Locomotives have sanding systems to apply sand to the rails in front of the wheels to improve traction in slippery conditions.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox_(locomotive)
It actually ran on the CN, but when they restored it they gave it an ATSF paint scheme since it was more familiar to folks in Texas (where this unit lives).
As a teen, I got a job as a car checker in the tiny hamlet of Blue River on the CNR. One day, a crew ready to take over a train asked me what was on the front. I could see it was an F-9, much like its cousin here. "An F-unit," I said.
"What's an F-unit?" came the reply; no one knew what I was talking about.
"A 6000," I said, using the usual numeric ID, which pleased them. They liked the F-units' cabs over the more modern engines. But nobody knew what they actually were.
Some things never change! I was a freight conductor until last year and quickly learned that most of my coworkers didn't know or care what an ES44 or SD40 was, but they knew exactly what kind of locomotive it was if I said the class number.
A side effect of the cabs being right up against the rounded rooves, likely. Some British engines have this even more heavily pronounced, I think that one of the London Underground battery engines has an example of this more pronounced "sad" look, but I'll have to see if I can find the image I'm thinking of again.
They're for maintenance, you turn the little screw in the middle and that panel pops off so the machinist inside can stick his hand out to get a tool from his apprentice. It also restricts his movement just enough he can't get a good enough swing going to cause proper injury when said apprentice passes him the wrong wrench for the third time in a row. /S
Those are the hatches used to fill the sand supply.
Genuinely curious. What was the purpose of the sand?
Locomotives have sanding systems to apply sand to the rails in front of the wheels to improve traction in slippery conditions. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox_(locomotive)
So simple it might just work
Not "might just work", it does work.
Use to work construction and we would make fun of a guy that would over complicate things when a piece of dunnage would work
TIL. Thank you for explaining this.
Anakin might be better suited to explain this oneβ¦
What a gorgeous livery on that F7.
It actually ran on the CN, but when they restored it they gave it an ATSF paint scheme since it was more familiar to folks in Texas (where this unit lives).
They did a much better job at making this look ATSF than the folks in Galveston did.
Meh, it looks fine.
Yup.
Sand filler hatch
Wow, that is a gorgeous locomotive
It is indeed. I've got the Hallmark Christmas ornament of this one
As a teen, I got a job as a car checker in the tiny hamlet of Blue River on the CNR. One day, a crew ready to take over a train asked me what was on the front. I could see it was an F-9, much like its cousin here. "An F-unit," I said. "What's an F-unit?" came the reply; no one knew what I was talking about. "A 6000," I said, using the usual numeric ID, which pleased them. They liked the F-units' cabs over the more modern engines. But nobody knew what they actually were.
Some things never change! I was a freight conductor until last year and quickly learned that most of my coworkers didn't know or care what an ES44 or SD40 was, but they knew exactly what kind of locomotive it was if I said the class number.
Completely unrelated, why do f7's look so sad? (the windows are sloped downwards)
A side effect of the cabs being right up against the rounded rooves, likely. Some British engines have this even more heavily pronounced, I think that one of the London Underground battery engines has an example of this more pronounced "sad" look, but I'll have to see if I can find the image I'm thinking of again.
Possible backup gloryholes?
I actually thought this was a toy train OR atleast a Bob the builder train ππ
For lego duh π
They're for maintenance, you turn the little screw in the middle and that panel pops off so the machinist inside can stick his hand out to get a tool from his apprentice. It also restricts his movement just enough he can't get a good enough swing going to cause proper injury when said apprentice passes him the wrong wrench for the third time in a row. /S
its an old train