Joe Satnik said:
Hi, Tac.
What is the function of said over-cab spike?
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Well, Sir, the locos as originally built were designed from the get-go as a lash-up loco, used to haul HUGE trains through the then-new Cascade Tunnels in Washington State. Steam locos wopuld asphyxiate the crews on the 8 mile long holes through the Cascades…Quote - ‘Great Northern’s electric locomotives were confined to the Cascades, purchased to relieve asphyxiation problems in the Cascade tunnel caused by exhaust of steam locomotives. The initial class of four locomotives were confined to the Old Cascade Tunnel only, while the later models were used on the entire line-segment from Wenatchee, through the New Cascade Tunnel, to Skykomish.’
The Great Northern Railway rostered a total of 24 electric locomotives. The first four used a 6,000 Volt three phase electric system using two overhead wires and the rail as conductors. Power was taken from the overhead wires by means of trolley poles. With the opening of the New Cascade Tunnel and the enlargement of the electrified district a switch was made to a single phase 11,000 Volt system. Power was now taken from a single overhead wire by using pantographs, making for a less troublesome layout of the catenary system.
Sadly, the location of the LIVE connections between these locos meant that a few engineers/firemen/hostlers were electrocuted by the extremely high voltages involved - simply holding the connector and putting your foot near the ground was enough to get you fried with the voltages we are talking about here. They quickly learned NOT to drag a foot when getting off a loco holding the connector - you had to jump clear off the steps or you’d fry and die.
The answer was to make the connections as far away from the ground as possible - hence the over-cab spikes.
Hey, why am I telling you all this? You’re the American!!! You should be telling ME!
[Hope this helps ;)]
tac
