What is this on the pilot of an N&W Y6b?

[cefinkjr]

OK, N&W experts.  What is this on the pilot of an N&W Y6b?

This end of it makes me think of an air brake cylinder but I'm sure that's not its purpose here.   I've never noticed this on any other locomotives.  Could it be a powered coupler cut-lever operated from the cab to permit uncoupling a pusher on the fly?

[tdmidget]

I suppose it would break your back to provide a photo of what you are asking about.

[BigJim]

If you are speaking of this, it is the pressure relief valves for the LP cylinders.

This is from Y6a 2156.
If you ever listened to O. Winston Link's "Thunder On Blue Ridge", you will have heard where one of these had opened up and needed to be closed.

[cefinkjr]

tdmidget

I suppose it would break your back to provide a photo of what you are asking about. 

I tried to but the forum software made it go away.  Then I tried to just delete the post.  The forum software refused to let me delete my own thread.

[Overmod]

The normal 'recourse' to make a post "go away", since there is no user-selectable way to delete it, is to edit the content so it only contains a period "."  That's the netiquette convention for 'deleted intentionally by user'.

I for one am highly interested in the subject, and would still like to see what you're describing -- is it not what BigJim indicated in his picture?

If you provide a book reference, one of the Forum members with a copy might be able to look it up and advise you.  We can also try to 'debug' why the software wouldn't post your picture.

[BigJim]

cefinkjr

Could it be a powered coupler cut-lever operated from the cab to permit uncoupling a pusher on the fly?

No, the caboose had a chain going to the cut lever that one of the crew members pulled up in order to uncouple the cab from the pushers.