Join the discussion on the following article:
Union Pacific to modify control stands on select locomotives
A solution seeking a problem.
Rear view mirrors worked for me.
Actually the North American cab (wide) engines with the desk controls didn’t give much of an option, like the covered wagons, F’s, E’s, PA’s C-Liners, Sharks…You know…
D’Ya wonder, or does everyone know, what that little mirror aimed forward located below and near the rear end of the engr’s side cab side window did? ‘Talkin’ UP wide cabs…
Well…(insert a Jack Benny pause)…imagine that the crew member controlling your move is riding the front steps. Rule required that if visual, like in “hand,” signals can be used they must be, instead of radioed move controlling instructions (signals).
That crew member is riding about 12 feet away from you on that bottom step…you can’t see him because intervening is the wide nose that comes along with the wide cab.
Radio at that distance…hard to justify.
Head out the window…you’d have to rely on the crew member’s judgement for everything 'cause you can’t see forward enough. No certified engineer on the front step.
Thus, the little mirror: it reflects the crew member’s image up to the rear view mirror which you can scan while controlling the forward movement.!
Don’t start to think what your brain’s doing, please.
The crew member’s right hand is reversed and diminished in the little mirror; that image is reversed and diminished on the big cab-side rear view mirror which when you look at it shows mostly what’s behind and you’re moving forward…whaa?
And the physical rules require that what comes into an eye is inverted, your lens turns it upside down so that the image your brain works with is …part of the package of living.
I seem to recall hearing that the Southern had control stands parallel to the side wall of the cab in the high-short-hood days–the idea being the same as with the UP, to allow the unit to be operated in either direction from a single control stand. Can anyone confirm that?
“I seem to recall hearing that the Southern had control stands parallel to the side wall of the cab in the high-short-hood days–the idea being the same as with the UP, to allow the unit to be operated in either direction from a single control stand. Can anyone confirm that?”
Yes, all of the Southern units from the GP 30 forward had a parallel control stand to aid in reverse movement. Being right handed I actually found it ergonomicly more confortable to operate the controls that way.
A short while back we read that railroads are equipping locomotives with cameras in cabs of locomotives. Here’s a thought … mount a camera at the end of the long hood and monitor in the cab. This way you wouldn’t need to rebuild the cab interior.
St. F. X. and P. Brown: some good thoughts. Methinks that loco engineers are nearing the point of ‘Sensory Overload’, with all the new gadgets installed in the cab. At least a 747 pilot has a co-pilot to flip all the switches. Scary!
sure glad I’m retired…I just want to look at them when the sun is up and maybe take a picture of an old one now and then. 
Same set up on the SW1500, MP15"s. Nice thing about the angle stands as built. I could run with one hand and my feet up on the heater semi reclined. Be a little awkward, but could still run one handed either direstion on the SW1500’s
PETER BROWN from SOUTH CAROLINA said:
I seem to recall hearing that the Southern had control stands parallel to the side wall of the cab in the high-short-hood days–the idea being the same as with the UP, to allow the unit to be operated in either direction from a single control stand. Can anyone confirm that?
CHARLES S POWELL from COLORADO said:
Yes, all of the Southern units from the GP 30 forward had a parallel control stand to aid in reverse movement. Being right handed I actually found it ergonomicly more confortable to operate the controls that way.
Absolutely Correct !!!
Southern Railway (and many Norfolk Southern) locomotives were / are set up to run long hood forward. Engineer is seated on right hand side of cab when long hood is in front. Therefore, he is on the left side of cab when unit is running short hood forward. Standard AAR control stands mounted parallel to cab sides makes it easy to simply turn the seat around and operate locomotive in either direction. Engineer actually has more leg room with this arrangement. The normal, “traditional locomotive control stands typically sit at angle to the side wall of the cab” doesn’t give as much space in front for your feet and legs.
I operated these for years. Loved running long hood forward!
I hope this does work for the engineer’s comfort. I got to talk to a hogger once and he told me the long hours he worked. Ouch! If the parallel stand will make the job easier, do it!