Barb, this is a B30-7AB (GE 4-axle 3000 HP Dash 7 line locomotive without a cab). On top of the loco is part of the cooling system, ie it is not something "extra". On regular Dash 7, 8, and 9 locos this appears behind the cab, and flows with the loco's profile. It just looks out of place on the cabless unit.
That's the dynamic brake blister. The designn is comparable to other DASH-7s of the ers, but more noticible without a cab to fair it into.
Barb- The box you see is the air intake/filter box. Air through here for both the engine, and traction motor blowers. Normally, on a GE with a cab, these louvered areas are seen in the hood itself. At the far right end of the unit, the overhang area on the roof is the radiator/cooling system. The louvers underneath are where the air intakes to pass upward through the radiator. Also, on a GE, if the unit has dynamic brakes, the grids are not on the roof. Rather, they'd be inside of the louvers seen underneath the radiators. The radiator fans drawing the air flow in through them. Boxcab E50 [ 08. February 2003, 02:44: Message edited by: BoxcabE50 ]
There was a good article on BN B units in a recent back issue of Diesel Era that I ordered. Very informative and interesting stuff. Anyone interested can search their site for that issue number - which I don;t have handy at this time. Charlie
