Widenose cabs

[Lord Atmo]

so widenose cabs are better in the long run if the seats didnt suck?

[PBenham]

The so-called widenoses have indeed evolved from the canadian "Safety cabs" of the 70s-present. Most Dash9s and all AC4400s and AC6000s have those desktop controls which , I am told force the engineer to remain in basically one position. The seats of all modern units are a[censored] to adjust! Even a nearly 40 year GE-Alco vet has tried to "reform" seat design to no avail. His recommendation is dump that "agreement" seat, you folks. The best seats (captains[4:-)] chairs, found primarily on ex-SP units) will get to you after an hour or so, if you can't move around even a little bit! The old "mushroom" seat was a good one, before it would get smashed/torn up by impatient crew people. Another problem is the increasing number of big (or plus size) engineers and conductors. (I should talk, i've put on ten pounds in the last year, and love junk food! Then there's Beer! "MMMMMMMMMMBeer"- Homer J. Simpson)

[nssr9169]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lord Atmo

i have always wondered why these cabs came to exist. what new safety features do they have? is it just because standard cabs get cold in the winter and widenose cabs have heating systems? or does it have something to do with visibility (how well the engineer can see ahead)?

It was all started by the Canadion Railroads mainly of crew comfort...

The U.S railroads were slow to fallow but caught on eventually......I think due to Unions demanding crew comfort....

They accually have better visability (of crewman whan switching or close up) with the standard cabs....Thats why there will never be a whide nose switching in the yard.

The standerd cabs have Ok heating systems but their all worne out by now.......Some times the widenose cabs are harder to heat because of their large size.....

Finnally tha crews hate the earlyer 90's wide noses because of the desk top conrolls... whitch require them to lean forward at a weird angle because the "nice' air ride seats dont ajus right. But now because of their crys the "desk top" control is now phased out for a modern rendition of the standerd ARR control stand found in most standerd cabs.[;)]

[chad thomas]

They offer better protection for the crews. The have heavy duty collision posts and I believe they are made with thicker steel. They are also a bit roomier then the spartan cabs. Plus the engineer sits a bit higher up then in the spartan cabs so visibility is a little better.