photo of cross-section of "cab-above" design

[scott]

This photo (which unfortunately can't be enlarged) shows a lengthwise-section illustration of a limited express with the driver's cab above the seating area. It looks like the driver's legs must need to be stretched out in front--not enough vertical space to sit as if in a chair.

[clem24]

Like driving a sports car!  :D

[scott]

They should make it a convertible.

[Guest ___]

I snuck in to a Romance Car last year to get shots looking forward from Shinjuku when the motorman opened the trap door to the cab. I remembered thinking, "Man, it's cramped up there" I can see on the Romance Cars why they open them up like that, but some of the class 485 on JR West are turret and I couldn't understand why they were built that way as there was no end car pass through (no door or connection to another car for MU running). It struck me as odd to fabricate the vehicle that way.

[scott]

Yeah, I've wondered about that, too--not sure if it's just for looks, or if there's a reason that it works better or is somehow safer. Somebody must know.

[bikkuri bahn]

Pictures of the cab of the 50000VSE Romance car:

 

 

mock-up showing general configuration

 

 

 

driving cab looking forward, towards instrumentation

 

source:

http://www62.tok2.com/home/tsubame787/seat_oer50000vse.html

 

Also-

video clip of driver access hatch being opened:

http://vision.ameba.jp/watch.do?movie=1309787

[Guest ___]

If they made the cockpit any smaller, they have to enter and egress through the canopy.

[Bernard]

That was my 1st reaction when I saw the video. I wonder if there are physical restrictions on being an train engineer in Japan?

[bikkuri bahn]

That was my 1st reaction when I saw the video. I wonder if there are physical restrictions on being an train engineer in Japan?

 

Dunno, but at Odakyu, the short guys may be the object of envy, for a change

[Guest ___]

That was my 1st reaction when I saw the video. I wonder if there are physical restrictions on being an train engineer in Japan?

 

One must be a contortionist

[Bernard]

I just can't see a Sumo Wrestler saying announcing his retirement at a press conference saying, "Now I'm going to live my life long dream of being an engineer on the 50000 VSE Romance train!"