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Cupolas and Cabs...

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  • Member since
    January 2017
  • 2,980 posts
Cupolas and Cabs...
Posted by NWP SWP on Saturday, April 14, 2018 10:14 PM

What is the height difference between the top of a cupola and the top of a cab? Specifically in the diesel era.

And did any locomotive ever be equipped with something like a cupola for some reason?

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, April 14, 2018 10:43 PM

NWP SWP
And did any locomotive ever be equipped with something like a cupola for some reason?

Probably the closest thing I can think of for a North American* road anyway.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=527902

 *Although designed and built in Germany

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krauss-Maffei_ML_4000_C%27C%27

 A GP-30 runs about 15' 7" above the rails.

 

http://www.borail.net/EMD_GP-30_type_Class_FSE-5.jpg

Cabooses had a huge variance, depending on clearances of the railroad but several I've looked at run to about 15'-11" maximum over the cupola. Google can help you here.

Good Luck, Ed

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Posted by NWP SWP on Saturday, April 14, 2018 11:22 PM

So basically one would be hard pressed to fit a cupola atop a locomotive, steam or diesel, correct?

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

  • Member since
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  • From: California - moved to North Carolina 2018
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Posted by DSchmitt on Saturday, April 14, 2018 11:45 PM

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Omaha, NE
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Posted by dehusman on Sunday, April 15, 2018 10:23 PM

The closestin a N American railroad I can think of are the Kennecott Copper GP39-2's with raised cabs for use in the mines.  they were sold to the MKTwho replaced them with normal cabs.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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  • From: Rhododendron, OR
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Posted by challenger3980 on Sunday, April 15, 2018 10:51 PM

Dave do you have any idea of the purpose, or thinking behind those Kennecott raised cabs?

Doug

May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails

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    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
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Posted by dknelson on Monday, April 16, 2018 10:28 AM

The Alco C415 was available with three different cab heights.  The highest cab looks a bit like a cupola, particularly when compared with the lowest cab version.

Almost any center cab locomotive, electric or diesel, is built that way for visibility so in a sense the cab is designed to function like a cupola in addition to its main purpose.

And there were steam locomotives modified to have a small compartment near the front for men to occupy during certain performance and engineering studies.  They weren't elevated and were not there for general visibility however.

Dave Nelson

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