MP15 no.1535 Soo-Line

[Christian H]

Hi,

I have a spezial question because I live in Germany. Are closed (with sheet of metal ) the outer window of the side cap wall on this engine (to see on www.rr-fallenflags.org ).I ask because Athearn had they only painted red.

 

Thank you!

[dknelson]

I think I understand your question.  There is a window extension on the engineer's side only of the former Milwaukee Road MP15ACs.  I have been unable to find a picture where the extension is painted red. 

I found this very good 2006 shot of Soo Line 1535 -- fireman's side, so there is no sheet metal window extension on that side.  

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=169470

 

But the same engine on the engineer's side shows the extended window - and yes -- it is not painted red but appears to be bare galvanized steel:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=188550

As it looked in 1987:

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0107/soo1535.jpg

These extended windows date back to Milwaukee Road ownership, and the extensions were painted, I think, black on the Milwaukee Road.  Here is a shot showing both sides of Milwaukee Road MP15s -- extended cab on engineer's side only:

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr0201/milw469.jpg

I don't know why the extensions were painted on the Milwaukee Road but not on the Soo Line.  Perhaps they were actually new (?).

Dave Nelson

[cv_acr]

It was pretty common for all-weather windows like this to only be on the engineer's side, since he's the guy that would be leaning out the window for a better view.

These windows allow the better vision of being able to lean outside of the cab, but still protect the engineer from cold or bad weather.