Steeplecab

A GE steeplecab electric locomotive. This example is fitted with trolley poles for service on an interurban railroad.
A Milwaukee Road class ES-2, an example of a larger steeplecab switcher locomotive for service on an electrified heavy-duty railroad.

Steeplecab is railroad terminology for a style or design of electric locomotive; the term is rarely if ever used for other forms of power. The name originated in North America and has been used in Britain as well.

A steeplecab design has a central driving cab area which may include a full-height area in between for electrical equipment. On both ends lower sloping hood contain other equipment, especially noisy equipment such as the air compressor not desired within the cab area.[1] When overhead lines are used for power transmission, the cab roof usually supports the equipment to collect the power, either by pantographs, bow collectors or trolley poles. Although on some early designs such as the North Eastern Railways Electric No. 1 a bow collector might be mounted on one of the hoods instead.

  1. ^ William D. Middleton (1961). The interurban era. William D. Middleton. pp. 421–. GGKEY:NJPA4FNXPZN.