Drop steps and chains

[AJ Kleipass]

While browsing the book Penn Central Power I noticed / discovered that the New York Central's GP30s lacked drop steps and had a solid handrail across the front (and probably the rear too) instead of one with a gap and chain as was the case with the Pennsylvania Railroad's GP30s. And so, this begs a few questions...

1) Was the NYC rare in not having a drop step and chain, or did other railroads also fore go such items on 2nd generation locomotives?

2) Is there a point where the drop step / extended deck became required equipment, or is it standard today by default?


And on a semi-related note: In HO-scale, what number of links-per-inch chain do y'all use to model the handrail chain and the handbrake chain?

[EMDX6043]

MILW didn't have them either on some units.

[danraitz]

The CB&Q also had units that did not have drop steps. The GP30, SD24, GP20, GP40 and U25B where some that just come to mind. I generally use chain that has 40 links per inch.

[icghogger]

I seem to recall the MoPac did not have the crossover platform and safety chains on all of their locomotives, and was told by the crews the company did it to discourage crossing between units while moving. However, I could not find a specific rule in the old GCOR or the federal regulations that mentioned it. BTW, PE chain is available that is 72 links per inch from Ngineering.

[m a y o r 79]

Almost all Milwaukee umits lacked drop steps and chains. I believe the reason was for safety, they didnt want anyone passing between units while under power. You had to stop and get off one loco and walk back to the other. Not sure when they stopped this practice but I believe it was the very late 70s or early 80s right before he bankruptcy.

This is a detail that is usually left out / done wrong by manufacturers.

[AJ Kleipass]

To be honest, Mike, until I noticed the lack of it on the Central's GP30s - and now on the roads y'all mentioned - I just thought that it was absent on some 1st generation units, but that it was universal by the late 1950s, and certainly by the time of EMD's 30/35/38/40 series units. But now... even the Santa Fe's first CF7 (late 1969) lacked a drop step crossover. In the words of Mr Spock, "Fascinating!"

[Packer]

Nov 6, 2014 8:25:50 GMT -5 danraitz said:

The CB&Q also had units that did not have drop steps. The GP30, SD24, GP20, GP40 and U25B where some that just come to mind. I generally use chain that has 40 links per inch.

I had to check that one out after reading it, but it does appear so. But then it looks like BN put drop steps and chains on the locos anyways

[CP_8530]

CP was getting units with "solid handrails" and without drop steps up into their first SD40 order or so, including their C424 and GP30 orders. But it seems they were also retrofitting units with chains and drop steps, and certain groups may have been delivered with them.

And even then, in the case of retrofitting a lot of earlier GP9's with the bolted end stanchions to the rolled ones, CP actually removed the drop steps and installed solid handrails again (8516 & 8523 are two that come to mind). Whatever CP! *throws hands up*.

[spike]

In the CFR about locomotive inspections/requirements, it is one more thing to keep maintained. The company may have done it for safety, but it could be to save expense.

BNSF had a 25mph limit on walking between units.

I have a Diesel Era issue about Alco C430. It says that they were ordered without walkways, but from the pictures, Pearlman's Circus must have added them.

[poweredby251]

The only 2nd Gen Milwaukee units with walkways and chains were the U-30-C's purchased to work the joint coal trains with BN.

John

Nov 6, 2014 9:11:09 GMT -5 m a y o r 79 said:

Almost all Milwaukee umits lacked drop steps and chains. I believe the reason was for safety, they didnt want anyone passing between units while under power. You had to stop and get off one loco and walk back to the other. Not sure when they stopped this practice but I believe it was the very late 70s or early 80s right before he bankruptcy.

This is a detail that is usually left out / done wrong by manufacturers.

[m a y o r 79]

True, I believe they were actually built to BN specs, just painted in Mikwaukee colors.