Portholes on cowl units?

[Anonymous]

I was working on one of my Stewart F units last night, and I got to wondering -- why did the Fs (and I guess Es, and maybe PAs) have portholes on the side? And were they just solid glass, or were they real portholes that opened?

[West Coast S]

To keep the water out during deep dives of course! Seriously, they served a decorative function only , except B units which had a functioning window opposite the hostler controls. Yes, B units could operated without a A unit.

Dave

[Anonymous]

I always wondered if B units had some type of controls -- it didn't make sense that they always had to have an A unit attached in order to move. So by asking one question, I've learned two different things. That's why I love this place!

And that also means that I wasn't being very un-prototypical using a turntable to turn A and B units separately when they don't fit as a complete unit. Cool!

Thanks, Dave!

[West Coast S]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jsalemi

I always wondered if B units had some type of controls -- it didn't make sense that they always had to have an A unit attached in order to move. So by asking one question, I've learned two different things. That's why I love this place!

And that also means that I wasn't being very un-prototypical using a turntable to turn A and B units separately when they don't fit as a complete unit. Cool!

Thanks, Dave!

B units could only be operated at extremely slow speeds, a built in governor regulated that aspect, the basic controls were the same as found in any A unit and could be isolated when in mu. So having to turn both units would not be unprototypical.

Dave

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

An FTB equipped with hostler controls would have a fifth porthole slightly apart from the four standard portholes (Did Harley Earle of Buick fame influence the styling on the FT?). The porthole on the GP9B where the cab would normally be served the same purpose.

[Anonymous]

As it was possible to walk the length of an F or E unit interior, I expect that the portholes were there to provide some (if not much) light for the walkway for both passage through the locomotive or to perform repairs while underway.

[emdgp92]

I've been inside both an FL9 and an FPA4. Both were pretty dark inside. The portholes let just a little bit of light inside to make it easier to see. I *think* there are also small lights inside these units, but I can't remember now. (I'm not an engineer, or anything...I saw both engines during shop tours.) Quite a few locomotives lost their portholes around the time that safety glass was required in windows.