623 Switcher Question

[EIS2]

There is a large wheel on the top of the locomotive, just behind the headlight.  What is the purpose of the wheel for on the real engine?

Earl

[msacco]

Radio antenna, Earl

 

Mike S.

[EIS2]

Radio antenna, Earl

Mike S.

I never would have guessed that.  It sure is an odd looking antenna.

Thanks for the reply.

Earl

[magicman710]

Radio antenna, Earl

Mike S.

I never would have guessed that.  It sure is an odd looking antenna.

Thanks for the reply.

Earl

Perhaps it was the style of the day?

[spankybird]

Are you sure it's not a hand break?  It is right over the front axle.

[msacco]

Well Spankybird you could be right but I've always seen the part called a radio wheel.

So I've always thought it was a radio antenna. Maybe somebody can give us the definitive answer here.

 

Mike S.

[DMUinCT]

They weren't radios in 1950, it was Radio Telephones, short range.

[lionelsoni]

It is a radio antenna, but not anything put on by EMD as original equipment.  The hand brake is described in the operating manual (2303):

"The hand brake is located in the cab to the right of the rear cab door.  The hand brake acts only on the rear pair of wheels of the No. 2 truck..."

[msacco]

Thanks Bob!!

[bfskinner]

If the link works, in the photo (second row, third from left) you should see a Southern Pacific GP9 with a "wagon wheel" type radio antenna mounted in the lower right just behind the red nose and offset slightly from center.

http://espee.railfan.net/picindex/gp09_detail/gr000000.html

There is also an image at

http://www.modeltrains.com/WEB%20-%20CMT/Overland%20Models/Parts/over-parts.htm

which shows detail parts, including radio antennas, for model trains. Scroll down to 9051 and left-click.

I think these sources are definitive that the wheel on the hood of some of Lionel's NW2 switch engines is a radio (radio-telephone?) antenna, quite possibly designed by Dr. George Sinclair -- which should impress the Buckeyes, at least.

http://www.sinctech.com/about.asp?i=28

............................

By the way, for anyone who may have gotten his/her knickers in a twist a few days ago in a now-closed thread:

Right aka starboard aka dexter;

Left aka port aka sinister.

Broad, beautiful and tricky language, English!