How far back to these go? I found the patent information from 1950, but was this type of antenna used say from 46 through 47 time frame?
Dan
Firecracker antennas go back to about the early 50’s. Before that, the ‘wagon wheel’ antenna or the ‘nail’ antenna was popular. There seems to be a lot of early F3 or F7 engines with the ‘wagon wheel’ on the CB&Q. The Milwaukee seemed to like the ‘nail’ antenna model. Remember, many engines did NOT have radios in them back then. When I went to work for the CB&Q in 1968 most of the interlocking towers had a radio, and the train radio was a special Motorola design that plugged into a rack in the engine or caboose. The hostlers checked out the radios and made sure they were working before releasing the consist to the engine crew. Only the lead engine had a radio. Portables were checked out by the brakemen if they were needed. There have been many designs - SP liked the small ‘whip’ antenna, and by the 70’s the ‘skate’ or Sinclair’ antenna became popular. The current crop of antennas are hidden under that white ‘dome’ on the cab roof of many engines.
Jim
Thanks for that. I was toying with putting an antenna on my 1947 “crack” passenger train (PA’s on my own road) but I guess I’ll pass.