What is a "widecab"?

I see this word everywhere as applied to new and mostly new diesels. But it baffles me. It makes no sense. I thought all diesel cabs extended out to the edge of the frame, and thus all are pretty much the same width. Is there such a thing as a "narrow-cab" diesel? Haven't seen mention of one. I suppose what everybody really wants to say is "wide nose," but nobody says it.

Actually, some people do say "wide nose". And you're right, that's what they all mean.

I can think of some truly "narrow cab" diesels, though.

Most Vossloh G2000s are "dogbone" configuration:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=182172
http://www.train-photos.com/picture/number4504.asp
But some look like... well, this:
http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/chann ... y/15706546
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=63025

There are also a couple US industrial switchers that have been modified with a cab like that. Can't remember where I saw the pictures.

Yeah, it's just a railfan term that caught on and became popular, despite being inaccurate. The correct term is North American safety cab... but since that's a bit wordy, "widecab" is what most people end up saying instead.

is a real railroaders term,we always refered to the wide nose diesels as wide cabs. the cab seems wider when you are in side than the old low nose units.

BaltOhio wrote:I see this word everywhere as applied to new and mostly new diesels. But it baffles me. It makes no sense. I thought all diesel cabs extended out to the edge of the frame, and thus all are pretty much the same width. Is there such a thing as a "narrow-cab" diesel? Haven't seen mention of one. I suppose what everybody really wants to say is "wide nose," but nobody says it.

Your point is well taken...perhaps the nickname for the safety cabs should be "widenose" as the nose of the cab extends frame to frame unlike that of an older "spartan cab"unit..

and since we sit in the cab,no one cares about the nose. so we called it a widecab.