To day while eating break feast at a track side restaurant.By the Seaboard railroad now CSX.A train came by it had 2 ge widecabs locomotive.What was weird to me was both locomotives where running long hood forward.Now before some body says so what.Keep in mind in my neck of the woods this is simply not done.It was just weird seeing CSX running southern style.So I know some of you guys model NS or Southern.So do you run long hood forward?Come guys let me hear from ya.
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I'm not sure they preferred it that way. It just happens sometimes. There's nowhere to turn the engine and you end up having to run long Hood forward.
NS did at one time and maybe still do run long Hood forward for safety purposes.
NS did run this way but ceased doing that as standard practice many years ago. As I recall a tragic accident in western Ohio was attributed to missing a signal at curve going into a diamond and broadsided another NS train. Someone may confirm more on this. The Lionel first Dash-8 40B operated long hood forward in start up and the Engineer faced that way. Nice attempt by Lionel at realism before the hobby went more scale etc.
Train Nut posted:I'm not sure they preferred it that way. It just happens sometimes. There's nowhere to turn the engine and you end up having to run long Hood forward.
NS did at one time and maybe still do run long Hood forward for safety purposes.
I wish I had a ---Darn I had my phone with me.But I was so stunned up on seeing this.I did not think to use my phone.
Thats weird to see that now in railroading. That's an interesting find.
On our railroad, we run most of the postwar GP7s long hood forward because they pull better that way. With modern diesels I usually just try and run them the way they are set up to run. But I enjoy running transition era equipment the most so I mostly run them long hood first.
On the RSJ&B we always run long hood forward 
In the real world, sometimes you have to, especially if your running a single unit. I prefer to run short (high or low) hood forward. In the model world, I don't care, for I have a birds eye view.
Rusty
When switching, it’s long hood forward from the yard to the industries, short hood forward going back. Or the other way around depending on the initial direction of the engine.
As a 14 year old getting my first Lionel locomotive, a GP-7, I always ran it long hood forward. It just seemed right to me, based on how steam locomotives were run. Never occured to me to operate in the short hood forward direction.
It all depends on the ROAD you are modeling and the Era.
Ron
I use to live right next to some NS tracks and usually they ran at least two engines long hood to long hood so they could run short hood which ever direction they where going. And I would see them bring in some cars to a grainery and when they left with what was left they where front hood forward but in the other engine.
I have always preferred short hood forward myself.
Most of my equipment is Lackawanna or EL so the majority (Cab units excepted) is run long hood forward.
I only have one diesel hood unit, a RDG Fairbanks-Morse. I always run it short-end-forward.
Depends, I suppose.
One could make the argument that since "pulling" is inherently more efficient than "pushing" (think of our front-wheel drive vehicles), if you have an engine with only one powered truck, putting that truck forward would be "best" regardless of hood length. For example, Gilbert's Flyer GP7's powered truck is at the short hood end:
However, most scale models have a centrally-located motor with both trucks powered, so it becomes a matter of taste: (O scale Red Caboose and Atlas N scale).
Personally, I like my EMDs to run short hood first; Alcos are fine either way: (Weaver RS3).
One of the nice things about Euro engines is that (for the most part) they are the same at either end, so there is no "front" or "back" end! 
(O scale Rivarossi and HO scale Roco DB "215"...)
One last picture: this HO scale Roco "V200" is probably the single best running engine I've ever owned, in any scale. Super smooth, quiet and heavy so it can pull as many cars as you'd want. 
Mark in Oregon
Early Geeps on many roads were set up as long hood forward and the crews wanted it that way after working steam. Pennsy roadswitchers except for the RSD7/15 (I think) were all long hood forward until they purchased GP30s and Alco RS27s. NYC and B&O both designated GP7s and GP9s as long hood forward.
That means the controls were installed so they were facing the engineer when he sat on the right side facing the long hood.
A prototype diesel does not care which way it runs, it is more convenient for the crew one way or the other.
years ago I traveled to Ashland Kentucky from Ohio down Rte 23 on business periodically. A number of times in the late 70s and 80s I saw N&W units with High Short hoods running long hood forward.
