Steeplecab
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In railroad terminology, a steeplecab is a style or design of electric locomotive; the term is rarely if ever used for other forms of power. The name originated in North America and is rarely used outside that area. A steeplecab design has a central or nearly central driving cab area which may include a full-height area in between for electrical equipment; when overhead lines are used for power transmission, the cab roof supports the equipment to collect that power (pantograph(s) bow collector(s) or trolley pole(s)). On both ends, connected to the full-height cab areas, lower (often sloping) "noses" or hoods contain other equipment, especially noisy equipment such as air compressors not desired within the cab area.
The design offers a large degree of crash protection for the crew combined with good visibility. Disadvantages include reduced room for bulky electrical equipment compared to other designs. The overall design pattern of a central crew area with lower and/or narrower equipment hoods on each end has been repeated many times, although the lack of equipment space has meant it has largely died out in recent years. Other, somewhat similar designs include the "crocodile" design used in Europe, such larger electric locomotives as the PRR GG1 and Milwaukee Road class EP-2 "Bi-Polars", and many more.
The steeplecab design was especially popular for electric switcher locomotives, and on electric locomotives ordered for interurban and industrial lines.
[edit] See also
- Boxcab, for the opposite single-box design with cabs on the ends.
