I just watched a 1940's period film on the PENSY 10 WHELLERS.the question that I have and can't figure out, is what is the type of house thing on the rear of the coal tender / car? it looks like a crossing track tenders shak. I haven't seen them on other tenders, is it unique to PENSY, or do others have them? toot.

They're called "doghouses". The cabin provided a place for head end brakemen to ride while being sheltered from the elements, but still in a position to watch the train behind them.

ZACH LYBRAND, thank you so much for the Uber fast reply to my question. as a newbie. I ask questions and get very informative answers, to my questions. what a great site and bunch of members. so now what is the function of a head brakeman / what is it he does, if I may ask? didn't years ago brakemen ride on the top of freight cars.a lonely job, and if they fell off, who would know? and was PENSY, the only RR to have a head brakeman? toot.

The head brakeman had various duties depending on what the train was doing.

Basically the head brakie and the rear brakie (sometimes called a flagman) helped the Conductor in switching the train when picking up or setting out cars, thowing switches.

While running, the flagman watches the train for trouble. This is where the doghouse comes in. The flagman sits up in the cupola watching forward so on PRR the head brakie got the doghouse to look backward.

Each brakeman flags in the respective direction when the train is stopped on a Main Track outside Yard Limits.

Phil Mulligan

Phil Mulligan. thank you for the informative answer to my question. I am learning. toot.

toot -

Not sure if this part of your question was answered or not. But yes, other railroads used "doghouses" on their tenders for the front-end brakeman. For instance; the SLSF (Frisco). The DM&IR (Missabe Road). The Southern Pacific. There were others too. They were not unique to the PENNSY.

Les