Nice observation car shot in the station.

www.shorpy.com/node/15152?size=_original

Richard -

Nice photo. Very historic. The horn (for back up moves I assume) is interesting. I wonder if other round (or square) end observation cars normally had horns.

Thanks for the posting.

Les

FO 261's Cedar Rapids still has an operational air horn activated from the interior in the round end.

Don C.

The problem with the Milwaukee cars is that the conductor was stuck inside. No rear door. I'm sure he had control of the air.

As an aside, PCC cars have a controller at the rear end for back-up moves.

With a back door the conductor (rear-end brakeman) could use a peanut whistle on the air hose for example.

Speaking of horns on the rear of tail cars...

Here is what was hiding behind the skirting on the rear of the Gulfport, an Illinois Central Panama Limited round-end obs.



And inside the car, showing gauge, signal line valve, horn valve, and conductor's valve.