OK Pennsy Fans…here is a real test. I am try to model PRR Position Light Signals and have seen them modeled in to many ways to count. I am modeling the Pittsburgh / Altoona Area, Please help.
-There seems to be 18 and 25 foot - mast heights, any ideas which were used where?
-I’ve seen stop indications as being 2 Reds horizontal, 2 Yellows horizontal and 3 Yellows horizontal, Seems like 3 yellows were first. Did they change this? When? Why?
Thank You,
Don Carman
The 1951 PRR rules don’t differenciate any colors in the lights and just show three lights. The 1968 PC rules show all three variations.
I’m not a Pennsy expert but I’m told the red lenses in the horizontal position were added in later years for better safety. For many years it was reported in the trade journals and by the Pennsy that the amber lenses had superior visibility quality, especially in fog, but apparently someone thought that some red would makes things even safer or perhaps had everyone admit the the emperor was not wearing any clothes. But I have actually heard Pennsy engineers say that the amber visibility was overrated especially in the day time. I understand that the N&W had position light signals with the red lenses in the horizontal position from the start. Of course, then you move on to the B&O that had red, green, yellow and lunar lenses in their position light signals!
I have a section of railroad on my layout that will be Pennsy with my road having trackage rights. I look forward to adding Pennsy position light signals there with Oregon Rail parts.
PRR Signaling
You might try this forum for additional help.
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/PRRSignaling/
Doc
Don,This covers PRR signals fairly good.