Conrail question

[Catt]

On the right side of the short hood on the Conrail/CSX GP 15-1s there a electrical (I think) control box of some sort.Anyway said box is missing on my CSX GP15's and I would like to put one there.Can anybody tell me what size said box is?

[ljudice]

It's the cab signal box - and if you hunt around - Sunrise Enterprises used to make the part...


Lou

[wm3798]

When did they start to appear?  Should I put them on my Penn Central engines circa 1970?
Lee

[Bob Bufkin]

Lee:

The PRR was using these on most if not all their 2nd gen locos.

[3rdrail]

Lee:

The PRR was using these on most if not all their 2nd gen locos.

A little earlier than that, Bob. Look just above the coupler on this J1 Texas type. Cab signals dated from the 1920's on the PRR.

[img width= height=]http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0zcri5mcztg/RmGEhr3tgHI/AAAAAAAAAw0/dmXA_aSE4HI/s576/PRR6423.jpg[/img]

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yep, pretty much anything PRR-PC-CR got them.

The sunrise part is N-502, and if you find someone who has some, let me know!!! I've got a few, but I'm squirreling them away.

And Lee, yes, your PC stuff should have them.

[Bob Bufkin]

Ed:  I forgot how old that system was.  I've seen other photos of this equipment on other steam types. 

[ljudice]

Amtrak locos had to have one of each of the major cab signals installed - I believe the cabinet where this is installed is referred to as "the electrical cabinet from hell".

[ai5629]

The cab signal system is really neat.  I remember riding on the Pittsburgh Line at night going 60 mph through fog that was so thick, you could not see the end of the locomotive's nose.  I asked if it was wise to be going so fast when you cannot see where you are going.  I was told as long as that cab signal indicates a "clear" that you do not have to worry about running into anything.  This is so very true!  I also remember one time when we were cruising at 60 mph through the same type of fog and the cab signal dropped to "restricting".  We went from notch 8 to full dynamic and full engine brakes in a matter of five seconds.  We got it down to 10 mph in about a half mile and it magically turned to a "clear".  We told the Pittsburgh East about it, and he said nothing was ahead of us, and he would report it to maintenance.  Most engineers will bet their lives on this system.  With cab signals, I was told, you do not need line side signals.  Thanks.

[Catt]

Thanks for the info guys,now can somebody answer my real question and tell me what size the thing is.I'd like to model them on my two CSX units.

[Bob Bufkin]

I've seen photos of at least 3 different size boxes (sorry don't have the exact size's).

[Chris333]

When did Conrail remove the boxes? 

[flight2000]

Anyone know the dimensions of the signal box?  I don't have any of the Sunrise versions and want to make them out of styrene.  Shouldn't be that hard, I wouldn't think.

Thanks,
Brian

[David Leonard]

Conrail did not as a rule remove them. They are still used on NS and CSX units that operate in some ex-CR areas. In fact, in the mid 90's, Conrail installed additional cab signal territory west of Conway. At the time it was a bit of a dissappointment for me, as it meant that UP, CEFX, BN and other foreign power could not be in the lead.

[Catt]

The two CSX units that ATLAS modeled still have the control boxes mounted which is something that ATLAS did not include on their models.The inclusion of these boxes would simply make the models more believable IMO.