Malley wrote:...My grandad was B&O, and they ran their Diesels LHF; in fact, I was unhappy with a Pennsy Lionel because the working light was in the short (wrong) hood.
As with anything, including Lionel...alot of it is what you're used to. If I'd hired out earlier and always run long hood leading, I suppose SHF would be 'backwards' and we'd be screaming bloody murder to change it back. LOL
Malley wrote:...LHF was supported by the Brotherhoods to protect jobs; a second set of eyes (head end brakie or conductor) was needed to call signals and otherwise monitor what was ahead around that LHF.
That has possibilities although I've never heard it. Lots of times you need a second set of eyes running short-hood so it would make sense.
Malley wrote:It is my understanding that the short hood is protected with collision posts and other chassis parts for safety. Is that true, and would you care to elaborate?
True. There are very substantial steel uprights in the nose plus anti-climbers, sand boxes and crush zones built into the cab. I believe the idea is to keep whatever you hit down on the ground instead of having it jump up and land in your lap. The weight and size of a locomotive alone is good protection unless you tangle with something pretty solid. My biggest worry as far as getting hurt (aside from colliding with another train) is hitting a truck carrying heavy stuff like gravel, steel, logs or concrete. Those loads are tall enough to come right in the windshield over the top of the nose and massive enough to crush the cab and derail the engine. Most other vehicles and objects will just get pushed out of the way or dragged. Flammable loads are another issue.