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Several of the freight and road-switcher locomotives of the 1950s-1960s were offered in low hood and high hood models. Almost all, possibly all, locomotives built today are low hood.
It seems to me, that if railroads had their choice, they would choose low hoods because the visibility is so much better. What was better about the high hoods? Why did some railroads buy the high hood versions instead of the low hood versions?
Thank you
------------------ Elias Valley Railroad (N-scale) www.geocities.com/evrr
Kent Loudon Member # 902
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High hoods on road switchers were traditionally the location of steam heat generators for passenger service. I believe the manufacturers initially found it simpler to build all units in this configuration.
DC2001 Member # 542
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Southern Railway bought high-hood locomotives (GP-50's) into the early 1980's. The stated purpose was safety - the high short hood offered greater crew protection in the event of a collision. I think I am correct in stating that Southern's policy was that any short-hood engines leading trains on their system (Santa Fe, UP, etc) had to be run long-hood forward for crew safety. When Southern acquired the original Norfolk Southern railway (not todays NS), they rebuilt its short-hood engines with high-hoods.
There are also disadvantages to this type operation. Visibility is reduced from the cab and engines running long-hood forward puts the fuel tank in front of the cab.
PullmanCo Member # 1138
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The GP-7, SD-7, Fairbanks-Morse and Baldwin's initial road-switcher offerings were only in high hood. ALCO's ... I'll defer to a specialist.
I want to say the GP-20 was the first offering in low hood...
John
Run 8 Member # 1176
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For the most part, when the high hood power was being built, railroads were still required to run firemen on the locomotives, so visiblity wasn't really an issue. Also, the visibility advantage with short nose units is mainly close up, at a disance the visibility is pretty good on a high hood unit too. In addition to the steam generators in the high noses, they are also much more convienient of a storage locker and restroom facility for the crew on a high hood.
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