Western Railroad Discussion > Snoot nose sd40's

What was the reason / purpose of the 'snoot nose' SD 40's ? I had one last night on the Victorville helpers. BNSF still has A few around. Any other roads use them? Did they have the snoot nose on any other models? Any info would be appreciated. Thank you !

Snoot nose SD-40-2 were used by Union Pacific, Santa Fe and Southern Pacific. SP received there's in the tunnel motor version. The extra long nose was used to house the radio-control gear for mid-train slaves. I'm not to sure as to why UP ordered their 40-2's with the snoot nose.


SP7615

SP7615 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Snoot nose SD-40-2 were used by Union Pacific,
> Santa Fe and Southern Pacific. SP received there's
> in the tunnel motor version. The extra long nose
> was used to house the radio-control gear for
> mid-train slaves. I'm not to sure as to why UP
> ordered their 40-2's with the snoot nose.
>
>
> SP7615


Don't forget the KCS....

UP had planned to install R/C gear in theirs (at a later date, I suppose) but according to published information, this never happened. I have, however, personally seen some Harris electrical equipment (the R/C manufacturer) in one of these UP snoots about two years ago, and would assume that wasn't the only unit that had it, either.

"Floorplan" inside the UP noses (116" long) is unique. Early SP 116" noses are unique (1974 order). SF and late (1978 order)SP noses are identical and 123" long.

More below.

Mark

SP7615 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Snoot nose SD-40-2 were used by Union Pacific,
> Santa Fe and Southern Pacific. SP received there's
> in the tunnel motor version. The extra long nose
> was used to house the radio-control gear for
> mid-train slaves. I'm not to sure as to why UP
> ordered their 40-2's with the snoot nose.
>
>
> SP7615

Probably for more room in the head.

Didn't have time to add any details earlier, but for those who are interested:

The UP units are unusual in that they have a single wall (bulkhead) dividing the interior of the nose down the center; the exterior door on the left side of the hood accesses the left half of the interior (R/C compartment), while the nose door inside the cab accesses the right half where the toilet is located.

The early SP units have two sections as well, but divided the other direction, with a wall running from the left to the right side of the hood. The nose door inside the cab opens directly into the toilet section, as with the UP version above, but the room is full hood width. In front of that is the R/C compartment which is accessed by the exterior door on the left side of the hood.

The late SP units and the SF units are identical: They also use the width-wise wall, but have two of these, creating three sections. The nose door in the cab opens into a very short segment with some electric/pneumatic components, and second door straight ahead then opens into the toilet section. As with the others, the R/C compartment is in the front, accessed by the exterior door on the left side of the hood.

The front ends of all these "snoot" noses were built with extra heavy construction... 1/2" thick plate instead of the usual 1/8" sheet metal... to protect that R/C gear (Could only help the crew as well.). The early SP units had a little more of it, and farther back toward the cab than the later models (The hood sides and top are 1/8" again by the time they meet the front of the cab.). On these early units, even the four pieces that line the notch for the red Gyralite are made of this 1/2" plate, instead of 1/8" sheet like all other SP installations. These heavy plate noses are easy to spot from the front (Without seeing the extra length.) by the walkway light at the bottom of the "V" point: Two round holes are drilled through with glass lenses installed behind, showing the thickness of the material. This, as opposed to the standard two rectangular slots (with glass) in an 1/8" sheet cover that screws over an opening in the point of the nose.

Incidentally, UP has "gutted" the nose of some of the later SP units, which involved removing both interior walls and sealing off the side R/C nose door. On these, stepping in through the nose door inside the cab presents the crewman with one very spacious toilet room... 123" long with nothing else but a sandbox up front.

Mark

> Probably for more room in the head. <

Would that be "headroom"?

SP7615 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Snoot nose SD-40-2 were used by Union Pacific,
> Santa Fe and Southern Pacific. SP received there's
> in the tunnel motor version. The extra long nose
> was used to house the radio-control gear for
> mid-train slaves.


KCS used their snoot 40-2s for the same purpose -- Locotrol masters/slaves for use over Rich Mountain in the Ouachitas.

Incidentally, I believe KCS also purchased at least a couple of ex-SP snoot tunnel motors secondhand from UP in their 6100-6110 series, which are now being renumbered into the 3100s/3200s if they aren't just being re-sold to others.

Anyone know what level of success the KCS experienced with their Locotrol (radio control) equipment? SP struggled to make it work, and was ultimately a failure.

Mark