Conrail Locomotives

[Anonymous]

On most Conrail engines that were built by EMD, I have noticed a box that is situated on the engineer's side of the short hood right next to the nose. What is this box? Thanks!

Joe
Atlanta, GA

[Anonymous]

Joe,

That box on the Engineer's side running board contains equipment (a motor-generator set, or "MG") for the Cab Signal/Train Control used in several places on Conrail.

Originally this Cab Signal system was installed by the Pennsylvania (PRR) on their principal main lines, but Conrail installed some sections of it on other lines to facilitate new traffic patterns.

Most Conrail locomotives were equipped with Cab Signal equipment to enable their unrestricted operation system-wide.

However, as locomotive and signaling technology advanced through the years, it was not necessary to have a MG set to provide the proper voltage for the Cab Signal equipment, so the abscence of the box on the running board does NOT necessarily mean the unit is not cab signal equipped....

Hope this helps. You Pennsy fans who are more up on this than I am, feel free to expound/correct as necessary!

Harold

[Anonymous]

Thanks a bunch!

[oltmannd]

Harold-

Close, but not quite. The box contains the entire cab signal system. Only the earliest systems (AR type from steam days, some of which made onto PRR late 40s/early 50s purchases) had a MG set for a power supply. The majority of the Conrail purchased EMDs had type US&S EL with a solid state power supply in the short hood and the cab signal decoders, etc in the box on the blind walkway in front of the engr. The GE units had the cab signal box mounted a variety of places such as on the long hood blind walkway or in the short hood. All Conrail road power (at the end) was cab signal equipped and a good chunk of the local type (GP38s et. al.) were also equipped. The SD60Ms/C40-8Ws and newer were equipped with Harmon Ultra cab which was mounted in the short hood and included the Locomotive Speed Limiter (LSL) system for operating over Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.

-Don

[Anonymous]

I am a machinist for Conrail shared assets so that box is not my domain it is serviced by the electricians. From what I have seen it houses a lot of relays and electrical equipment,They open it up during 90 day pm's and 45 day lubes and check the components inside. There is also some equipment inside the short hood. I am not positive but I think it may have been done on the EMD engines to preserve room in the bathroom area which is cramped to begin with, The GE engines Have the bathrooms behind the crew and not in the short hood like the Emd's do.I believe all the wide bodies from both EMD and GE all use solid state cab signal equipment which is much smaller and really doesnt interfere with cab space as they all have their bathrooms down below in front of the conductor's station. I really should know for sure but it is not part of my job to work on this equipment, but I think that the engines that share tracks with passenger service have to have this equipment at least on the leaders. MrCNJ

[DTomajko]

The box on the walkway is indeed a part of the cab-signal system.On EMD 1st & 2nd generation locomotives,the box was on the walkway in front of the engineer,(note the grabiron for shorthood access is on the opposite side of the hood from normal EMD practice to provide room for the box).On GE's,the box was behind the conductor's side of the cab on the longhood walkway.On the newest C40-8W's & SD60M's,the equipment is located usually under the cab.On the PRR,the box was a three-strap design and slightly larger.PRR steam engines carried the box on the tender most of the time.As always,consult photos for exact location.Incedentally,any engine leading in cab-signal territory MUST be equipped with the ability to recieve those signals.That is why all those new NS C40-9W's are always in the front and no run-through power ever leads.To operate a non-equipped engine,a very low speed restriction is applied where allowed by operating rules and the FRA. DT Pa.