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... 
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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.
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Take your pick, CB&Q 226:
The "F" is on the short hood end.
Rusty
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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).
