Runner up for most boring Altamont Press post in 2017.
Saw this pic on Ebay shot in July of 1977 and was surprised to see footboards on this loco. Source: [
www.ebay.com]
Googled "diesel footboards" and learned that the FRA wanted all footboards off diesels by September 1978. So this BN loco was a year off from the cutoff date.
Quote:Utah Rails
Footboards
All locomotives built after March 1975 must not be equipped with footboards. (49 CFR 231.30 paragraph d., part 1)
After September 1978, all locomotives built before April 1975 must not be equipped with footboards. (49 CFR 231.30, paragraph d., part 2)
[
utahrails.net]
I can see the danger of footboards. On an icy day, a guy could slip off and fall off into the path of the moving locomotive. Makes me cringe imagining it. I wonder if unions also pushed for footboard removal?