Marker Lights: what are their meanings?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Can someone give me a quick run down on the meaning of the white, green and red lights at the head of a steam engine.

Was this universal and based on an industry standard or did each RR have their own codes?

Thanks
Fergie

2

Fergie, the lamps marked the head and the end of a train. The colors may have varied from road to road, I’m not sure about that, but on the Southern, green marked the front of a scheduled train. White lamps marked the front of an unscheduled or extra train.Red marked the rear of the train, with yellow being displayed to the sides.

Hope This Helps,
Tom

3

As always Tom, right on schedule! Thanks, This sounds about right as I have read this before but couldn’t remember where.

Fergie

4

Unless the engine is running by itself or backwards, there are no “marker” lights on a locomotive. The marker light is the light that indicates the end of the train. a caboose will normally display markers.

There are classification lights or signals on a locomotive.
Unlit or dark - The train is a regular or scheduled train, it is operating on a timetable schedule.
Green - The train is a regular or scheduled train, it is operating in sections, and there is a section following the train with the green markers.
White - The train is an extra train, a train not authorized by a timetable schedule.
Red - The train is operating backwards and the signals are being used as markers.

Dave H.