Pennsy T-1 Gyra/Mars light?

[gmpullman]

Does anyone out there know if the single lamp on the "grille" portion of the front end of a Pennsy 4-4-4-4 T-1 was actually an oscillating light?
If so, do you suppose it would be possible to make a working one on the Broadway Ltd. model... does the QSI decoder provide for lighting effects??
Thanks all...

[ndbprr]

Everything I have read indicates it was a second headlight. Apparently they were used in addition in foggy weather. Not all engine shad them.

[Mark300]

Gee,,,,,this would be the first time I've ever heard of the Pennsy using Gyra/Mars lights on their T-1's or on any of their steam power for that matter.

The T-1's were a 1940's vintage locomotive, WW2 and so forth.

According to Alvin F. Stauffer's 'Pennsy Power,' pg 220 there are a number of great photos showing the front end of #'s 6110, 5505, 5533 & 5547. The PRR Keystone is on grille portion of most of the shots except the one of 5547 and it has the following caption;

"Face of the only T1a showing the influence of maintenance men over designers. The little headlight is an emergency unit, but was used by enginemen as fog lights or - both were used for extreme illumination."

Other photos in the section depict the #5542, #5511, #5500 and #5535 with the 2nd light in the grille instead of the Keystone. Most have it on too!

I would think that at the 70 - 90 MPH speeds they maintained between Chicago and Harrisburg PA, all the illumination they could get would help their visibility at grade crossings.

Now you could 'freelance' an oscillating light perhaps with a DCC CV setting but a Gyra light wasn't 'Prototypical.'

HTH

Happy Railroading.

Mark

[gmpullman]

Thanks for the info. I've noticed the keystone on most T-1s but thought I'd ask anyway. I did hear of Pennsy experimenting with a Mars light in the nose door of at least ONE of their E units but it was removed after a short time.