Locomotives - Which side is the "driver's" side?

Ralph Thayer Mar 19, 2013

  1. Ralph Thayer

    Ralph Thayer TrainBoard Member

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    I know from nothing about real railroads, but am curious. Which side of the locomotive does the engineer usually sit on, the right? Is there any special reason, or lore, as to why?

    Also, where there are two or more parallel lines, I suppose the dispatcher can assign the train to any track that makes sense, but in general, do they tend to "keep right"?

    Right or left (or any), is that pretty much the practice everywhere; even in countries (like Great Britain) where people drive cars "on the left"?
     
  2. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    In the US, the engineer's sideis the right side. China is the oposite
     
  3. rockgp40

    rockgp40 New Member

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    Not to pollute the thread, but some locomotives have dual control stands. General rule of thumb, the right side is the engineer's side.
     
  4. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    Rock is right, the Southern Pacific locos "wings" were on the front of the locos, some, had 2 sets of wings, those had duel controls. On a cab unit,the side without the door, is the engineers.
     
  5. Ike the BN Freak

    Ike the BN Freak TrainBoard Member

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    However for the dual control units, the control stands were on both sides of the cab so which ever direction the loco ran, the engineer was always on the right side of the loco.
     
  6. Metro Red Line

    Metro Red Line TrainBoard Member

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    I know the engineer's side is on the right side of the cab, but I don't know the rationale behind that. Especially since trains usually take the right-sided track when traveling on a 2-track main. Does anyone know why it's on the right side and not the left, which would mirror where an automobile driver would sit (Fully aware that trains were running in this country long before cars were)?
     
  7. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    In the Americas and some other places, when the train is proceeding forward, normal is engineer on the right side. Exception is a reverse move, or where the engine has not been turned around such as on a wye, or turntable.

    In the Americas, yes. A noted exception was the Chicago & North Western, which ran on the left.
     
  8. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    Also, if running in reverse, there must be a person who is qualified on signals in the fireman's seat to call out the signals.
     
  9. Logtrain

    Logtrain TrainBoard Member

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    Same was true for the BN. Some of the BN GP 7/9's (I dont have exact cab numbers) had stripes on both the long hood and short hood. If this was the case, that loco was equipped with dual control stands.
     
  10. karnydoc

    karnydoc TrainBoard Member

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    The practice of the engineer being on the right side of the cab relative to the designated front of the locomotive dates back to the early days of the industry. It was done to give the engineer a better view of lineside signals.

    Dieter Zakas
     

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