When delivered to the N&W, the 6100s were oriented for long end forward only. The engineer controls were on the right side in the photo. This was a cost saving measure departing from their practice of dual control locomitives
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Actually they followed a practice that the Soutern started in 1967 with the SD-45's by putting the control stand on the long hood side parallel to the sidewall with the speedometer mounted center top of the the stand so one could not argue seeing it running one way or the other. With the added High Short Hood you really didn't have better vision running either way. It was a Union busting tactic by then SOU President Dick Brosnan allowing them to rip up many turntables and eliminating many Hostling jobs. N&W saw the cost savings of departing from buying the High Hoods and two control stands and started with the 11 unit order of SD 40-2's in 1974 with the "Bi Directional Stand" configuration like Southern but with Low Short Hood. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Union soon objected and had the N&W to agree to always having the Engineer on the "Right" side on the controlling unit. This became an obstacle on the N&W because most crews were given only one portable radio "The Lunch Box Radio" that was needed on the Caboose so when the head end brakeman made any pick ups or set offs they would have to use wayside blinking signals that were on the right hand side so if the Engineer wasn't on that side then no switching. This continued with the second SD40-2 order through unit #6188. The agreement came halfway through the order but the N&W had already placed options for the scheduled delivery of the remaining 6100's so it would have cost money to edit the order (their reason). Starting with the 8000 series C30-7's the N&W order the correct "Normal" cab that everyone else was buying. in 1980 they came back for the final order of SD 40-2's 6189-6207 which were also the correct short hood forward cab. After the merger in 1982 when all of the locos were pooled Southern crews ran them either way and N&W crews still ran ones with the "Bi Directional" cab long hood forward only except in rare cases.
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