Why Are Heating Units Necessary for Locomotive Cabs? 

Recently, a customer in the transportation industry contacted Tempco regarding seasonal heating in the cabs of locomotives. This manufacturer was in the process of updating their product line of heating units that are responsible for keeping the cabs at a comfortable temperature in the colder climates of the United States. Train conductors rely on the comfort of the cab to ensure that they can responsibly operate the trains that move goods across the country.

The Functionality of the Heating Units

• Redundant Heating Design: Each heating unit houses three finned tubular elements that work in unison. They provide system redundancy. If one element fails, the others continue to ensure uninterrupted heating, reducing downtime.
• Thermal Efficiency: The finned tubular design offers superior heat transfer, maximizing thermal conductivity and uniform heat distribution across the cab space, ensuring quick temperature recovery and even heating throughout. The heating elements are mounted inside a frame that is installed on the floor of the cab. A special voltage generated by the locomotive of 74 Volts powers each heating unit. The units utilize unique, specially designed fans that disperse the heat through the 12’ x 12’ locomotive cab.

Engineering Solutions for Heating in Cold Climates 

• Overcoming Extreme Temperatures: At least half of the country sees temperatures in the winter—from November through April—that drop below freezing, 32°F. The heating units are designed to maintain a temperature of 70°F inside the cab during winter weather.
• Temperature Control: Surface-mounted snap action thermostats are located inside the unit frame to control the temperature. The operating range of the tubular elements is 50-500°F. The thermostats are set to the optimal temperature to regulate the heating elements.
• Efficient Heat Distribution: There are ducts connected to the frame of the heating units to direct the warm air to where it is needed most, such as towards the windows to avoid frost and ice build-up on the glass.

The Tempco Difference: Leading the Way in Durable Heating Solutions

The Tempco name is a standard in the transportation industry, well-recognized for high-quality products with great longevity. Many locomotive cabs with older heating units have Tempco heaters installed during general maintenance performed in the field. 

Ready to upgrade your system? At Tempco, we are committed to providing durable, high-performance heating solutions for your fleet. Cold weather should not compromise safety or efficiency. Browse our collection or create your own. Contact us today to learn more about our innovative heaters and how we can help optimize your transportation operations.