Help with a lamp

[Anonymous]

While my Garden RR is shutdown for the winter, I would like to build a table lamp for the inside train room. My plan is to mount a LGB caboose with track to a piece of cherry. Bring a brass tube up one side of the caboose and put two bends in it so the lamp harp and shade would be centered over the caboose.

Ideally it would be wired with three lighting options based on position of the switch – 1) night light only in the caboose; 2) main light only with shade; 3) both lights on. An option would be to run some fiber optics to the caboose lanterns.

Has anyone built such a lamp? If so, where were you able to get the parts?

[Puckdropper]

I've seen it done... I have a lamp that does just as you describe (except for being built around a caboose.)

Try googling for "three way switch nightlight"

[Anonymous]

Bob,
I have seen lamps like that built with the Aristo Bobber caboose. They did not try to route the tubing around the caboose...they drilled a hole in the roof and floor and had the tube come straight thru the caboose. Looked good and stable.
I have not shopped for lamp parts recently but I found all the parts needed a long time ago at a lighting store. Real simple stuff...just some tubing with threaded ends and some ring nuts. Another option...find an old lamp at a second hand store or yard sale and salvage it for the parts you need.
Paul D

[grandpopswalt]

Bob,

I've made a couple lamps as you describe. I use the Bachmann Bobber caboose. I get most of the parts from a lamp repair store in town. They offer an offset brass tube in various lengths which will allow you to have the socket located over the centerline of the caboose. Ask for a three position switch which will allow you to have a night lite only, main lite only, or both lites on at the same time. I use two 4 watt lamps in the cupola with a diode in series with one leg of the AC supply, this seems to give the ideal amount of brightness for the night light. Try to find some sort of diffused glass or plastic for the windows.

My grandsons love their lamps and I've gotten great compliments from the adaults as well, it's a good project.

Good luck

Walt

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. I wanted to route the tube around the caboose so it could be pressed into raod service should I want to. I will find and visit a local shop for the parts.

Thanks again.

[Tom The Brat]

Any good hardware store can get you fixed up.