Light on SP Daylight Observation car

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Does anyone know about the usage of the light on the 1941 era car? Was it used in normal forward travel? When stopped? Backing up? Was it used both flashing and steady? Are BLI (white, on at all times) and and MTH (1953: green, flashing at all times) both wrong on their HO models? The Wright book didn’t help.

Thanks

Hal

2

Thanks to Ken and Jeff on the PCL Yahoo group for the answers. The white light was used only for backing. A DCC decoder could handle this.

However, the lights were changed in 1949 to red Mars lights to serve as more-visible marker lights. The BLI car number is 2954, and paperwork shows the change. So depends on your year of interest.

The lighting on the BLI was generally much too bright to suit me, with gross shine thru the body. See the BLI forum if interested in how I cured the problems.

Hal

3

And changed yet again around 1959 to atop the roof in a combined housing, the DAYLIGHT scheme was also abolished on these rebuilt cars.

Dave

4

Please, I wish one information with reference to the withe light used in the rear of SP observation cars: the term “backing” is meant to go backwards (to reverse), or help and support to the side marker light (in case of poor visibility: heavy rain or fog)? Thanks.

5

They were restricted to use only when performing a reverse move.

Dave

6

I did install an old obsolete decoder to handle the light. There’s enough room next to the cap in the front.

Hal