Specifically I am modeling the period from 1940 to 1950 for the PRR and was wondering what type of device was used on the rear cabins. I have installed lighting kits already and was thinking there must have been something else to mark the end of the train…Thanks in advance…Bob
relee - Welcome to Trains.com! [C):-)]
assuming you are in HO scale, for your time period Cal Scale’s #190-463 PRR Caboose Marker Lamp would probably be appropriate.
http://www.bowserorders.com/.sc/ms/sch/ee?search=caboose+marker&go.x=9&go.y=12&go=go
Normal railroad practice would be a pair of kerosene marker lamps showing red to the rear, hung on brackets high on each side of the rear platform. The lamps would be moved from one end to the other as required . Modern cabooses often had built in electric lights on each side at both ends. Don’t know if Pennsy had a different style, though. You should be able to find the answer in published books and magazines, or even some of themany photo sites on the web.
John
Technically you want to know what type of “marker lights” are on a PRR caboose.
An “end of train device” is something completely different that does a similar job.
You’re about a quarter-century too early for an end-of-train device - which replaced/replaces a cabin in normal service.
PRR caboose markers displayed red to the rear and yellow to the sides when the train was on a main track. If the train was running with the normal stream of traffic on multiple track (of which Pennsy had lots) it would display yellow to the rear on the side where an overtaking train might pass, and red on the other side. When in a siding completely clear of the main, yellow would be displayed to the rear and red to the sides.
I’m still waiting to read about the modeler who actually has his markers display the proper colors in the proper directions at the proper times…
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with markers that are either red or dark)
In your time any “train” - freight, passenger, just a locomotive on the mainline - would have to display marker lights on the rear. On some branchlines a railroad might get by with a cut of cars with a red flag stuck in the coupler, but normally even that train would have a caboose. As noted EOT’s came in to replace cabooses.
A lot of PRR cabins retrofitted with electric marker lamps during the 40s-it was cheaper then the kerosene lamps and eliminated a 24/7 maintainer job class…
Thank you all for the input! I am modeling in HO scale…just the info I needed!