Marker lights on CB&Q 4-8-4

[fwdguy]

Hello All,

I just bought a CB&Q 4-8-4 Northern and was wanting to ad a mars light and maker lights.

Any sugestions on the brand I should use?

Also what color should the marker lights(jewels) be in front and the sides?

Any help would be great,

Mark

[Anonymous]

Mark --

As to Mars light, I would compare prototype photos with detail parts made by Cal Scale, PSC, Detail Associates, etc., to find the best match.

As to "markers", I suspect you're really talking about "Classification lights" (these are the lamps mounted on either side of the smoke box).

Markers designate the rear end of a train. Classification lights are placed on an engine to show whether the train it is pulling is a regular, scheduled train; whether a "section" of a scheduled train is following; or whether the train is an "Extra", i.e., not a scheduled train, but one whose movement is authorized by train order.

The only (or the last) section of a scheduled train will not have illuminated classification lights. This will be the most common situation for passenger-service locomotives.

If a scheduled train is run in sections, all but the last section will carry green classification lights (and/or green classification flags during daylight hours). This is an occasional condition for passenger-service locomotives and, depending on the practices of the prototype road, a rare or non-existent condition for freight-service locos.

Extra trains display illuminated white classification lights (and/or white classification flags during daylight hours). Depending on the prototype and era, some, most or all freight trains were operated as extras. By contrast, most passenger trains were run as regular, scheduled trains, and only a few ran as passenger extras.

For sake of versatility (4-8-4s being both freight and passenger engines) I would be inclined to install clear MV lenses in all of the aspects of the classification lights. This would represent the non-illuminated classification lights of a regularly-scheduled train. Jewels would do a good job of simulating an illuminated, white classification light. If the engine is to be used mainly or exclusively in freight service, this would be a good option.

In any event, put the same type of lense or jewel in each aspect of the classification lights--they didn't display different colors in different directions.

[fwdguy]

Thanks,

Great information.

Mark