1)I understand that the Southern and N&W would operate longhood forward and custom-order high hooded diesels for safety. Yet after a youtube search (not real reliable, I know) I couldn't find any videos of them operating this way. Any idea why? Did they give up on this practice after awhile.
2)Has NS started chopping noses? Do they still operate long hood forward?
3)Why did they order spartan cabs for as longas they did?
4)Why didhn't they try to get their spartan cabbed big diesels with high short hoods as well.
The Beaverton, Fanno Creek & Bull Mountain Railroad
"Ruby Line Service"
Following is a link to a Norfolk Southern locomotive web site that has at least some of the info you're looking for.
http://www.nsdash9.com/roster.html
Please examine the "Notes" column carefully and follow the links to the locomotive series detail pages.
As I recall, N&W and SOU ordered the "spartan" cabs as long as they were "standard equipment" and therefore cheaper. As soon as the wide cab became "standard", both railroads started ordering them.
Most (if not all) of the high short hood locomotives were built with dual controls. Long hood forward operation gradually fell into disfavor and obviously was completely gone by the time the firemen were eliminated.
Mike
Quite a few years ago long hood running was for the most part banned. If you have ever riden a GE unit long hood forward for any length of time you would know why. You would probably be throwing up from the fumes. EMD's didn't have this trouble.
Yes, you will still see a long hood forward every now and then if then train is a turn around local with ONLY one unit or if there has been a breakdown along the line of road and there is no other unit with the short hood forward in the consist that can be switched to the head end.
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