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[tnbriggs]

I was reading the NTSB report (http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2005/RAR0504.pdf) on the NS Graniteville, SC 01/2005 derailment and subsequent wreck and noticed that it states that the engineer's location was on the left side of the locomotive. The report doesn't identify the locomotive model, but this is contrary to most everything I've ever seen or read about the engineer's location, which in the USA is typically on the right side. I know from other sources that NW (& NS) had control stands on both sides on some locomotives. What determines where the engineer sits to operate the train on dual control stand locomotives? Thanks.

[chad thomas]

The reporter probably got it wrong. When it comes to trains they never get it right.

The engineer is almost always on the right. On the NS locos with dual controll stands they run on the right. If they are running long hood forward then they would use the stand that is where the conductor would normaly be (in other words where there normaly is no stand.

[ndbprr]

If an engine only has one control stand it is set up so the engineer is on the right side going forward. I would assume this goes back to the era of handing up orders and watching the conductor for highballs when loading passengers ( usually on the right side of the train). However - if the train is returning to a yard with say a local freight on a branch line where there is no means of truning the locomotive the engineer could very well be on the left side running in reverse. I doubt this is a very comfortable position with having to look over your shoulder while making changes to the throttle and brakes.

[Ham549]

I thought on old dule controle locomotives the controle stands face different directions so you are always faceing the direction of travel.

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ham549

I thought on old dule controle locomotives the controle stands face different directions so you are always faceing the direction of travel.

Correct.

[coborn35]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ndbprr

If an engine only has one control stand it is set up so the engineer is on the right side going forward. I would assume this goes back to the era of handing up orders and watching the conductor for highballs when loading passengers ( usually on the right side of the train). However - if the train is returning to a yard with say a local freight on a branch line where there is no means of truning the locomotive the engineer could very well be on the left side running in reverse. I doubt this is a very comfortable position with having to look over your shoulder while making changes to the throttle and brakes.

Its not so bad. You just sit facing the conducotr and turn your head to the left to look.

[Anonymous]

Let me go way back. I read somewhere that engineers sit on the right because the first locomotives in the U.S. (in the 1820's) were built in England, and the English sit on the right. They still drive that way. Anyone care to correct/validate me?

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by delehanty

Let me go way back. I read somewhere that engineers sit on the right because the first locomotives in the U.S. (in the 1820's) were built in England, and the English sit on the right. They still drive that way. Anyone care to correct/validate me?

Do a search on these forums. There have ben several long and very interesting threads on just this topic.

[BR60103]

I think that the early locomotives and the ones that were imported from England, didn't have any seats at all.
England had railways that had drivers on the right and others on the left. Signals were set to match the engineers position.

[traisessive1]

Here we go!!!
Most of the first diesels were built to run long hood forward with the control stand on todays left side. These long hood forwards still had the control stand on the right side. They did this cause steam ran long hood forward.

When the railroads realized ... heeey short hood forward is better they converted locomotive gears and moved the control stand to the other side of the cab!!!

Now today they are all built on the right of the short hood, as compared to the right of the long hood. They were never on the left side cause when they were on the "left" side, the long hood was forward so it was still the right hand side.

NS still has a lot of long hood locomotives and CN 7000 series GP9u's are still set up for long hood operating

[ValorStorm]

QUOTE: Originally posted by traisessive1


When the railroads realized ... heeey short hood forward is better they converted locomotive gears and moved the control stand to the other side of the cab!!!

They converted locomotive gears? Traction motor gearing isn't relevant to the long- hood / short hood forward issue.

[chad thomas]

I think by "Gear" he meant the controll stand gear.

[traisessive1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

I think by "Gear" he meant the controll stand gear.

yea what he said lol ... and whatever needed to be changed to make the crankshaft turn right