Re: Cab doors on early locomotives

On some deckless locomotives the cab was fully enclosed, the rear wall of the cab being flush with the backhead. On these deckless engines, with the doors on the rear wall of the cab, the fireman’s door had its hinges to the outside of the cab and the engineer’s door had its hinges on the inside post adjacent to the boiler. Therefore the fireman’s door opened into the gangway and to the center of the cab allowing easy access to the tender to shovel coal or take on water. The engineer’s door opened into the gangway and to the outside of the cab allowing easy access to the ground to take orders, yell at the conductor or oil around. The narrow gage engine at NSRM, Boulder City, Nevada is set up this way. Although the doors are long gone the hinge locations are easily seen.Also see the 2nd image under subject "RGS 20 before she left Colorado" by Will Grant.Notice the hinge location. Great picture for this purpose.