| Posted by FSWood on March 13, 2018 | |
There's something interesting going on with that light fixture. Am not yet sure exactly what, but it looks like 2 independently movable shades/bulb covers. Or are they levered to move together.
|
And where is his seat? I take it there is none and so he will have to stand the whole trip.
|
| Posted by thewiz on March 13, 2018 | |
The covers close over the light when the locomotive is being driven at night or through tunnels, for the same reason you're not supposed to use your car's interior light at night.
|
About the light: This device is common an all early electric locomotives in Switzerland. The two shades are levered to move together. When tey are closed, there is still enough light on the controls during night or tunnel drives, because it has an opening at the bottom.
|
All earlier electric locomotives were driven exclusively in standing position, as was also the case on steam locomotives. On the rear wall of the driver's cab there was usually a narrow, fold-down board on which one could not sit properly and could only be used during the standstill. It was actually not possible and strictly forbidden to sit while driving.
|
Addendum: After modifying the safety control, it was allowed to sit while driving from 1951 onwards. But the view of the track was sadly restricted (the front window placed too high).
|