Re: The Train - Burt Lancaster Film

I've never really understood the reason for the wheel on a Franklin Power Reverse...except maybe that it was required by the licensing of the reverse gear when new. Maybe there was some other reason for it (cheaper? maintenance related?). I would suspect that if it came with the wheel (or the wheel was cheaper when new), they'd tend to want to keep it to avoid spending money which didn't boast the bottom line.

The Nickel Plate's S-2 and S-3 Berkshires were equipped with the wheels when new. While the 779 still has hers, the deluxe 765 was modified to have a lever instead of the wheel. The reason for this was that the wheel was a nuisance, especially for switching (the 765 was equipped by the NKP for passenger, freight and switching duties).

Here is a picture of me in the cab of the 779 with her Franklin Power Reverse wheel circled in red...

I am sort of think that it is actually named the Franklin Precision Reverse...

Michael



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/2009 11:44AM by myork.