[:(]I’ve been off the forum for a month or so. If this subject has been delt with, please excuse me for asking again. [:)] I would like to mount lights on the rear of my cabooses. My questions are:
Are the lights always red? If not what other colors are there? What do they mean other than, “Watch out you are about to hit another train.”[:o)]
Do all lines mount them in the same place?
Where are they mounted?[%-)]
Thanks for you answers.
Walter, Columbia, TN
Couple of questions. First off, what is the prototype, and what era?
[xx(]I knew someone would ask me a hard question like that! I’ve got a lot of stuff and run different things at different times. Generally I would say 40’s-60’s. I’m not much on knowing those things. I run a lot of different lines including my own, “Appalachian & Southern”. but I have locos and cars from all over including some from Mexico. While in Russia several years ago I tried to get a car with Russian on it. All they had was a few Bachman at very high prices. The conversion rate was something like $10 - $15.[8]
Armed with this mish mash of non-information I eagerly await any info you can share.[:I]
Thanks again for the reply.
Walter
Hi Walt! I’ve seen wooden style cabooses with lantern type lights mounted on the sides near the rear of the caboose. A red light faced the rear and a green light shown to the side. (mounted on the side up near the roof.) I’ve seen metal cabooses like from the F unit period that had two red lights mounted on the back of the caboose under the roof line out towards the sides. These flashed back and forth like a crossing light.
Thanks for the information Loathar. [:)] [#offtopic]I don’t want to mix the threads up, but I read yours on the diabetes problem. [:(]My heart goes out to all who have it. I don’t, but my wife Betty does. She also has a bad thyroid to go with it. When she gets weak I ask, “Have you had your thyroid medicine?” If she says yes, I say, “What is your blood sugar level?” [:O]
I still hope we can get together sometime.[8D]
Walter
Walter,
Caboose markers were usually kerosene lamps that were hung on brackets on the end of the caboose. They usually had red to the rear, and yellow or green to the sides/front(this depended on the railroad).
A train running down the mainline would have the red to the rear of both markers. If the train was on double track, or safe in a siding; then the marker closest to the other main would show green or yellow to indicate that the other main track was clear.
In the 60’s the rules were modified and many railroad used reflective ‘paddles’ for the markers. Some like the CB&Q or SOO had built-in markers on the ends(electric). By the late 70’s, government intervention required an electic lamp on the rear(at least atr night). I hope this provides some insight.
Jim