Hi,
I recently scanned some pages regarding the FM-OP engine but I didn't do the page showing the control stand which shows the "center-off" throttle you describe.
There are some PDFs of four different FM operators manuals including one from PRR of a CPA20 here:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/manual/cp20-om.pdf
This control stand looks oddly close to the Alco (GE) models, too. Maybe this is due to the GE influence?
Hope that helps, Ed
Super-geeky question: Does anyone have photos (or know about) the control stands of FM Erie Builts and C-Lines?
I believe the FM swtichers had a funky pneumatic reverer-throttle combo lever that had upper and lower quadrants to control direction (up then back for one direction, down then back for others), while a pic I saw of CLC-built C-Lines had a more conventional throttle with a seperate reverse lever.
A 1950 book I have (Diesel-Electric Locomotive Handbook) shows the switcher-style setup in a hood unit, but doesnt' say which model it is. The side window pattern (half-moon windows flanking a rectangular slider) make me think it's an H-20-44 or H-15-44 -- I don't think the switchers had the half-moon windows -- but I can't be sure.
Anyone know what the Eries had? And what about domestically-built C-Lines?