1950's Yard Lights

[ShadowNix]

Yeah, but for me the lights (lamps) are just WAY to big.... seem childlike in my eyes (and NO I am NOT a rivet counter!)  :)

 

Brian

[wjstix]

Miniatronics makes them too....

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=H&manu=&item=&keywords=yard+light&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search

[ShadowNix]

Dknelson,

 Thanks! I keep forgetting about HOSeeker...gotta use that more.   I think I can build the structure, just working now on how to form the lights.... I am thinking campbell brass lampshades soldered to some 1/4 brass tubing, sanded painted and then glazed.... might work... hmmm I will get back to you with pics! Again, thanks! 

Brian

[wjstix]

Several companies make ready-to-use yard light towers that would work in a 1950's layout. Check out the Walthers catalogue/website.

[dknelson]

Tyco -- yes Tyco -- had some OK looking flood lights back in the mid 1960s.  They are pictured on this page from their 1966 catalog, found on the excellent Ho Seeker website:

 http://hoseeker.net/tycoinformation/tycocatalog1966pg11.jpg

And somewhat more clearly pictured here

 http://ho-scaletrains.net/tycotrains/id74.html

Dave Nelson

[ShadowNix]

Any idea of that would be prototypical?  I have seen that site before.... just wondering!  Thanks for all the ideas/pics/help!

Brian

[Anonymous]

Try this on for size:

http://www.geocities.com/bkempins/ASMMain/YardLightTower.html

 

[ShadowNix]

Yeah, I am trying to build some custom ones...the lights on the NJI ones are too big for my taste...

Brian

[MisterBeasley]

NJ International has some:

http://www.njinternational.com/railroad.htm

 

[wm3798]

These wooden light stands were built in Hagerstown Yard on the WM.  Several are still standing, but they are slated for replacement.  I grabbed this shot a couple years ago...

You could probably build a reasonable facsimile out of strip wood or styrene.

Lee 

[ShadowNix]

Anyone have any of these that would be willing to photocopy and mail me????

Yard Lighting
Mainline Modeler, August 2005 page 26

Floodlight tower - scratchbuilding in brass
Railmodel Journal, November 1995 page 27

Build this yard light tower in 4 hours
Railroad Model Craftsman, February 1961 page 40

Let me know!

Brian

[ShadowNix]

Anyone else have any pictures? I am thinking of scratchbuilding one for fun...just wondering...the above links are awesome...

Any articles anyone can think of in MRR/MRC (I will search database now....)

Thanks!

Brian

[pcarrell]

I got my pics from this site (they may have more);

http://www.steamfreightcars.com/index.html

[dickiee]

Philip Carrell and gsetter: This information is exactly what I was looking for...I can't thank you enough. I have bookmarked the photo pages.

Richard

[Anonymous]

In most of the yard photo's I've seen, the lamps are like a regular street lamp of the era.
I don't have a good photo to show you, but I croped what I had. The photo was taken at the engine terminal, but they used the same lights in the yard.


I scratch built my own yard lamps. The bulbs are a bit oversized but they're inexpensive and I'm using a lot of them.

[pcarrell]

These things shouldn't be to hard to scratchbuild with some Evergreen or Plastistruct girders and stuff. You just need some good reference photo's. Let's see if I can help with that.

Click any photo to enlarge





And I can't get this last one to enlarge, so here's a link; http://www.steamfreightcars.com/gallery/shot%20of%20mo/shotofmoapr02.html


Does this inspire you?

[dickiee]

Thanks to all for the great suggestions...I am looking specifically for railroad yard lights.

[BRVRR]

dickiee,
Here's an idea I'm going to try. Should be adaptable to your use as well.

Link: [url="http://2guyzandsumtrains.com/2g/howto/led/led1.html"]

Hope it helps.

[JCasey]

You didn't mention what scale you are working in, but here are a couple in HO scale just for ideas.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/525-1977
http://www.hobbylinc.com/prods/uuc_4.htm
Good Luck, John

[tomikawaTT]

Originally posted by leighant

I have seen pictures of 1950s railroad yards with lights a lot like those on high school football stadiums. (If they were football venues for Latin and Greek educated Ivy League college, they would be "stadia" but for railroad town high schools, "stadiums" will do.)

/quote]

[#ditto]

Actually, I saw railroad yards with tower lights in the 1950's. They were spaced out about 100 yards apart, stood 75 - 100 feet high and had their floodlights aimed in all directions. General illumination level was low, since workers had to be able to see lantern signals. In those pre-sodium lamp days, the light was white, slightly yellowish. (Think incandescent bulb on low voltage, not yellow LED.)

Judging by the Lionel catalog, which had their version (tinplate) in the late 1930's, tower lighting dates to well before 1950.

Chuck

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