Eastern Railroad Discussion > Backwards NS SD70M

Ever wonder what an NS SD70M would look like running backwards ? Today on the Harrisburg Line out of Philly, an NS 507 hopper train demonstrated. I think I prefer them running the correct way !

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Talk to some die-hards, and they will say that this IS the correct way to run a locomotive. Long hood forward all the way!

Gary

A-Men!!!!! I love it LONG HOOD FORWARD.... THE ABSOLUTE ONLY WAY TO RUN THE LOCOMOTIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

conrailsd8 Wrote:
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> A-Men!!!!! I love it LONG HOOD FORWARD.... THE
> ABSOLUTE ONLY WAY TO RUN THE
> LOCOMOTIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could only be a railfan...


SH

Some engines are OK to run that way, others aren't. I have run them both ways.
Long hood forward isn't the best way!

That's a nice photo. I'd prefer to see them run the right way as well. The only units that looked good long-hood forward are GP's.

L.G.

No it certainly isn't TJ. I had a highwide this past summer with a LHF SD70. Its very difficult to see the signals at times until you're dead on top of them. And Dash 9's...forget it.
Larry

Speaking from 100% railfan perspective here. I think it's quite a sight for those SD70's to run long hood forward. I had never seen one do this up until I saw this photo. To me it's very reminescent of the old SD45's from the N&W due to the flared radiator : ) Can't wait to see one like this in person.

Jeff Hawkins - Richmond, VA

varailfan Wrote:
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> Speaking from 100% railfan perspective here. I
> think it's quite a sight for those SD70's to run
> long hood forward. I had never seen one do this
> up until I saw this photo. To me it's very
> reminescent of the old SD45's from the N&W due
> to the flared radiator : ) Can't wait to see one
> like this in person.
>
> Jeff Hawkins - Richmond, VA


I was just thinking of that Jeff, and how crews said that the N&W SD45's sucked because of that reason.

Awesome catch and awesome shot! I'd hate to be that crew though. At least NS gives their crews control stands.

-Justin

I love the look of long-hood forward. I just hope the control stand is set up that way so visibility is OK.

Control stand is set up on the traditional side for short hood forward operation, angled so as to make LHF easier, but visibility for both the engineer and conductor is largely impaired no matter what engine you are operating LHF, BOTH crewmwmbers must be alert to trackside objects and operational signs and signals. The GE's REALLY suck because of the wings and eating the exhaust the whole trip!!! I have been a railfan all my life, Used to LOVE seeing engines running LHF, now that I'm a Railroader the first thing I think when I see a photo like this is about how I feel for the crew, funny how things change.

I am with CSX, so I am lucky enough to not have to worry too hard about running road power LHF especially with all the desktop equipped locos that CSX has. After reading these posts, I started to think about EMD's new control stand that is supposedly going to be equipped on the sd70ACE's that CSX should be recieving and how it was explained to me that this was to improve LHF operations for the engineer. I am dreading the prospect of looking over that huge radiator section in a LHF move. I have a friend who was orderred to run an SD80mac in this manner a couple of years ago and putting it lightly, he had nothing good to say about the experience. With NS having recieved a large portion of these units and have any of you NS folks had the same experience?

MT

mttrainman Wrote:
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> I am with CSX, so I am lucky enough to not have to
> worry too hard about running road power LHF
> especially with all the desktop equipped locos
> that CSX has. After reading these posts, I
> started to think about EMD's new control stand
> that is supposedly going to be equipped on the
> sd70ACE's that CSX should be recieving and how it
> was explained to me that this was to improve LHF
> operations for the engineer. I am dreading the
> prospect of looking over that huge radiator
> section in a LHF move. I have a friend who was
> orderred to run an SD80mac in this manner a couple
> of years ago and putting it lightly, he had
> nothing good to say about the experience. With NS
> having recieved a large portion of these units and
> have any of you NS folks had the same experience?

unless they start equipping the long hood end with ditchlights, I doubt it'll happen
much. Remember NS gets all their power with ditchlights on both ends.

Most of you all know that this idea was started to protect crews in grade crossing collisions. But with todays safety cab equipted locomtoves, like on this new NS SD70M, I really don't see the reason to do this. Maybe at the originating yard they were just short of power or time and needed to get the train moving! Just a thought.

Switchback

if they hit a fuel truck, this maybe better