ModelRailroadForums.com is a free
Model Railroad Discussion Forum and
photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
Hey guys,
I have been noticing while researching photos for my N scale Southern railroad, that a lot of EMD FP-7s have this little door open on the nose, with like a camera/light looking thing in it.
Just wondering, what is it? Here's a link:
http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=30698&nseq=109
Kyle
Looks a little like a 50 caliber machine gun to keep elephants off the tracks. LOL
Head end bathroom vent
The bathroom is in there. I don’t think there’s a vent for it. Maybe their just trying to air it out.
NYC_George
Hmm....
Yeah, it looks almost like a camera, or a light/signal of some sort. I have really only seen it on FP7s though, and a few E units too.
Maybe it's top secret
Kyle
looks just like an MU (Multiple Unit) plug. They hook up a cable between 2 locomotives so that the crew in the lead unit can control all units in the consist.
MU Ports
It's an MU port. The FL-9's we use to run had two unexposed on the back and two behind small doors on the front. There is a bathroon in there. I was just joking about it.
NYC_George
on an FP7 the "head" would be in the rear. since it was direct deposit to the ground ive heard stories that when the engine is in run 8, you didnt want to flush as the prime mover was sucking so much air in that the contents in the toilet would come back in at you!
Oh, okay - thanks guys. So an MU hose, is that the big fat red one on most modern diesels now? I thought about it being some sort of hose plug, but figured they were all at the bottom, near the coupler.
That still begs the question - how come I've seen so many pictures of the locomotive running point, still having that door open. Wouldn't they close it?
Kyle
MU door puzzle
That’s why I thought they wanted to air out the bathroom. There’s no reason for the door to be open unless they were planning on installing a MU line. Maybe the door opens form the inside and the crew wanted to have it ready to go when the other engines couples on.
NYC_George
Probably due to rust! Look at the unit in the picture! The front sheet metal is cracked, the unit probably has a gzillion miles on it. The last crew may have had to pry it open, and sitting up so high, it is easier to yank the plug and let it stay open for the next guy, rather than close it!
EMD, by GM
That means it hauls like a Chevy truck, rusts like one too!
Karl's probably right about the rust thing.
The nose door were added by the railroads beginning in the late 50's when they gave up on the classic A-B look and ran them whatever way they faced. The problem was two A units, nose to nose, didn't work because the curve of the pilots prevented the normal mu hoses from connecting since they were too short. The MU connection were bought up to a 27 pin plug on the nose and one cable could then be used between A units since it could made longer without track cleance problems. You also see the same thing on some E units,
NYC F3 with MU door open photo
I found these 2 photos on Fallen flags web site. The NYC F3 has the one MU door open while running as in the Southern case. The rust theory strikes again, I’m not so sure. The other photo is of a NH FL-9 that has 2 MU doors but both closed. The FL’s were made in 1955 so I think the doors were included in the original plans.
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/nyc1615.jpg
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nh/nh2007r.jpg
NYC_George
George, did those door opening go through to the cab? If so, I guess they'd make good vents in those pre-A/C days. Seems odd that that would be the case but I've never really looked when I've been inside a cab. Those FL-9s were delivered from the factory with the two MU doors since they were equipped to run either off the third rail or to MU with Grand Central Station electric units.
Jim I knew those doors were there but I never opened one. The machinists took care of that kind of thing installing MU lines, steam connectors etc. It was extremely hot in those engines during the summer. Maybe you got something there with the air vent theory but no one ever told us about it. We started using those engines after the courts forced the NYC & Pennsylvania to take in the bankrubt NH into the Penn Central.
NYC_George
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website
(Learn More Here)
