A conspicuous feature of most Canadian steam locomotives built after WWI was the introduction of the vestibule (enclosed) cab, obviously a major improvement in the crew working conditions during Canadian winters, even if otherwise during hot summer months.
Although many American roads operated in similar winter conditions, particularly in the northern states and mountainous regions, none appeared to have adopted the vestibule cab feature (other than cab forwards). I assume that this was due to the winter conditions in those states being less severe and not as long, and considering that enclosed cabs would have been uncomfortably hot much of the year.
I would be interested in any references to discussions that may have taken place in Canada and the U.S. regarding the topic.
[:)]
Off hand, can’t lead you to any discussions. But I can tell you that the enclosed cabs weren’t that bad in the summer (open all the windows and doors and you get a nice breeze) and were a real treat in the winter…
Both Great Northern and Northern Pacific were frequent users of vestibule
cabs. On the GN, the R2 class of 2-8-8-2s was widely equipped, about half
of the S-2 Northerns and several of the O-8 class 2-8-2s. NP was an even
bigger user. The entire A-4 and A-5 classes of 4-8-4s and the Challengers
in classes Z-7 and Z-8 were vestibule equipped. Granted the Canadian
roads had even more inclement weather to deal with, hence the wider usage,
but the all-weather cab was certainly not unknown in the US.
On the GN, vestibule cabs seem to have been applied and removed to
no set pattern. Different dates would see different locomotives equipped
differently.
Living on the prairies the CPR locos had either a canvas curtain back of the cab or wooden dividers with doors , talk about cozy at 45 below is a coal burning locomotive with a wooden divider to keep out the blizzard, (remember : 10 months of winter and 2 months of poor sledding) but conversely what a steam bath in the summer at 105 degress, come to think of it, were there any fat firemen or engineers???
I believe Missabe 2-8-8-4’s had enclosed cabs too.
Very late in the steam era, Pittsburgh & Lake Erie equipped some ex-NYC H10 mikes with vestibule cabs. P&LE wanted diesels, but got Alco’s last new steam power, seven Berkshires, and some second-hand H10s! The Berkshires only ran four or five years on P&LE before it dieselized. Most of the H10s did not last that long, going to scrap in 1952-3, wasting the money spent on them by P&LE.
Thanks for those replies guys!
Perusing George Drury’s “Guide to North American Steam Locomotives” I found a photo of a DT&I 800 series Mikado with a vestibule cab, built by Lima in the early '40’s.[:)]
I’m certain you can find odd examples of vestibule-equipped locomotives
from many railroads. Even GN had classes that had only a single loco
so equipped. The S-1 Northern number 2552 was the only one of the six
to get an all-weather cab, for example. The N-2 and N-3 classes (same
2-8-8-0s, just rebuilt) only had two with them.