...a grabiron above my window.

Check out this video from the Sugar Express Santa Train. I can't recall ever seeing a grabiron placed this way, but it's a mighty fine idea, especially for guys like me who often sit on the armrest when backing up, or trying to see around corners.

Sitting on the armrest was sometimes called "sitting up on the cab" and was normal when backing a camelback. You can't see around the firebox from inside the cab.

Here's CNJ 774 with the engineer "up on the cab" and a road foreman in a straw hat providing two more eyes and sometimes running the engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDmNAu0v__g

Phil Mulligan

Sammy,

The grab irons are above the door in the baggage car. They came with the car... I believe they are original to the car. I have noted them on other cars.

Thanks Mr Mulligan, that's what I'm talking about exactly. In Guatemala, we had to back up quite a bit because turntables and wyes were so far apart. There were plenty of hazards, and no matter which way the track curved, I still had to watch out all the time. The scary part was on some of those high trestles, that cab side gets SLIPPERY...

And, by golly Mr Hotbox, you're right, that's a baggage car, not an engine cab !!! Those ultra wide angle lenses distort everything while including everything. Maybe THAT'S why I've never seen such a setup on a locomotive. Of course, some steam power had grabirons outside the cab window, but you'd be damn near out the window and in the bar ditch reaching for it.

Thanks to both you gentlemen. Now I've got a brilliant idea for how to set up my locomotive.

And, MERRY CRISTMAS to everybody in RyPN land, or Happy Holiday of whichever stripe you prefer !!!!

Will Santa have an Audrey update for us?

Thanks for asking about us. Members of Team Porter #6 had a talk about this a few weeks back, and we decided to quit making lame excuses and give our friends a straight answer next time this question came up:

I've gotten in trouble a lot more times by running my mouth than I have by keeping it shut, this is just good railroading. And for now, that's all I can say on the matter. We haven't given up, but we haven't made much progress lately, either. You can be sure that we'll be crowing about it plenty once the time is right, and thanks once more to everybody who still cares.

Audrey Lives !!!!

Roger that. Looking forward to some crowing maybe in 2023. Until then Viva Porter #6 !!!! (and team Porter #6 as well)!

Southern put grab irons over the cab window to aid in walking from the apron to the running board in front of the cab. There was a toe ledge along the bottom of the cab. This is 630, 722 had one just like it. You have your own locomotive so if you want a grab iron, rivet one to the cab.

Thanks for the picture, Mr. Phillips. I believe we just may have to do as you suggest.

Now that I think of it, I believe maybe the AT&SF had some classes of diesels with grab irons above the side windows and inside the cab. It's been many years since I left the Class I life, and my memory is not 100% reliable...

The Soo 1003 also has grabirons for the same reason:


...............mld

Here's a modification for easier viewing

Since most steam locomotive cabs had doors in the front, leading to the running boards, my theory is that these railings came in handy for cleaning the outside of the cab windows. On Soo 1003, that gizmo kind of looks like it might possibly support a canvas awning over the cab window. At any rate, thanks for sending this picture, Mr Deets.

They seem to be common on the fireman's side of Shays as well.

MD Ramsey

Mr Ramsey, Looks like you got me there. Shays are a special case, there is no room for a front door on the fireman's side of the cab. It also looks like there is a leather strop across the fireman's window, stretched out by lots of fatso firemen sitting on the armrest so they could see where they were going, without tumbling out the window. Looks like my idea isn't really new, only it is for dumb enginemen who never noticed before.... Thanks for your photo as well --- is that a young Phil Johnson smiling for posterity ??

Hi Sammy,
I'll admit that photo is not a great illustration and I apologize for that. If you look closely there is a "toe hold" just under the rivet line of the cab for the crew member to use as they go outside the cab to get to the running board. Having spent many hours working on and crewing the 1003 I can testify first hand that there is no door at the front of the cab to allow running board access.

As others have said, it is your locomotive and you can do whatever you want with her. I wish you the best of luck and continued progress on Audrey!....mld

Edit: PS I've attached another version of the shot that I played with for easier viewing. You can see some of the piping behind the toe hold.........mld