BN SW-1 Question

[FRRYKid]

I've got one for the forums. In anticipation of a new project, I have found something interesting. In the picture links below, these three BN units show evidence of what looks like canvas or something similar that either cover or partially cover the radiators of the respective engines.

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/bn/bn0089jpb.jpg
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/bn/bn92adb.jpg
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/bn/bn93adb.jpg

My questions are these: Were these "covers" used year round? Was their purpose similar to people sticking cardboard in front of their car radiators to keep them warm during the winter? If not, what was their purpose? If someone wanted to, how would one go about simply modeling this detail?
Thank you for all the assistance from the forums.

[charlie9]

that's exactly what they were for.  they were kept rolled up like an awning when not in use.  i remember working with an EMD switch engine when it was below zero and the water never got much above luke warm.  almost no heat in the cab even with the canvas down over the radiator.  the inside of the windows was covered with frost.

most engines had shutters that were thermostatically controlled but in sever cold weather, sometimes that was still not enough, especially when the engine spent a lot of time idling or working with lower throttle settings.

charlie

[zstripe]

Frrykid,

You must also remember,that a fan, on a Engine,sucks the air in,, not,blows it out. So with the winter front on, not a lot of cold air comes in to cool the fins,in the radiator, thereby having the liquid warmer.

Cheers, 

Frank

[dknelson]

I have some recollection of seeing a switcher, perhaps an SW1 or perhaps a Baldwin, with an adjustable front grill that could be opened or closed.  Or have I taken to having incredibly realistic dreams [in which case why am I wasting them on train dreams ?]

Dave Nelson

[7j43k]

Adjustable shutters were common in that location on switchers.  I think the additional cover was because there was too much air leakage past the shutters, even when they were fully shut.

Ed

[delray1967]

To model this, I'd use thin tissue paper soaked with tan paint (similar to articles I've read about how to model window curtains inside buildings); basically, lay tissue paper on a piece of glass, paint the tissue and use the brush to bunch it up, then when dry, glue it to the loco.  Wasn't there another article in a past MR about modeling Tiger Stripe SP switchers?  Maybe that article was more about modeling the trolley pole on these locos?  I thought it had canvas on the radiator too, I could be wrong.

[zstripe]

7j43k

Adjustable shutters were common in that location on switchers.  I think the additional cover was because there was too much air leakage past the shutters, even when they were fully shut.

Ed

On trucks,the winter fronts,were not only used to keep the radiator liquid warmer, but to also cut down,on the cold drafts,that would come in between, the radiator and cab, especially a cab over engine tractor. My cabover Freightliner,had five heater blower motors, in the cab and you really needed them, up North,in the winter.. BBUURR!!

Cheers, 

Frank