Western Railroad Discussion > Long-hood-forward SD60s on NS - how many left?

A couple weeks ago, I had a Long-hood-forward Norfolk Southern SD60 #6640 leading my train. My controls were on the normally conductors side, and the unit was set up to run long-hood-forward. Very neat, and definitely odd, took a while to get used to. My conductor had to get used to saying "back me up" instead of "a-head", and I had to run backwards for 140 miles. Second unit was BNSF 4598 and the third unit was the NS 6909, a SD60E, rebuilt SD60 "Admiral Cab" battleship. Ok, I was going off topic there, but my question is, how many long-hood-forward units are still on the NS in active service?

can't help on the LHF units and this is only if you care but the SD60E you had was what they call a Crescent Cab, the admiral cabs are the normal Spartan cab looking units with the two windows that are tilted forward like a ship.

With all of the former Southern SD40-2s rebuilt, the only units left set up to run long hood forward are former NW SD40-2s in the 1625-1652 range, along with remaining SD60s like your leader and the former Southern GP38-2s, whose long hood forward status is officially endangered with the first two in the shops for rebuilding with admiral cabs.

Should be 37 left. There are also 25 left that used to be setup with the bi-directional (long hood forward) control stand, but had the cabs upgraded a few years back with AC and new control stands setup for short hood forward operation.

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Detailed info on the units can be found on my roster page here:

http://www.nsdash9.com/rosters/6550.html


Chris Toth
NSDash9.com

I burned one up the other night. The 6656 suffered a turbo charger explosion and the fire spread to most of the engine compartment. I would imagine it will be rebut as a 6900 now.

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RCPE_Hogger Wrote:
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> A couple weeks ago, I had a Long-hood-forward
> Norfolk Southern SD60 #6640 leading my train. My
> controls were on the normally conductors side, and
> the unit was set up to run long-hood-forward. Very
> neat, and definitely odd, took a while to get used
> to. My conductor had to get used to saying "back
> me up" instead of "a-head", and I had to run
> backwards for 140 miles. Second unit was BNSF 4598
> and the third unit was the NS 6909, a SD60E,
> rebuilt SD60 "Admiral Cab" battleship. Ok, I was
> going off topic there, but my question is, how
> many long-hood-forward units are still on the NS
> in active service?

If you turned them around and ran them all in the right direction then there would be none left.

Isn't "long hood forward" a safer way to go for the engine crew? More metal, more mass in front of you. Seems logical and safe to me.

coach Wrote:
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> Isn't "long hood forward" a safer way to go for
> the engine crew? More metal, more mass in front
> of you. Seems logical and safe to me.


True but poorer visibility. That's the trade off.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Isn't "long hood forward" a safer way to go for
> the engine crew? More metal, more mass in front
> of you. Seems logical and safe to me.

What about all that fuel, lube oil, etc? I'd prefer to have all that behind me.