Western Maryland questions

Ralph;

I don't have a quick answer to your first question other than to say that the design appeared on the other WM FA's. Whether the configuration was a standard ALCO FA offering or something specific to the WM will take a little research.

The "circus" styling was introduced in June 1969 on the third batch of SD40's.

I'm not an expert on cabeese but the "NE" was the dominant design on the WM. I believe that it was rostered in wood and steel sided versions. There may also have been two versions of the center cupola -- a boxy version and one that appeared a little more streamlined (I'm not sure that this version was OE or a later modification). Given that the "NE" was created for the Reading to respond to PA state requirements, the Reading and WM had a close operating relationship, and the WM had a lot of trackage in PA, the prevalence of the "NE" on the WM shouldn't be surprising.

Before the "NE" appeared in the early 1930's, the WM rostered all wood cabeese. I have seen a picture taken late in the life of the WM showing a bay window caboose but the markings look strange. Perhaps someone can shed more light on the WM caboose situation in the 1960's.

When I get a chance, I'll circle back on the ALCO horn question.

Poppyl

Thank you!

Regarding the FA horns, there were multiple units facing different directions for maximum coverage. They were supplemented with unique reverb/tremelo effects. FA-r/t sound was unmistakeable and quite effective in keeping people and animals out of harms way.

I have it on good authority that those are Nathan M5s on the FA. Baseline design for the FA was a single horn in each direction. The FA-2 apparently offered the option of a single Nathan vice the single horn. The L&N and LV, for example, went this route for their FA-2's while the NYC stuck with the single horn on their's. As far as I can tell, the use of dual Nathans was pretty unique to the WM FA's.

Poppyl

Cool! Thanks everyone.

They sure look bizarre in that photo but no doubt they had a sound all their own!

I'm going to have to figure out how to model that on the WM FA's I just picked up.

Somewhere there's a video of either the FA's or F7's on a fan trip, and there's at least one demo of all 10 horns blowing at the same time. Can't remember the name and so far I can't locate it the three racks of vids behind me. Maybe it's made it to Youtube. The only one I found there is the last run of the WM F7's but there are two different 5-note horns on the lead unit, and it's not hte video I recall. Anyway, yes, it's a unique sound!!!

That dual Nathan M5 setup was a Western Maryland quirk on its cab units. Maybe they wanted to be sure that the poor old rear Brakeman could hear the Engineer call him in if he was flagging.