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  • Trainmaster proportions

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Discussion of Fairbanks-Morse locomotive products. Official web site can be found here: www.fairbanksmorse.com.

Moderator: pablo

 #667686  by atsf sp
 
Why was the hood so squat as compared to the frame? And Why was the frame so high? Heres pics of the last FM Trainmaster CP 8905.
Cp 8905 #4.jpg
CP 8905 #1.jpg
 #667790  by Allen Hazen
 
My guess is that the actual FRAME may not be higher than usual: the walkway is raised above the frame level. I recall reading somewhere that this was done with a view to safety (or a particular interpretation of the FRA's (? FRA? When Trainmaster wa designed? Maybe some earlier regulatory agency like the ICC?)safety regulations: it eliminates steps on the external walkways of the unit. Note that the cab cloor of other makes of hood unit is above the walkway, so there is a step: on the Trainmaster the cab door is at walkway level. ... I think, if I were an engineman who had to go outside the cab at night in freezing rain to go back and re-set something on the third unit of the consist, I might appreciate this feature.

At which point the "squat" appearance of the food is partially explained: there just isn't as much height of hood aboe the walkway as on other units. Part: the FM hood is also, I think, wider than some, and I'm not sure why that is. I know the FM prime mover is tall: is it also wide?
 #679079  by westr
 
The Trainmaster's frame was at about the same height as other locomotives. It is just the walkway that is elevated, perhaps to keep from having steps up and down along its length, though there were still a couple small steps along the long hood. The Trainmaster demonstrators, purchased by SP and Wabash (to N&W) had an open space between the walkway and the frame along the long hood.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1609674
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1503437
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/wab/wab551g.jpg
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nw/nw3598.jpg

Later, Wabash (to N&W) and Southern ordered Trainmasters with low end platforms so they would align with EMDs and Alcos.

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/wab/wab556ajt.jpg
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1578337
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1450610
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=443359

Although all the Trainmasters after the demonstrators had the open space under the walkway enclosed, the similar H16-66 "Baby-Trainmasters" kept the open space.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=881727
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=882638
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1608232
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=887904
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1609158
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=615702
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=431971
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=431972
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=431973
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=231112