Does anyone know the term or any other nomenclature used to describe the recessed door latches that we see all over the sides of diesel electric hood units, they even keep the battery boxes closed on some? The latch appears to rotate to open and is installed into a hole cut in the access door prior to its hinges and latches are welded onto the access doors at the builder?

These look like they could have been used as some sort of heavy duty electrical cabinet latch, prior to the RR industry finding them. Maybe these had a name already established that is and was common and could still be in use, and I cannot find that either, thus my total failure at finding these simple latches so far,

What I need to locate are the different sizes of recessed latches available, but my search is cold

Loco112

Here is a photo example of the doors the hinges, latches, etc: http://www.wig-wag-trains.com/BLMA/Pict ... -Proto.JPG

They are an over-center lever latch. The part number of the latch assembly used by EMD (at least as of a few years ago, if they have not changed it) was 8158536. I am not aware of multiple sizes of the particular EMD latch being available, however there are a lot of varieties of industrial over-center lever latches produced in a range of sizes that function similarly to the EMD latch.

PC

I think you can buy them from McMaster-Carr. I ordered some quite a few years back for a project at my job and they worked out well.

Try: http://www.epowerrail.com/

They are in Duryea, PA. They would be a good source for the latches PC talks about and could most likely work with the part number he provided. Otherwise McMaster Carr has an excellent website with a nice variety of latches. I am unaware of more than one size of EMD carbody latches.

ETA

Found that there are at least two different designs (of the handle ends) used on the EMD's;

http://www.dieselswest.com/photopost61/ ... ?photo=159

http://www.dieselswest.com/photopost61/ ... ?photo=364

Found nothing in McMaster-Carr yet, will call, and thanks for the other leads.

Good eye to catch that. There are two styles which are functionally and dimensionally the same. The first photo is the OEM style as supplied by EMD for many years. The second photo is the type that Power Rail sells. The only caution that I would have is that there are a few spots on the locomotive where you really need the OEM style -- specifically battery box lids and sand compartment doors at the bottom of the nose. Because of the way the handle is made on the Power Rail latches, they won't allow you to latch the doors open for servicing -- I don't think.

ETA

There is also a smaller version of these latches that is used on the battery box doors on the SD-90 variants. It appears to be smaller in scale, and the mounting plate portion of it looks like what would remain if you trimmed the old square EMD latch down to as small as it can possibly beans still get it mounted on a flat surface.

Does anyone know what recessed latches ALCO/MLW was using in 1981 and 1982, or on their (then) new Century series, after they got past the old version latch that has an exposed handle on them, that looks like a typical locomotive cab door handle?

The newest ALCO latches appear to be very much like the EMD latches, they might even be the same EMD part, but I have not found a single photo with enough resolution to verify this either way.

Can all you old Hoggers take a look at this for me?

Does the line drawing (below) appear to be the same design "flush mount" carbody door latch as used on the EMD locomotives?

patent drawings; http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3836185.pdf

IMPO, yes, it does.