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Stupid question I know..ill probably go...."DUH" when i get the answer but what are the can looking things above he ditchlights on this unit?
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=293668&nseq=15
I've noticed some units have them some dont. Are they older style ditchlights?
Hmm good question, from the angle of the pic it kinda looks like they're lights for the stairs maybe...light spot lights...good question tho, now i wanna know the real answer haha
right of way lights?
As far as I "can" remember that's just what they are.
A couple locos where I used to work had them.
I don't remember what goes in them, MU hoses I believe?
Obviously a big help here!
They are holders for the MU Cable
as laidoff said, they're holders for the "other" end of the MU cable. the cable has one end that plugs into the engine, the other end is normally plugged into the 2nd unit. If there is no other unit to plug it into, that loose end has to go somewhere and the "can" is a good way to keep it from being lost or damaged.
As has been said, they are holders for the big, red, fat MU cables that are seen on most modern locomotives. It's a connector that replaces most of the MU hoses that used to hang down from the pilot. Not all locomotives have them yet so you'll see ones with the big MU cable and the assortment of smaller MU cables stilll on the pilot. The big advantage to the single connector MU cable is safety. The crewman no longer has to go between engines to connect cables. He now can use the one cable and connect it to the recepticle mounted to the top or bottom side of the pilot on the other locomotive. It's hard to see because of the glare from the ditchlight on the UP engine but it's next to and to the side the right hand ditchlight. Some railroads have the recepticle mounted right on the top of the pilot deck and that seems to be a trend.
As seen here before modeled on an SW1500 with the cable actually in the can.
anything to post a pic of one of your pretty switchers
Wow, i can honestly say i would never have thought of that haha. Sweet switchers by the way
Even nicer switcher than usual, Jereome. I lile the way you have the cable in the recepticle with the lid resting on top of it.
I knew there was something I've been meaning to ask you. On UP SW1500's and MP15's. I notice that the sloped panels on either side of the center door seem to be a uniform brown, almost rust color. A lot of the paint jobs are too new to have that much rust and just on that one section of the engine. Is the UP painting this area with some sort of brownish looking anti-slip paint?
...... Is the UP painting this area with some sort of brownish looking anti-slip paint?
makes sense, but possibly an anti-glare coating.
Jim, do you have an example of what you mentioned??
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