| Posted by Tom on June 10, 2013 | |
Nice and interesting shot but this is one of the things I wish would happen here. I am just about a complete novice when it comes to train controls, especially a steam locomotive. For my benefit (and many others, I'm sure) please point out and explain the 26L brake stand and the MU control box.
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The 26L is the type of brake stand the engine is fitted with. It's located on the right side of the photo, just to the left of the large blue handle. This type of brake stand is one that you're likely to find in older diesel locomotives, such as an GP38 or SD40-2. It's a self-lapping valve, which is superior to the old lapping brake valves that steam locomotives were equipped with (in layman's terms, it's something akin to installing modern brakes on a 1960s muscle car). Above the brake stand you'll see a pair of boxes, plus handles and other items, that allow the engineer of 614 to operate a diesel locomotive that's in the consist (or "MU'ed"). This is done, in most cases, to allow the engineer to use the dynamic brakes on the diesel, something steam locomotives don't have. Hope this helps.
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