New Haven fans: What’s this on one of your RS3s?

[TiogaTracks]

Edit: this is actually a former NYC RS3, not New Haven.  But the cab signal equipment looks similar, so this ended up being relevant anyway.

My next locomotive project is a Penn Central ex-NH (edit: NYC) RS3, but I can’t find any photos to explain what this device in front of the cab is.  I picked this loco because its details are an easy match, but with only this one watermarked reference photo, I can’t figure this thing out.  Any ideas?

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Enlarged and enhanced:

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-Steven

[Jim Costello]

 It is Cab Signal Equipment used on The NH RS3's #517 to #561 ( 45 units). They were also used on the RS11 locos.
From a NHRHTIA data sheet they were built by Cab Signal Equipment Co -Pyle National GRS-1.

Jim NHRTIA #L082
Modelling the NH Downunder

[TiogaTracks]

Thanks Jim!  I was able to find more thanks to the info you shared.  This photo shows some similar equipment pretty clearly.



But the arrangement on PC 5260 looks a bit different.  So I looked into RS11s on your suggestion, and found this rendering from Rapido:



I think I can work with this info, and at least get close.  Thank you again!

-Steven

[TiogaTracks]

Between the various photos, I came up with this to replicate the mystery part.  I think the photo of 5260 shows a non-standard box for the cab signal equipment, so I’ll wait on modeling that.

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-Steven

[Joetrain59]

Nice! But don't forget the cabinet underneath it, and the handrail modification.
 Hay Bros Garage makes the cabinet.
 Joe D

[TiogaTracks]

I ended up being wrong about the NH heritage.  PC 5260 is actually ex-NYC, but in this photo, it lacks the marker lights, extra stack, and covered upper cab windows that most ex-NYC locos had.

So, I ended up building NYC-style cab signal equipment out of styrene, mostly thanks to photos of a brass model here.



-Steven

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's awesome.

Reminds me of the radio box I made for an N scale S2.

[TiogaTracks]

Thanks Ed.  Sounds like some very small and precise work, which is usually a lot of fun for me (provided there’s no deadline or pressure!).

After doing this project, I feel like I’m seeing railroad-specific equipment boxes and radio antennae everywhere now.  PRR and Conrail especially.  They really lend a nice bit of home-road flavor!

-Steven

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Thanks Ed.  Sounds like some very small and precise work, which is usually a lot of fun for me (provided there’s no deadline or pressure!).

After doing this project, I feel like I’m seeing railroad-specific equipment boxes and radio antennae everywhere now.  PRR and Conrail especially.  They really lend a nice bit of home-road flavor!

-Steven

Oh yeah! CR was blessed with inheriting systems from both the NYC and the PRR so you had all sorts of interesting stuff going on.

My personal favorite and "white whale" are the "bumps" on former PRR GP30s where the train phone antennas were removed but the welded on brackets were left. Easy enough to do in larger scales, but in N? Well, I've only seen @TimF  nail it here: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=52168.msg713306#msg713306