I recently noticed a large box on the engineers side of the Claremont and concord alco switchers. The Columbia and reading's alco s-2 also has one. Does anybody know what these are for?
Got a photo? For those of us who are not familiar with either of those lines, a photo would help identify the 'large box'.
The following photo is not my photo, I am only using the photo because it is the photo where I first noticed the box.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=454261&nseq=2
Those locomotives are obvious rebuilds that probably have had their original ALCO prime movers changed out for something more environmentally friendly. During the rebuild, some components may have been moved outboard due to a lack of space, but I have no idea what they may have been. The trucks have been modified to roller bearing axles and the exhaust looks like a spark arrestor.
The picture has a small pipe exiting the box. It is possible that potentially a AESS (Auxillary engine start stop) unit has been fitted so that the prime mover can be shut down when the locomotive is not in use.
In Winter, prime movers, were normally left running as the coolant is only water and at low temperatures the lubricants don't flow easily so the heat of operation kept them flowing. AESS units are small diesels that operate on a fraction of the prime movers fuel consumption and keep everything with the prime mover warm enough to allow it to be restarted the next time the locomotive is needed for operation. AESS units are temperature controlled and measure the temps of the ambient, oil and water of the prime mover, the AESS units also charge the batteries of the locomotive.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Johnny