 1012 that shows the empty mounting brackets.
Scroll down to the SN section to see poles on 605, 653, and 654.
Hope this helps.