There seems to be ongoing confusion when discussing units that were equipped with dual control stands, so let me explain the different control stand setups: Single Control--This consisted of ONE control stand that was mounted at an angle to the cab side. With single control it was difficult to operate backwards as the controls were behind you. Bi-Directional Control--This consisted of ONE control stand that was mounted parallel to the cab side. With bi-directional control an engineer could operate the locomotive much easier either direction. Dual Control--This consisted of TWO control stands, one on each side of the cab mounted at an angle to the cab side. With this setup, an engineer could operate from whichever side was preferred. With that said, let me say that NO Southern Railway hood units were equipped with DUAL control stands. Southern preferred the bi-directional control setup with the long hood designated as the front (starting with the delivery of the SD45's). Beginning with the SD45's, Southern had the control stand placed on the right side with the long hood leading (previous units had the control stand on the right with the short hood leading). Norfolk and Western did equip ALL of its high hood locomotives with dual control stands with the long hood designated as the front. When N&W switched to buying low hood units in 1974, they also switched to bi-directional control with the long hood designated as the front. N&W again switched in 1978 and began purchasing new units with single control and the short hood designated as the front. With the creation of NS in 1982, most new locomotives were delivered with bi-directional controls with the long hood designated as the front. This was switched in 1991 to single control with the short hood designated as the front. Chris Toth [ 22 March 2001: Message edited by: NSDASH9 ]
Looks like management can't make up their mind. Money bags probably never even been in an engine either, so what do they know?
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by watash: Looks like management can't make up their mind. Money bags probably never even been in an engine either, so what do they know?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> LOL
NS just bought new engines, yet from what I hear from several friends is that it seems like NS is trying to slowly starve the southern tier right out of operation. Tellier of CN is pushing to get more freight hauled by rail as a possible enviromental issue by getting more trucks of the road. I may have missunderstood, but if its right, then NS money crunchers are cutting their own throats, I think. It may be that bad all over, because some of the RR's are monitoring ours and other web sites and retaliating against any employee who signs his name to a derogatory comment against his RR employer. So be careful. [ 22 March 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
