Brammy's query about Erie E8 usage in freight service kicked up mention of Alco RS3s, which brought up memories of the Soo Line's FA units. I was always fond of the flat-faced Alcos from my youth, when I scaled up my brother's HO John English HObbyline FA dummy to S scale (I built a wood and card shell to fit over the AF Baldwin switcher, which used the same trucks). During my hobby shop business, I built HO models of a retired Soo Line three favorite steam locos, plus an F7 ABA and train. When discussing his days on the road, I told him of my fondness for the FA-FB sets I saw in my youth and he said, "They were good engines, but not much fun in the wintertime. You had to pile on all the clothes you could to keep from freezing, unlike the GM's, which had great cab heaters. You could hang up your cap and jacket and work in your shirtsleeves in GM cabs." I was wondering if the same thing was true of the Alco road switchers--especially considering I think some of them were sent to the USSR during WW2!
Deano
Any of the early EMD and Alcos had cold cabs that's why we carried duct tape in our grips during the winter. We would use duct tape around the doors to keep the cold air from blowing in..Cabooses wasn't much better.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I think it was more an issue with "covered wagon" type engines like EMD F-units and Alco FA's, than it was a problem for one builder more than another. Engines that had a front door like F-units would seem most prone to the problem, especially when running since that part of the engine hit the cold air first. It was pretty common to see Soo Line F's with masking tape outlining the front door, I don't recall ever seeing it on a GP or an RS diesel.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikedanneman/11124265204
wjstixI don't recall ever seeing it on a GP or an RS diesel.
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BigJim wjstix I don't recall ever seeing it on a GP or an RS diesel. That's because we were taping the doors up from the inside!
wjstix I don't recall ever seeing it on a GP or an RS diesel.
That's because we were taping the doors up from the inside!
Very true! I still recall how the side windows was letting some cold air in. We couldn't tape the windows on the PRR because they was still hooping up Form 19s.
Not only that, many times we were taping up the doors to the control panels...Brrr!!!
My sister's father-in-law, Ben Allison, recalled the PRR/PC/CR people liking the Alco cabs because "they had good heaters in the winter". Perhaps these were later Alco's in the Century Series that he was remembering when I asked him about his experiences. He also said "they pulled very well". He did specifically say the GE's (at least of that era, before the Dash 8's) had cabs that were cold in the winter.
"Benny" as he was known on the railroad began his career washing (steam) engines at Renovo, PA...had a chance to at least hostle a few around the terminal, I believe, and finished his career as a conductor for PRR/PC/CR, many times operating coal trains out of Clearfield, and probably many runs over Keating Summit as well as to Harrisburg. He lived to almost 89 and died a year and a half ago.
Early EMD Geeps used air from the engine radiators blown through vents in the cab ceiling for cab heat. This produced little warmth in the lower part of the cab where most of your body sat. A match book cover in the fan relay contacts would disable the radiator fans and produce much warmer air in the cab.
Whatever shortcomings the diesel cab heaters had I bet they were better than most of the steam locos cabs that they replaced.
Mark