by Allen Hazen
Why does the C-628 look so long?
The November 2005 (65th anniversary) issue of "Trains" reprinted a broadside view of a D&H C-628 that originally appeared in an "all diesel issue" in the 1960s, with text emphasizing how big the unit would have seemed to contemporary observers. And, in fact, the C-628 has long seemed to me to LOOK longer than most other units.
Part of the story is that it IS long: over two feet longer than a (1967 series) GE six-motor unit, almost four feet longer than an SD40/SD45. And the length of the long hood is in keeping: distance from rear cab wall to end of long hood is maybe 20" more on a C-628 than on a U30C (rough estimate based on measuring HO scale drawings).
But this isn't the whole story. The GE C-boats have a higher deck than the Alco Centuries, so the distance from walkway to hood top is actually slightly less in the GE unit: in terms of shape, this should partially compensate for the Century's hood-length when it comes to visual impression of LOOONNNNG!
At a guess, part of the impression is due to the UNINTERRUPTEDNESS of the C-628's expanse of long hood. After all, the C-630 and C-636 are the same length, but they don't LOOK as long: the big aftercooler box stops the eye as it sweeps along the hood. EMDs have all those prominent roof-top fans to interrupt the sweep. And the radiator compartment on a U30C, separated from the rest of the long hood by a visible increase in width, breaks the hood into two visual blocks.
So why does a C-628 look so long? Partially visual illusion. Also, of course, it (& other six-motor Centuries) IS longer than almost any other single-engine unit built before the 1980s (exception: EMD units built on the SDP45 frame).
The November 2005 (65th anniversary) issue of "Trains" reprinted a broadside view of a D&H C-628 that originally appeared in an "all diesel issue" in the 1960s, with text emphasizing how big the unit would have seemed to contemporary observers. And, in fact, the C-628 has long seemed to me to LOOK longer than most other units.
Part of the story is that it IS long: over two feet longer than a (1967 series) GE six-motor unit, almost four feet longer than an SD40/SD45. And the length of the long hood is in keeping: distance from rear cab wall to end of long hood is maybe 20" more on a C-628 than on a U30C (rough estimate based on measuring HO scale drawings).
But this isn't the whole story. The GE C-boats have a higher deck than the Alco Centuries, so the distance from walkway to hood top is actually slightly less in the GE unit: in terms of shape, this should partially compensate for the Century's hood-length when it comes to visual impression of LOOONNNNG!
At a guess, part of the impression is due to the UNINTERRUPTEDNESS of the C-628's expanse of long hood. After all, the C-630 and C-636 are the same length, but they don't LOOK as long: the big aftercooler box stops the eye as it sweeps along the hood. EMDs have all those prominent roof-top fans to interrupt the sweep. And the radiator compartment on a U30C, separated from the rest of the long hood by a visible increase in width, breaks the hood into two visual blocks.
So why does a C-628 look so long? Partially visual illusion. Also, of course, it (& other six-motor Centuries) IS longer than almost any other single-engine unit built before the 1980s (exception: EMD units built on the SDP45 frame).