UP Caboose marker lights

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I’ve been going through the book “Caboose”, by Mike Schafer, with the idea towards adding some interior detail and lighting to my cabooses.

I’m figuring on at least interior lights, 12V GOW w/ dropping resistors to bring them down to about 8V when I switch over to DCC. I’m also looking at basic interior “details”, sufficient to stand the “three foot” test. [;)] That is, I’ll have a couple rough seats visible, mounted on top of “lockers” in the cupola, maybe a table, chair, and bunk inside, w/ a floor covering the weights, and paint the interior something other than the native white styrene.

I noticed the end views on p. 39 and 52 show what I suppose are marker lights on the back side of the cupola. I’m giving a little consideration to implementing these, but was wondering what the usage/colors would be. My initial suspicion would be:

  • rear-end light, perhaps only for use at night or at all times
  • warning light for when train is stopped

However, this is purely guesswork. If it’s as simple as this, I’m toying with the idea of including an accessory DCC decoder (under the floor, or in one of the “lockers”) to allow me to implement the warning and/or being able to switch on/off the “night-light”. Alternatively, I might simply power the “night light”.

My question is: either would anyone know the appropriate colors/usage, OR, any suggestions on resources to look this up? I’m a relatively recent returnee to the hobby, so haven’t really built up much of a reference library, nor list of references, so any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Brian

2

The lights mounted on the ends of the cupolas are marker lights, which designate the rear end of a train. Operating rules required built-in markers like these to be illuminated, and to display red to the rear of the train.

Green was to be displayed toward the rear, rather than red, when the train was clear of a main track at night in territory that was not equipped with automatic block (lineside) signals.

On the UP cabooses equipped with built-in markers, the red light was located at the top of the housing, and the green light below it.

3

Thanks, fiverings! Exactly what I was looking for. Sounds like I was in the ballpark, albeit close to the foul line in left field. :slight_smile:

Now I just need to decide whether to just have the Red always-on, or spring for a decoder to be able to switch between Red and Green. Ah, decisions, decisions…

Brian

4

Brian –

You’re welcome!

I’ve put illuminated marker lights on cabooses and passenger cars, and really like the effect. Function-only DCC decoders open up all kinds of neat possibilities–like those you’re thinking about. A friend of mine used a decoder to put an oscillating red warning light on a Milwaukee Road Skytop observation car. It’s spectacular!