[timmuir]

Stumbled upon this striking portrait the other day at the Internet Archive. Clicking the pic will bring up a much larger image to feast upon.

 ATSF E6 12.jpg (2.05MB)
Number of downloads: 38

[Weter]

Who can tell, what's the reason of these "noses" appearance? Safety of the crew in case potential collisions, or?

[ErickC]

Aerodynamics and aesthetics, primarily. Crash protection didn't really become a thing in full-width noses until the introduction of the safety cab at the behest of CN. Even the "wide cab" units of the 1970s (e.g. F45, SDP40F) were mostly just aesthetics with no real reinforcement.

[Weter]

So, "tradition" as in Britain separate hot and cold taps at the bathroom?

[eric from trainsim]

That was the styling of the E3 through e6. Fortunately there are several of these still around to enjoy in person. One of them is the E5 at the Illinois Railway museum, and I think there's an E3 or E4 at one of the museums on the east coast, and a Rock Island E6 hanging around somewhere in the Midwest in private ownership.

[Weter]

That's the benefit of private ownership ability: one or some community can own thing, they would preserve, having enough of money.
Otherwise, that thing will be scrapped without any variants, if there would be no reasons offered, for funding its further existence.

[atsf37l]

Weter, on 23 September 2022 - 08:16 PM, said:

Who can tell, what's the reason of these "noses" appearance? Safety of the crew in case potential collisions, or?

Raymond Leowy styling for the most part. It did provide a little protection in a frontal crash. The original E units 1 and 1A were box-cab affairs with the front windows right out at the track. I'm sure the crews felt safer behind Raymond's nose.

Later EMD F units were designed with a fold point behind the cab so that the prime mover and generator couldn't crush the crew from behind, at least in theory.

[R H Steele]

I agree with all the practical aspects mentioned, however, Art Moderne or Streamline Moderne that followed Art Deco was "in the air" in the 1930's to early 40's...any design professional working in any industry, from designing toasters, salt & pepper shakers -- to diesel locomotives had to be aware of it. The task was combining the "moderne - streamline" design elements with the practical concerns. I think they turned out a nicely crafted machine in those terms...they still look unique and beautiful.

[Weter]

This lines repeat cars design of that time.
Even some tractors followed:
http://uncle-vova.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/13-3-1-768x542.jpg

Quote

The original E units 1 and 1A were box-cab affairs with the front windows right out at the track

I wish I could see that.

[Sandy River Tom]

This is B&O #50.


 B&O_50.jpg (149.17K)
Number of downloads: 4

AT&SF #1 was slightly different. It had a "eyebrow" above the air inlets that contained the Headlight.
The EMC Demonstrators, 511/512, had a completely flat Boxcab nose.