Railroaders' Nostalgia > Entering cabs

 What was the preferred method of the front cab door to swing, towards the nose or towards the handrails on the outside? When I was working, it was still mostly standard cabs, which I guess is the actual reason for the question, With the newer style Wide Nose cabs, with the front door on the nose I suppose it really does not matter that much anymore. I really didn't have much preference which way, but looking at some videos and live action, it just got me to wondering which style. Thanks. Ben



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/24 12:50 by ns2557.

Both doors on widecabs need to swing outwards. NS SD60Es the inner door swings in and its a pia when everthing else the inner door swings out. The outer door swinging outwards is a safety feature

Inward swinging doors can open in an accident and allow debris to enter the cab.  I recall at least one collision a with dump truck that resulted in deaths from the truck's load filling the cab.

radar Wrote:
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> Inward swinging doors can open in an accident and
> allow debris to enter the cab.  I recall at least
> one collision a with dump truck that resulted in
> deaths from the truck's load filling the cab.

UP 6936 on an officer special in Florida, IIRC.

Only doors I recall opening inwards was nose and cab doors on F and FP motors and switcher cab doors?
JB

Was thinking more along the way of when getting up on the standard cab units. When entering the cab the hinges were either on the outboard side so when ya opened the door it swung to the right, towards the handrails or they were on the inboard side toward the nose so the door swung to the left.. Not necessarliy on the inside or outside of the doors themselves, just how they opened from the outside.  Thanks for the replies tho. Ben

ns2557 Wrote:
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> Was thinking more along the way of when getting up
> on the standard cab units. When entering the cab
> the hinges were either on the outboard side so
> when ya opened the door it swung to the right,
> towards the handrails or they were on the inboard
> side toward the nose so the door swung to the
> left.. Not necessarliy on the inside or outside of
> the doors themselves, just how they opened from
> the outside.  Thanks for the replies tho. Ben
I guess on all modern EMD and GE standard cabs ive always noticed the door swing right towards the handrail.  Only seen the door swing towards the nose on Alco engines.
JC

The SP freight units opened outwards on the EMDs and the GEs. Years later The wide cabs the doors open either right or left. The majority opened left towards the (firemans) side.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/24 18:37 by SanJoaquinEngr.

Standard cabs generally open toward the handrail and, at least on EMDs, there's a small hasp welded to the walkway under the handrail you could use to hold the door open to get some ventilation into the cab, aka 2/40 air conditioning. Two doors open at 40 mph. LOL!

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> radar Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Inward swinging doors can open in an accident
> and
> > allow debris to enter the cab.  I recall at
> least
> > one collision a with dump truck that resulted
> in
> > deaths from the truck's load filling the cab.
>
> UP 6936 on an officer special in Florida, IIRC.

Actually, it was Louisiana. My brother (retired UPRR) knew the girlfriend of the guy who was killed.

Yes, in the '60s there were several incidents of tank trucks carrying flammables..
which were stopped on the tracks..

The F-units' front doors blew inward, along with hundreds of gallons
of flaming liquid ---- killing cab occupants...

It happened wayy too often...

​W .

 

E units and the UP had at least one incident in colorado, i think maybe more