Ken,
I have to disagree with you. I have two relatively close up views of gas-electrics nos 9844 and 9845 in 1942. In both photos, the shutters between the front cab windows are wide open. Enlarging the photo slightly, clearly shows a radiator fin structure behind the shutters. I suspect there was a expansion tank mounted on the underside of the ceiling. The portion of the roof that curves back behind the headlight appears to have vents on the side. I don't believe there was a fan used on the G-Es I think the air flow was strictly the movement of the car and convection. The pipes at the top most likely included a vent for for the system ( the G-Es probably did not have pressurized cooling systems when they were designed in the 1920's. Automobiles in the '20s did not) and a pipe to fill the system. There is also a dual air horn arrangement and a bell on the roof above the engineer's position. BTW, by modern standard, the cabs of both the G-Es and the early shovel nose Zephyrs, were crude, hot, noisy and cramped. Even post WWII cabs were a vast improvement. The engine and generator sat adjacent to the crewmen with no separation. From a fan standpoint, there really wasn't any room for the mechanism.
Bill Barber Gravois Mills, MO Sat Feb 2, 2013 2:13 pm (PST) . Posted by:Jack,
Since no one else has has replied I will throw in my $.02 worth. I have always been of the belief that these are the radiator for the engine. The grill on the front has a fan behind it but the radiator is on the roof. I have seen two types on Q G-E's, one is the curved pipes you have asked about and the other is a square box type of radiator.
Ken Martin
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