Re: C&S Cab Curtains. Part 2 Modern Style, Inside-hung Curtains with Top-Roll.

Posted by Rick Steele on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/C-S-Cab-Curtains-Part-2-Modern-Style-Inside-hung-Curtains-with-Top-Roll-tp1181p1187.html

Once again Chris, Great stuff.

I wonder if the reason that the cab curtain on the Engineer's side was set behind the door rather than on the outside of the cab was done for a two fold purpose.

1. because the Fireman was supposed to be the only man out on the deck plate while the locomotive was in motion, and the curtain MIGHT help keep the deck plate somewhat dry so that the Fireman had a safer place to stand.

2. to decrease the possibility of interference with the Engineer's view of the train, trainmen and hand signals while the train is in motion or during either switching or during pickups and setouts on the road. Since the door on the Engineer's side was a bifold it is unlikely that the curtain interfered with its operation other than trying to get to the Fireman to beat the crap out of him for running out of steam.

For those of you who who will ask "Aren't Picking Up and Setting Out on the Road considered Switching?" The short answer is no. Picking up and Setting out are functions performed by the road crew, the Brakeman under supervision of the Conductor. Switching is done by a Yard Crew in a designated Yard by switchmen under supervision of the Switch Foreman. Brakeman and Conductors were represented by the BRT or ORC&B. Switchmen by the SUNA. Each was considered to be a different craft and if you hired out as a Switchman, you stayed there unless you wanted to jump to the BRT or ORC&B and start your seniority all over again. This craft distinction ended in the late 1960's and early 1970's depending on the Railroad after the formation of the UTU in 1969. I worked with a Conductor at one time who hired out in 1939 and had no Switchman's date and thus refused to cross craft lines and do any switching at any yard.