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 Posted - October 24 2013 : 1:32:28 PM
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living in uk,i never get the chance to learn everything,so i ask a question,whats that at rear of loco covering walkway ken
what i believe are called elephant ears
Edited by - catfordken on October 24 2013 1:40:58 PM
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Posted - October 24 2013 : 4:04:30 PM
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Ken,
You would be right they are called "Elephant Ears" They are to keep non cool air from being sucked back through the radiators as well as dirt as well to cut maintenance costs for the maintenance crews, to expedite the loco's as needed when needed. This maintains a steady supply of "fresh" air going through the radiators at all times, or well, most of the time.....
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - October 25 2013 : 01:39:46 AM
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| Those were a short-lived experiment that led to the development of the "tunnel motors" (SD45T-2, SD40T-2) with intake grilles on the lower sides of the unit.
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Posted - October 25 2013 : 12:08:02 PM
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The Southern Pacific had miles and miles of snow sheds and tunnels on their Donner pass line. When trains were going uphill, they were going slow and the engines were running hard. The SP found that many of the engines, particular those farther back in the consist, would shut down due to overheating. The solution as others have pointed out was to take in cooler air from the bottom of the tunnel instead of the top.
These snow sheds are the very same ones that led to development of the Cab Forwards 50 years earlier. By turning the steam engines around, crews avoided having to breath the heavy smoke exhaust.
I believe that there were originally 40 or more miles of snow sheds, but in recent years most of the snow sheds have been removed.
Photo of show sheds:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/truckerchris/4962384419/
-Thomas
Edited by - Redwoods on October 25 2013 12:08:52 PM
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Posted - October 25 2013 : 2:40:48 PM
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And just in case you were wondering why all the snow sheds, take a look at this:
http://www.thestormking.com/Weather/Sierra_Snowfall/sierra_snowfall.html
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