I had scanned these pages in response to a similar inquiry on another forum. Can't hurt to post here as well!
From a 1937 New York Central Rule book. Some pretty neat information that we could all use in operating our period layouts. CTC, radios and advanced communications have since made classification lights obsolete but the "marker" is still recognized as the device that makes the train "complete"
Hope this helps you out... Ed
White means running as an extra. ie. not on the timetable. If a train is on the timetable, no lit markers.
Green means another section following. This would usually be a timetable train, as a second section of an extra would probably just be another extra.
Red would be displayed to the rear of movement--unnecessary on the back of lead units, since ya can't see them. I think the red display was not the standard on every railroad.
Ed
Ah, redundancy--can't hurt.
Those mixed colors must have looked pretty jaunty.
Class lights are sort of a lost thing, so I doubt there is a current FRA reg on them.
Basically:
Unlit - Scheduled Train
White - Extra Train
Green - Section Following(last section will have 'unlit' class lights).
Red - When used as a helper/light engine move, Red will be displayed to the rear.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
What are the regs for engine classification (marker lights ) lights, I know they had red, green and white marker lights. I remember them comming into the shop with white-green, green-both sides and red-green and red-red (end of train pusher unit) I was a RR machinist at the time, but the light's were the electricians job, never gave it much thought then, but curious now.
I think the green-green was the marker for another train (extra ) behind the train in the same block, not sure?? Cant find the regs in the FRA hanbook ???