> A variation on this stand had a sloping top where
> the switches are, and this is the one I most often
> heard referred to as a "cash register".

Yeah - Nothing is truly "standard" on the railroad. The version used on switchers still has the air gauges split off and in front of the engineer. Running those old drum stands backwards is so much fun. I think the worst control arrangement has to go to Alco - those SP RSD12s with the 26 brake stand in the right corner must have been fun trying to run backwards. Don't remember, were the RS32/36s the same? I did have some GP9 rebuilds (former Amtrak) on a shortline that they somehow got the 26 brake stand behind the engineer running forward. I purposely moved a former BN high nose GP9 with 6BL into the lead.

> If it wasn't dark, cold, and raining while you did
> all this, you weren't having fun.

Close - foggy overcast with temperatures right about freezing. Thermals weren't keeping me warm, so I bought a small propane heater that heated the cab real good, didn't work so well sitting in the engine room at the electrical panel. Had to close the hood door to try to keep the heat in, so yes it was dark.

(I did say SP did not have any late SD9s previously, I've run four former SP SD9s on shortlines - all with drum stands and 24RL modified to pressure maintaining in the old first service position. I generally liked them, just never want to do repair work on 24RL.)

As I said - it helps to be crazy ...