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If ever there were a jaunty looking road switcher it has to be the Russian ТЭМ14-0001.     Three good photos: <a href="http://avp23649.livejournal.com/37666.html">http://avp23649.livejournal.com/37666.html</a> <a href="http://trainpix.org/photo/19932/">http://trainpix.org/photo/19932/</a> <a href="http://trainpix.org/photo/30049/">http://trainpix.org/photo/30049/</a> The Russian railroad system seems to prefer cab units, but there is also an Alco inspired road switcher design in use.  I am not sure how they justify them.  In any case, this seems to be something new.  Apparently they run these locomotives long hood forward, and leave the short hood high.  Or perhaps they are just omnidirectional.  But in the parade thread video, one is seen entering the viewing stage long hood forward.   There is something about this Russian locomotive design that whispers “1958 Packard.”  This locomotive uses the slanted “export style” cab roof, but interestingly, the cab sides also taper inward from an elevation matching the top of the handrail.  The cab doors and their windows also taper to match the cab shape.  Note that the guardrails system has an extra horizontal member midway from the walkway to the handrail.   I notice that the front roof ladders are blocked from use.  Perhaps that is a safety measure for running in electrified territory.  There appears to be a decal under that ladder rungs warning of that hazard.  The pilot details are similar to U.S. practice with their ditch lights, M.U. sockets, a variety of air hoses, and the pass-through walkway.  Note that they eschew end footboards per North American practice.  The engine hood also has an interesting inward side taper near the top.  I assume that the little louvered snout protruding out from the sides high near the cab is the dynamic brake air intake.  What is most curious is the extra height of the hood in its mid-section.   That must be to accommodate the extra height of the prime mover.  I wonder why they decided not to simply have the entire locomotive that tall.  I guess they did not need the space and did not want to have the center of gravity any higher than necessary.  The extra tall engine compartment suggests the possibility of the use of the Fairbanks Morse opposed piston diesel engine.   See:  <a href="http://www.fairbanksmorsenuclear.com/engine_opposed-piston.php">http://www.fairbanksmorsenuclear.com/engine_opposed-piston.php</a> Early generation FM locomotives featured distinctive hoods that matched the height of the cab for the purpose of accommodating the extra tall FM opposed piston engine.  See:  <a href="http://www.toytrains1.com/fairbanksmorse.htm">http://www.toytrains1.com/fairbanksmorse.htm</a> The most unusual aspect of this Russian locomotive is its trucks.  Four-axle trucks are rather uncommon.   Or maybe that is two four-wheel trucks with some type of span bolster.  That too would be unusual.  I wonder if all four axles are powered, and if they each have a traction motor.   If so, I wonder what the targeted purpose for this locomotive model is. One detail that I do not understand about Russian locomotives is the control device in the cab that looks like some sort of steering wheel.  From watching some videos, I get the impression that the control device is the throttle.  But it seems that the engineer will often make several changes to it in a very short period of time, so it is a mystery to me.
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