I’m doing a layout set in the middle 50’s and need some suggestions for yard lights. There doesn’t seem to be any available in the Walther’s catalog. I will scratch build them if I have to, but first I need to know what they look like. Any suggestions and/or info will be much appreciated. I am using HO scale.
Do you mean railroad yard lights, or lights in a suburban backyard?
I have seen pictures of 1950s railroad yards with lights a lot like those on high school football stadiums. (If they were football venues for Latin and Greek educated Ivy League college, they would be “stadia” but for railroad town high schools, “stadiums” will do.)
[quote]
Originally posted by leighant
I have seen pictures of 1950s railroad yards with lights a lot like those on high school football stadiums. (If they were football venues for Latin and Greek educated Ivy League college, they would be “stadia” but for railroad town high schools, “stadiums” will do.)
/quote]
[#ditto]
Actually, I saw railroad yards with tower lights in the 1950’s. They were spaced out about 100 yards apart, stood 75 - 100 feet high and had their floodlights aimed in all directions. General illumination level was low, since workers had to be able to see lantern signals. In those pre-sodium lamp days, the light was white, slightly yellowish. (Think incandescent bulb on low voltage, not yellow LED.)
Judging by the Lionel catalog, which had their version (tinplate) in the late 1930’s, tower lighting dates to well before 1950.
Chuck
You didn’t mention what scale you are working in, but here are a couple in HO scale just for ideas.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/525-1977
http://www.hobbylinc.com/prods/uuc_4.htm
Good Luck, John
dickiee,
Here’s an idea I’m going to try. Should be adaptable to your use as well.
Link: [url=“http://2guyzandsumtrains.com/2g/howto/led/led1.html”]
Hope it helps.
Thanks to all for the great suggestions…I am looking specifically for railroad yard lights.
These things shouldn’t be to hard to scratchbuild with some Evergreen or Plastistruct girders and stuff. You just need some good reference photo’s. Let’s see if I can help with that.
Click any photo to enlarge
And I can’t get this last one to enlarge, so here’s a link; http://www.steamfreightcars.com/gallery/shot%20of%20mo/shotofmoapr02.html
Does this inspire you?
In most of the yard photo’s I’ve seen, the lamps are like a regular street lamp of the era.
I don’t have a good photo to show you, but I croped what I had. The photo was taken at the engine terminal, but they used the same lights in the yard.
I scratch built my own yard lamps. The bulbs are a bit oversized but they’re inexpensive and I’m using a lot of them.
Philip Carrell and gsetter: This information is exactly what I was looking for…I can’t thank you enough. I have bookmarked the photo pages.
Richard
I got my pics from this site (they may have more);
Anyone else have any pictures? I am thinking of scratchbuilding one for fun…just wondering…the above links are awesome…
Any articles anyone can think of in MRR/MRC (I will search database now…)
Thanks!
Brian
Anyone have any of these that would be willing to photocopy and mail me???
Yard Lighting
Mainline Modeler, August 2005 page 26
Floodlight tower - scratchbuilding in brass
Railmodel Journal, November 1995 page 27
Build this yard light tower in 4 hours
Railroad Model Craftsman, February 1961 page 40
Let me know!
Brian
These wooden light stands were built in Hagerstown Yard on the WM. Several are still standing, but they are slated for replacement. I grabbed this shot a couple years ago…
You could probably build a reasonable facsimile out of strip wood or styrene.
Lee
NJ International has some:
Yeah, I am trying to build some custom ones…the lights on the NJI ones are too big for my taste…
Brian
Try this on for size:
http://www.geocities.com/bkempins/ASMMain/YardLightTower.html
Any idea of that would be prototypical? I have seen that site before… just wondering! Thanks for all the ideas/pics/help!
Brian
Tyco – yes Tyco – had some OK looking flood lights back in the mid 1960s. They are pictured on this page from their 1966 catalog, found on the excellent Ho Seeker website:
http://hoseeker.net/tycoinformation/tycocatalog1966pg11.jpg
And somewhat more clearly pictured here
http://ho-scaletrains.net/tycotrains/id74.html
Dave Nelson
Several companies make ready-to-use yard light towers that would work in a 1950’s layout. Check out the Walthers catalogue/website.
Dknelson,
Thanks! I keep forgetting about HOSeeker…gotta use that more. I think I can build the structure, just working now on how to form the lights… I am thinking campbell brass lampshades soldered to some 1/4 brass tubing, sanded painted and then glazed… might work… hmmm I will get back to you with pics! Again, thanks!
Brian