Cab-In Front

ID # 1,120

CAB-IN-FRONT

This locomotive, No. 4101, was one of those engines variously called a back-up, cab-ahead and cab-in-fronter. Italian State Railways originated the type in the late 1800's. With one freakish exception, they never ran in  North America outside the Southern Pacific Railroad. But it was that exception, Pacific Coast Railway's No. 21, a narrow gauge 4-4-0, which introduced Southern Pacific engineers to the cab-in-front s possibilities. These engines provided a clear view of the track ahead and kept smoke and acrid fumes out of the cab in tunnel runs. For many years cab-in-fronters ruled Southern Pacifics mountain regions. Baldwin built them all in the period 1909-1944. It was not unusual to see three of them, spaced throughout the train, wheel a 100-car freight up a steep grade. No. 4101 was a 4-8.8-2. Southern Pacific also had 2-8-8-2 and 4-6-6-2 back-ups. All have been replaced by diesels.

SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES