C&NW F7 4099C in as-delivered paint at Proviso, Illinois, on February 14, 1965, photo by Chuck Zeiler. Number 4099C was built in April 1950 (c/n 10587) on EMD Order 6035, retired February 9, 1966 and traded back to EMD. Note the ATS shoe attached to the lead axle bearing. I have a theory about those scuff marks in the dark paint below the Engineer's window. This locomotive is equipped with what was known as a "toe step", a piece of angle iron attached to the cab to allow maintenance people to walk from the cab door to the windshield by means of this step. Given the lack of grab irons between the cab door and front, I imagine a lot of maintenance people lost their footing and that's the marks of a men in trouble. The CB&Q had a similar arrangement on the Fireman's side, and also provided a grab iron mounted just below the cab window that ran the length of the toe step. |