dknelson wrote: “Also OT - every operating session began with at least a 30 minute lecture from the owner on prototype practices.”
If a guy like this had a job on the big trains, he’d be one of those trainmasters or road foreman hidin’ in the bushes, waitin’ for the smallest mistake you might make, so he could nab you and charge you with it…!
I’d visit this guy’s house once. And that would be all…
On the subject of markers (on former NYC territory):
Most of the cabooses I remember had fixed single markers on either end (this is 1979 and after). Some of the old ones, the old New Haven cabooses, they might use a “portable” marker for. Or in the daylight… just a red flag.
Tom, I thought of something the other night and, as usual, it leaked out of my brain, to pop up as I read the last few replies Monday night. Again I ask for others to add their knowledge to the rest of us. As I said in my original reply, I picked up there of the dandy O scale bobbers and one of the AHM versions for my MP&N RR. These are modified versions (the windows are a little bigger and the Atlas cars have brake rigging) of the Reading bobbers offered by Mantua/Tyco in HO and Thomas Industries in O, back in the early '50’s. The AHM model has something not seen on the Atlas versions, something I presume is a version of the cupola roof “deck lights” I mentioned. There are oblong boxes with what I think are two lenses mounted side by side and what appears to be chimneys for oil lamps above them. I think I’ve seen these in cabooses of the Late 19th and early 20th century Chicago Milwaukee & St Paul, predecessor to the Milwaukee Road, though other roads may have had them in that era too. It’s nitpicking, I know, but I wonder if they held two lamps or only one. Does anyone know anything about them?
Enjoy your model railroading activities and stay safe, everybody.
These “Train indicator lamps” were used in conjunction with marker lamps and flags.
Rather than speculate how they were used (it was explained to me once, which I’ve long forgotten the details) I’ll see what I can dig up from references I have at hand.
There was another “box” centered on the cupola which was for placing another lamp (note the stack as you mentioned). The Nickel Plate used both green and yellow flags on the rear of their trains.
The markers are four-way, because they can be rotated, as necessary, to display the proper aspect.
This Rivarossi observation car, serving as a private car for the railroad’s brass, has four-way markers which could be rotated, as they’re mounted on a wire, bent to an “L”-shape, with the upright portion fitted into the bottom of the lamp…
Unfortunately, I don’t recall the manufacturer of the markers, but I eventually cemented them to the wires, as rotating them often caused a jewel or two to pop out, usually never to be seen again.
I may have the same issue if I do the removeable markers which I mentioned earlier, but I’ll likely give them a try anyway.
Are you operating Rule 251 Double track, current of traffic operation (not single track, not two main track CTC)?
If you aren’t running Rule 251 double track then figs. 9, 10, 11 in the rules aren’t applicable. If you are running single track then only fig 7 & 8 apply to cabooses.
I noted that, Dave. Right now I only have a single track but hope to have a double track at some future date. I’m not sure yet what I will be doing in regards to signaling.
Thanks, Mark, I should’ve known they’d go for the simplest solution. I think they were used to indicate the train on a passing siding was in the clear. I still like the lowly 2-lense lamp on the cupola roof, and I think I’ll now see if I can find lost-wax castings for my three MP&N bobbers. So much modeling to do, so little time to do it all… Stay safe, everybody!
