I think that contraption is a part of a communications system, as it looks like the induction train phone receiving device used by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It also seems like someone's been fooling around with the numerals on the nose.
|
The doo hickey on 3116's roof is indeed an antenna for the hump tower to locomotive communication system. SP tried a Pennsylvania- like radiophone. Western Electric (whose parent was the old AT&T) held the patents on this divice. It was not very popular, due to its cost.
|
|