I believe the GG-1 was the orignal safety cab. [:)]
One of the design goals of the GG-1 was to be safer than the boxcab versions of the P-5, one of which was involved in a fatal grade crossing accident. You’re on the right track about the F units nose, this was derived from the E units noses which were developed due to safety concerns with the original EMD box cabs (AT&SF, B&O).
it could interpreted as that. but it’s mainly illustrating how i see locomotives and why i refuse to call anything with a safety cab a CNW
Good point about the GG-1…love the locomotive but tend to forget electric locomotives when one is discussing designs…
I’ve been lucky enough to be invited into both types quite often, and it seems like new hires like the safety cab and computer desk controls, and the old hands prefer the visibility of the spartan cabs. I guess it’s what you are used to.
I will say that every engine crew I spoke with liked the comfort of the safety cabs over the spartan cabs, but that is only natural.
About 2 months ago I was in the cab of a 1 month old ES44AC ( KCS) and it was warm, quiet and the seats were extremely comfortable. Back in the 80’s, I was in the cab of a brand new SD50 (CR) it was noisy, drafty and the seats were like sitting on padded rocks.
The “F”, “E”, and pre-SD50 locomotives were just sheet metal bolted to a frame. In a severe collision (such as with a low-boy trailer or a dump truck), the cab could be relatively easily separated from the frame, making for a nasty experience for the crew.
The new 'safety cabs" have thick steel posts at the front corners inside the sheet metal. These posts are permanetly welded to the frame such that they act as one piece. Vastly superior in a collision.
BTW, the desktop controls were terrible for a long tour of duty (no place to stretch out).
I am more of a fanof wide cabs but when I first got into model railroading I remembered the EMD spartan cabs as a child so I was all for those ones at first but it quickly changed to the newer wide cabs that look like almost like a face to me.
you are not alone, my friend. do they resemble anything like in my sig?
i hate them BECAUSE i see faces. ugly ones
I like both, but I hate Dash840CW and the Standard cab verison.
But I don’t like the hybrids.