Standard Cabs vs Widecabs

[Anonymous]

Widecabs schmidecabs ............. stink pot widened crap on 2 rails. Who runs them? Now cab forward was some achievement. Those were the days.

[dharmon]

Man you must have really been in heaven when indoor plumbing was introduced......

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Man you must have really been in heaven when indoor plumbing was introduced......

He must have stepped in it frequently.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

Man you must have really been in heaven when indoor plumbing was introduced......

LOL, [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D] That one caught me off guard Dharmon!

[M636C]

QUOTE:

Eric: I have no idea why EMD rounded the corners on the GP60 demonstrators 5, 6 and 7, other than to look cool -- a marketing point only. Actual effect on fuel economy would be so small that it would be impossible to discern in a statistically meaningful test with actual trains on actual railroads.

I think that this was the period when road prime movers began to get the same "streamlined" effect, and EMD just followed the current fashion. Unlike truck buyers, nobody bought it, literally! I don't think the style improved truck drag much either, given that most was due to the flat rear of the trailer! But the styling has stuck because truck buyers apparently care more about appearance. Maybe that explains the SD70ACe! I've just got the November "Model Railroader", and the drawings don't make it look any better.

Peter

[oltmannd]

I do! The were to reduce aerodynamic drag. The overall savings EMD quoted were 1% reduction at 60 mph for a typical train. Nobody bit - extra cost to purchase and own (more costly wreck repair) exceeded potential savings.

[AntonioFP45]

M636C, Oltmannd

Seems like you're both correct.

In redesigning the Spartan Cab with the rounded corners, EMD at that time should have just made that cab the new Standard Cab, absorb the cost of the rounded sheetmetal and marketed the units as having "Updated, More Aerodynamic cabs that would help in fuel efficiency".

Even with slightly higher repair costs (yes, I used to do sheetmetal.......would not have been that much higher) EMD should have been already thinking that General Electric was rapidly closing the gap on EMD's sales.

But of course today, we have the safety cab. I'm suprised that some of you prefer the old EMD Spartan Cab. I grew up watching the: GP35, GP38-2, GP40-2, SD40, SD40-2, SD45, SD50,.......good goobly......Same Old Spartan Cab year after year! When Santa Fe introduced the GP60 with that "FP45 styled Safety Cab" I said "Yesssssss!!". I thought it was slick!

Not too long afterwards there was GE's version showing up left and right. Now, that one took a while to grow on me. I liked the old U-boat's flatter "*** Tracy" face better.

[rrnut282]

Antonio,
Aren't you bored with the safety cab yet? I mean, SD60I, GP60M, SD70M, SD70MAC, SD80, SD90, SD70ACe, C40-8W, C40-9W, ....they all look alike blasting down the rail. I only get excited when it's not a safety cab.

[rrnut282]

QUOTE: Originally posted by oltmannd

QUOTE: Originally posted by M.W. Hemphill

Eric: I have no idea why EMD rounded the corners on the GP60 demonstrators 5, 6 and 7, other than to look cool -- a marketing point only. Actual effect on fuel economy would be so small that it would be impossible to discern in a statistically meaningful test with actual trains on actual railroads.

I do! The were to reduce aerodynamic drag. The overall savings EMD quoted were 1% reduction at 60 mph for a typical train. Nobody bit - extra cost to purchase and own (more costly wreck repair) exceeded potential savings.

IIRC 1 % is the same fuel savings UPS gets for placing all those tassles above the tires on their trucks and trailers. If UPS thinks 1% is worth it, why didn't the railroads? Does it take more than 1% for RR management to overcome inertia?

[mvlandsw]

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrianspeeder

I dont like the term widecab either, how about "fatheads"?

Adrianspeeder

I never liked "wide cab" either. The cab is no wider than normal. It's the nose that's wider.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrnut282

Antonio,
Aren't you bored with the safety cab yet? I mean, SD60I, GP60M, SD70M, SD70MAC, SD80, SD90, SD70ACe, C40-8W, C40-9W, ....they all look alike blasting down the rail. I only get excited when it's not a safety cab.

RRnut,

I think I understand your view, but look where I'm coming from. I grew up in late 60s, 70s and 80s. All I saw: SPARTAN CABS, everywhere! This is why I grew really attached to the SDP40s, which resembled the FP45s. The cab style to me was "sleek" and connoted "speed". So today's EMD safety cabs very much resemble those old Cowls. So that's why I like them so much. I do think that they look sharp.

The "latest" EMD safety cab to me, borders on "hideous". But then, I'll get used to it.

Spartan cabs will still be around for many years to come. There are still so many of them out there!

[adrianspeeder]

I like the LEGO look.....

Yeah right.

Alco had it right with the PAs for pass.,Century series for freight, and RS-3 for yards.

But alas, we all must remember function before form

Adrianspeeder