Pennsy E unit front coupler doors

[basementdweller]

The Life Like P2K Pennsy E units come with the front coupler doors to be added by the modeler. I am wanting to install the doors in the open position with so the coupler is usable. I have noticed most modelers just leave them off.

What does the open position on the Pennsy E units look like? I have been unable to find a clear picture. Do they swing open on some type of hinge? Or do they slide open to each side such as on some type of rail?

Or would they have been removed altogether? I am assuming at some point these doors were removed altogether along with the fuel tank skirting and such.

Appreciate any info. 

[gmpullman]

I recall some discussion on the doors in a past issue of the PRRT&HS Keystone Magazine. The operating crews hated them. They made engine changes at Harrisburg rather difficult especially for the car knockers that had to go between the cars and engine to make the steam connection.

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=1989

Note the E7, 5840 has the early version of a hinged coupler cover that the PRR quickly rejected and had EMD redesign. When open these doors were difficult to work around.

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=2049

An F7 with open doors:

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=2236

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=747

This F3 pilot has a good view of the swing-out arm arrangement:

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=1642

Here's a drawing of the hinge and steam line hanger:

https://tinyurl.com/y6pckwnw

 

Good Luck, Ed

[basementdweller]

Thanks for posting those pictures Ed, it clearly shows they slide to the side. 

Not a  detail I see modeled often, I will assume in later years they were removed altoether.

Thanks again.

[Overmod]

I discover, to my irritation, that all the godfatherrails links posted are timing out as site unavailable, and when I try to see the drawing I get this:

This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.

<Error>

<Code>AccessDenied</Code>

<Message>Request has expired</Message>

<Expires>2023-10-23T03:39:18Z</Expires>

<ServerTime>2023-10-23T16:02:07Z</ServerTime>

<RequestId>VKQ6KQ82VC5M3EK8</RequestId>

<HostId>LNHSbMLtmZ4z6o+f15BqxhORaj6JDeVaTNBWC9ybJMcqBmQ7XW3JN2EznMidzNFrHJ4y7nsJNAc=</HostId>

</Error>

[gmpullman]

Overmod

I discover, to my irritation, that all the godfatherrails links posted are timing out as site unavailable,

I also have hit-or-miss success with Godfather Rails. Some days I connect almost immediately — others, not so lucky. John Dziobko, Jr. died over a year ago so I don't know how long his site will be supported.

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/photographer-john-dziobko-jr-dies-at-89/

Here's another view of an EP22 that can be expanded considerably:

EP-22 #5788-A Nov 17, 1952 photo 1       087 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr

basementdweller

Thanks for posting those pictures Ed, it clearly shows they slide to the side.

Not really a 'slide' rather an angled and bent hinge bar that pivots closer to the center of the doors. With the angle of the fixed pivot the doors would be 'weighted' to stay in the open position. The 'pilot arch' has to swing down in order to support the bottom edges of the closed doors.

 Here's a direct link to the EMD drawing without the 'tiny-url' interface:

https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/groupsioattachments/13643/86142705/15359/1?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJECNKOVMCCU3ATNQ&Expires=1698032358&Signature=ruyJECdIhAKNfs7yuSTl0fUg%2B08%3D&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3D%22EMD%2520enclosed%2520coupler%2520pilot.jpg%22

Perhaps you'll have better luck with it?

Good Luck, Ed

[basementdweller]

What a great picture showing the details. I see what you mean about those hinges instead of the doors sliding. Thanks again