Long hood forward. A refurbished GP7, that originally was a Pennsy unit. Long hood forward from steam days was thought to be a safety Atlas un-decorated model, that was custom painted.
Mike CT posted:Long hood forward. A refurbished GP7, that originally was a Pennsy unit. Long hood forward from steam days was thought to be a safety Atlas un-decorated model, that was custom painted.
Nice: ...is this a Red Caboose model?
Mark in Oregon
Any of the single motored PW locomotives will pull better with the motor at the rear. For things like the PW GP-7, that's long hood forward. My old Phantom locomotive with a single motor in the front could barely pull it's four passenger cars on level track. With the addition of a second motor, it will pull 20+ boxcars around the club layout, including a 2% long grade. Yes, it pulls it's passenger cars, including a couple of extras just fine on the same run. This is all on Atlas track, so no magnatraction, and of course it doesn't have traction tires.
For modern stuff with two can motors, there should be minimal or no difference which way you run as far as pulling power.
Strummer posted:Mike CT posted:Long hood forward. A refurbished GP7, that originally was a Pennsy unit. Long hood forward from steam days was thought to be a safety Atlas un-decorated model, that was custom painted.
Nice:
Mark in Oregon
Atlas un-decorated.
Mike CT posted:Atlas un-decorated.
Ah, okay.
Since Atlas bought the Red Caboose dies, it's lineage is RC. Very nice.
Mark in Oregon
Some of the geeps were built specifically to run long hood forward and by looking at the configuration of the cab you could tell how the control stand was situated and either have the engineer looking out at the long hood or the short hood. Running the opposite way, the guy would have had the control stand behind him while looking out the windshield, which he would at times during switching operations anyway but would be a nuisance for any kind of long distance operation. And going from running steam to a geep designed for long hood forward operation wouldn't have been as much of a culture shock as if the short hood was forward. Only rational explanation I can think of for having the long hood forward.
What did Southern Pacific do, for engineers who came to diesels from cab-forwards? With tank and logging steamers on branches, l run those either way.... but boiler front for road engines. Unless a delivery made somewhere with no turn....then, hopefully prototypically, a long, slow backing.
Generally speaking for prototype hood units and switchers, look for the "F" at one end of the loco, indicating the "front" of the engine. Usually found on the sill, close to the steps. This would also generally indicate which way the control stand was set up. I have noticed that better quality model manufacturers take the time to make sure that their model locos run in the proper "F" direction straight out of the box. Lesser quality manufacturers, not so much.
For railroads that ordered their locos to run long-hood forward, the "F" would be at the end of the long hood sill. For short-hood forward, "F" at the end of the short hood sill. Once again, the control stand would be set up to favor the "front".
Road crews undoubtedly wanted their lead engine facing front when going for a run. Branchline operations would prefer this too, especially if they had a way to turn the engine at the end of the run. Otherwise, it wouldn't make much difference, only half the trip would be run going forwards, anyway. For industrial switching, it really didn't matter which way the engine pointed, it ran just as good in either direction anyway.
This is all general information, I'm sure there are all kinds of exceptions that were found on any of the prototype roads.
Got little choice, my boys made the decision for me... 
While we are at it, can someone tell me which is the correct way to place a Vista Dome? Also wondering why hot dogs come 10 to a pack and buns come 8 to a pack.
Chris S.
Solving the world's problems one mystery at time.
FireOne posted:Also wondering why hot dogs come 10 to a pack and buns come 8 to a pack.
Chris S.
Solving the world's problems one mystery at time.
The extra two hotdogs are to cut up and give to your dogs as treats. I thought everyone knew that.
Mixed Freight posted:Generally speaking for prototype hood units and switchers, look for the "F" at one end of the loco, indicating the "front" of the engine. Usually found on the sill, close to the steps. This would also generally indicate which way the control stand was set up. I have noticed that better quality model manufacturers take the time to make sure that their model locos run in the proper "F" direction straight out of the box. Lesser quality manufacturers, not so much.
