(erielack) RS-2 thingie

["Janet & Randy Brown" <jananran_@_mymailstation.com>]

Well, the results are in!   Including the initial query, there were 5 answers:  1 each heater, flange greaser, battery box, automatic train control equipment, and air brake equipment.

Here is my feeling: I go with the air brake equipment.  Why? Here goes.

Air brakes depend on the release of air from the train line for application.  Releasing air at 90 pounds can be noisy.  Steam locos and most diesels placed the valvework for this under the cab, where the racket wouldn't be right in the crew's ears.

The RS-2 was different.  For some reason, they put the fuel tank under the cab.  Why, I don't know. It would have made me very nervous.  It's bad enough to approach every grade crossing carrying a couple hundred gallons of diesel fuel, but to be sitting on it!?

Anyway, there went the place for the air brake stuff, so they put it in the cab -- until crew reaction convinced them to move it to the back porch behind the fireman.

There probably is a steam loco part, or parts, that is (are) close.  I faked it on the Weaver RS-3 I back-dated by cobbling up 3 HO triple valves and setting them on a box.  "Close enough" modelling at its best!  
Any further info won't change my model, but it might help others.

Thanks to y'all who gave input.

Randy Brown  

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