I'm inclined to agree with RJR above that the cab was located ahead of the firebox to improve visibility. I also have to wonder if part of the thought that went into Camelback engines was related to both vertical (as noted above) and horizontal clearances, wheel base and curvature.
How at all would "visibility" be impacted? And how does cab placement have anything at all to do with wheelbase? In point of fact, the "visibility" of the crew was terribly curtailed with this design, since, without a fireman in the cab, the engineer was virtually blind when going around left-hand curves.
As can be seen below, the firebox is as wide or wider than the cab itself. You can't place the cab in the "normal" position because there would be absolutely no room for the crew; placing the cab "behind" the boiler also makes no sense; and placing it high enough over the firebox so that there was room for the crew would place it too high.
Steve:
I'll explain my logic.
First, the fact that the firebox is so wide makes it practically a given that placing the cab forward of it would improve forward visibility for the engineer. I'll agree with you that the fireman would have had much worse forward visibility but, on a hand fired engine, I'm not sure how much time the fireman would have actually spent seated and looking forward.
Second, with regard to my wheelbase comment, to place the cab aft of the firebox, would require not only a wider cab, but also a longer wheelbase. Given how wide a Wooten firebox was, it could not have "shared" the cab with the crew as in oil or bituminous coal fired locomotives. Thus, the locomotive wheelbase would have to be lengthened to accomodate placing the cab behind the firebox.
Curt