This engine model and prototype bears that out.
Take your pick, CB&Q 226:
The "F" is on the short hood end.
Rusty
FireOne posted:While we are at it, can someone tell me which is the correct way to place a Vista Dome? Also wondering why hot dogs come 10 to a pack and buns come 8 to a pack.
Chris S.
Solving the world's problems one mystery at time.
1. Dome up, wheels down?
2. 4 out of 5 people aren't on the Atkins diet plan?
I try to check old prototype photos to see what the Railroad I'm representing used. In my case I try to follow Milwaukee Road practices. Inthe early years of their diesels the Milwaukee ran their hood units, primarily Alco road switchers, long hood forward. However , when by the early 1950's when GP's came on the scene, all photos that I can locate, show the short hoods in front.
Personally, I like the looks of engines with their short hoods forward, myself
Paul Fischer
Mixed Freight posted:FireOne posted:While we are at it, can someone tell me which is the correct way to place a Vista Dome? Also wondering why hot dogs come 10 to a pack and buns come 8 to a pack.
Chris S.
Solving the world's problems one mystery at time.
1. Dome up, wheels down?
2. 4 out of 5 people aren't on the Atkins diet plan?
Mixed Freight, number 1 is good advice with either steel or rubber wheels.
Chris S.
VistaDomeScott posted:NS did run this way but ceased doing that as standard practice many years ago. As I recall a tragic accident in western Ohio was attributed to missing a signal at curve going into a diamond and broadsided another NS train. Someone may confirm more on this. The Lionel first Dash-8 40B operated long hood forward in start up and the Engineer faced that way. Nice attempt by Lionel at realism before the hobby went more scale etc.
"tragic accident..."
I was a road conductor (two trains behind) working the old Wabash single main between Detroit and Fort Wayne when this accident took place. The old head conductor and engineer were asleep and the apprentice engineer never saw the "Approach" signal due to the long nose forward. It was a nasty and horrible situation; the conductor froze on the steps (may he rest in peace) while the two engineers jumped.
I do because I run Great Northern and Spokane Portland and Seattle. They ran long hood forward. It still looks funny to me. And this has been going on for years. Of course, my engineer figure in the cab is faced the wrong way. One day I will reverse him.
I run long hood forward because that’s how they were in the catalogs. This is especially true for geeps and Alco RS models. New engines look fine with the short hood forward. Also, they almost all have an F on the short hood end.
I run my B&O GP9 long hood forward because that was the standard practice of the prototype.
The placement of the control stand in the cab of any loco determines which end will be considered the front. Our engines with few exceptions have the engineer on the right side (ala British autos) when facing forward with the control stand in front of him so he can see the air gauges and ammeter and the speed indicator, etc. Alco Rs engines and EMD Geeps were built either way with long hood forward if the railroad that ordered them so desired or with the short hood facing forward. The builders would place the controls for the engineer depending on what the railroad wanted.
das boot posted:VistaDomeScott posted:NS did run this way but ceased doing that as standard practice many years ago. As I recall a tragic accident in western Ohio was attributed to missing a signal at curve going into a diamond and broadsided another NS train. Someone may confirm more on this. The Lionel first Dash-8 40B operated long hood forward in start up and the Engineer faced that way. Nice attempt by Lionel at realism before the hobby went more scale etc.
"tragic accident..."
I was a road conductor (two trains behind) working the old Wabash single main between Detroit and Fort Wayne when this accident took place. The old head conductor and engineer were asleep and the apprentice engineer never saw the "Approach" signal due to the long nose forward. It was a nasty and horrible situation; the conductor froze on the steps (may he rest in peace) while the two engineers jumped.
Awful tragedy, thanks for clarifying my recall of the incident. Hard to imagine the crews last moments.
I usually run short hood forward, because that is what I remember seeing in real life, as a kid (Santa Fe and SP in Southern California).
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