Dark windows...

[oltmannd]

I can guarantee you that the tinted windows started because of (drum roll please):

AIR CONDITIONING

not the computer (computers started in 1984)
not the FRA glazing (FRA glazing regs were circa 1980)

GE found that the AC provided better, more uniform comfort in their new "wide cab" with tinted windows. They offered up several degrees of tinting and the RR's helped them pick the proper one.

I was writing loco specs at Conrail at the time and was involved in the decision., so this is as close to the horses mouth as you'll get!

BTW, the FRA glazing on front and rear facing windows is desinged to take a concrete block, point first at 50 (or maybe 40) mph. The side windows are designed for a 22 caliber bullet at 1000(?) fps.

[CHIPSTRAINS]

MAYBE THE GE'S ARE TINTED SO THAT REAL HOGGERS WON'T BE SEEN IN THEM.. ITHINK THEY LIKE THE SD70'S BETTER[:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

All of CPs newer loco's (AC4400s) have tinted windows.

I have yet to see a CN loco with tinted windows.

[dldance]

The temperature in the cab of the Sacramento Southern steam engine last Saturday was between 125 and 135 degrees -- no AC and no tinted windows. They were alternating crew members between each 40 minute run to provide them some heat relief.

dd

[vsmith]

Cartmann: "Mr Garrison, Can I ask a stupid question?"

Mr Garrison: "Well you know what I always say, there are no stupid questions, just stupid people.."

So I'll ask a stupid question, if the windows are darker, did they bump up the headlights and ditchlight output so they can see better at night?

[edblysard]

No, the headlights are the same...
But it makes little difference, they still do a great job of lighting up ahead..
Ed

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dldance

The temperature in the cab of the Sacramento Southern steam engine last Saturday was between 125 and 135 degrees -- no AC and no tinted windows. They were alternating crew members between each 40 minute run to provide them some heat relief.

dd

The (real, if small) steam engine at the RR park in Scottsdale AZ only runs in the winter. In the summer they use a "diesel."

[CSXrules4eva]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

Ok - to add to the mirror rumor - do the cabs have any kind of sun visors? I use mine constantly and can't imagine driving without it.... especially since it has a mirror on the reverse side!

Mook

Mook you must have constant sun glare in your area. I get it evey once and a while but, not all the time. I tend to have my sun visors in my truck in the mid way position just because it looks cool, with my lifted suspension and body work. lol Hay maybe when I become a LE I'll do the same with the visors on the locomotive. lol

[Railroadgun]

It seems that some people just cannot help but express their dislike of firearms and firearms owners in response to any situation. The funny thing is that should this country ever fall into chaos they will be the first to try to beg, borrow or steal a gun.I suggest that the loco manufacturers be contacted to find the real answer and that TrainsMagazine does an article on the true state of shooting assaults against the railroads.
I am an NRA member, model railroader, and a railfan for 67 years.
Railroadgun

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFGP38

Lucky you got air conditioning...........Im still the the GP-38 and GP-18 world. [xx(]

In days gone by you could have been behind the boiler of a 2-8-2, just imagine how conditioned the air coming off the firebox was.

[Murphy Siding]

Oh,sure,but's that's a dry heat.[:)]

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

Oh,sure,but's that's a dry heat.[:)]

trust me.. dry heat or not..its F-ing HOT... i use to fire a steamer befor i got my start on CSX... bib overalls..long sleave shirt... 95 out side..with a crap load of coal buring in a HOT steel box about 2 feet from you.... its HOT no matter what you do
csx engineer

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Yes on the visor, no on the mirror...
although some locomotives do come with cup holders.
Ed[8D]

Hopefully the cup holders are not on the sunvisors.

[Modelcar]

....I've seen the humidity down to 3 to 5% on official instruments in the desert south of Kingman, Az...{Yucca flats}, and the temp at the same time 100 or 105 or so and believe me dry or not....It is still HOT. Hot enough to get one in real trouble.

[Modelcar]

....Now if the crew only has something cold to put in the cup holders.....!

[Murphy Siding]

[:)] The smiley should have indicated it wasn't a serious statement. Maybe I should said "it's not the heat, it's the humidity".[;)]

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

[:)] The smiley should have indicated it wasn't a serious statement. Maybe I should said "it's not the heat, it's the humidity".[;)]

i know..im just a smart a$$..lol
csx engineer

[Murphy Siding]

Hot enough for ya ?

[Anonymous]

Actually, if the truth be known, the tinted windows are there so no one can see me sleepin'.............................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


Virlon

save your ticket.....zzzzzz.....the P.E. will rise again.

[Modelcar]

...If yer sleepin...who's steerin it to keep it on the tracks.......

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

....Now if the crew only has something cold to put in the cup holders.....!

On Sunday, an engineer (UP) tossed a bottle of water out for me (I tried to tell him I had a drink in my vehicle), it was cold.

[edblysard]

Uh,
Guys, on newer locomotives, there is a little ice box, just inside the middle door in the stairwell, big enough to hold two 6 packs of bottled water.

National labor contract perk, we demanded drinking water at work.
(the nerve of us union guys!)
Older locomotive have nothing, so the carriers provide "coolers" or ice chest which the crew fill with ice and bottled or caned water.

I was on a SD9 a few months ago, it actually had the old "office water cooler" stand still in place, although the bottle was long gone.

See, the carriers really do care about us, they give us a camper style toilet, and a ice chest cooler...all the "perks" of a real world working enviroment...

In our next national contract, we plan on asking for toilet paper to actually be in the toilet compartment.

Ed

[Modelcar]

....Never knew you had it so good Ed....All the comforts of home.

[Anonymous]

Hey
Csx engineer98 you really dont work for the railroad do you?
the reason they have the windows tinted is so the sun does not over power the computer screens .

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Uh,

In our next national contract, we plan on asking for toilet paper to actually be in the toilet compartment.

Ed

Recycling the old contracts huh?

[edblysard]

Yeah,
And there is a reason we keep old switch lists!

Ed

[ericsp]

It appears that nobody knows the real reason for the tinted windows. It is to keep the Martians' death ray out of the cab.[:)]

I have got to go, there is a black helicopter circling.[;)]

[Anonymous]

in australia it is for cooling ,same as for cars. .australian loco driver

[csxengineer98]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csx-ydm-gr

Hey
Csx engineer98 you really dont work for the railroad do you?
the reason they have the windows tinted is so the sun does not over power the computer screens .

yea i do realy work for csx.... and if that is the reason for the window tint..they need to go back to the drawing board...becouse it dont help that much...
csx engineer

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98

QUOTE: Originally posted by csx-ydm-gr

Hey
Csx engineer98 you really dont work for the railroad do you?
the reason they have the windows tinted is so the sun does not over power the computer screens .

yea i do realy work for csx.... and if that is the reason for the window tint..they need to go back to the drawing board...becouse it dont help that much...
csx engineer

If you worked for BNSF out here in SoCal ....not only would you get tinted windows, but chrome spinners on the wheels AND subwoofers to go back in the radiator section!