Hi,
I'd like to add headlights to the steam engine tenders that didn't come with one from the factory. I've looked at Details West and Details Associates and they produce details primarily for diesels.
Does anyone know of companies that make headlights suitable for a steam engine tender?
Thanks,
Jeff
Jeff,
Check Precision Scale Co. They have a plethora of steam locomotive parts.
And, if you find out the part # and PSC doesn't have it in stock, be sure to check eBay.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Bowser also makes some different headlights under the Cal Scale brand. They used to use them quite a bit in their super detail kits when they were still making steam engines.
_________________________________________________________________
You can look at Bowser/Cal-Scale, too:
https://www.bowser-trains.com/history/hocalscalesteam.html
Keep in mind that many, if not all, the brass lost wax headlights will have to be drilled to accept your wiring.
Good Luck, Ed
Thank you. I'll check them out.
Thank you, Darth, I'll check them out.
Thanks, Ed.
There are parts starting to appear in the 3D realm too. Worth a quick look
shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Keep in mind there seemed to be two different types of tender lights. Some railroads had the light built into the tender body, so all that showed was the light's lens.
http://sgaugers.org/TD/JoeD-NYC5423-16.jpg
Others mounted a separate light assembly on top of the rear deck of the tender.
https://berwynstoytrains.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Screenshot-2022-11-10-104609.png
Unlike the modern era where exact replacement parts for whatever a diesel loco needs are available, the steam era saw local shops fabricate whatever parts were required. This often created a far more varied look to details like tender headlights, even within the same class of locomotive. I have cobbled together several tender headlights for my steam locos and not one of my operating crewman has ever pointed to one and said, "That's not right."
Hornblower
I easily imagine that over the course of its service life a locomotive of any kind was a likely candidate to receive replacement parts from other engines, whatever their class and powering. As long as the replacement part could be fitted securely and hooked to its power source without undue trouble, to handle the job, the one laying in the corner already was always cheaper than the one you didn't have yet. Its' installation would probably calm the shop boss down too. There wasn't any waiting for a parts shipment either. I've seen tenders with headlights installed over plated backup light housings, or located quite elsewhere from where the original backup was affixed.
I only worked on a few locomotive restorations. But that was enough to learn to expect lots of surprises from earlier maintenance work. I only worked on a few submarines while in the Navy, but the same often applied there too, at least to incidental parts and fittings. I think a backup light might fall easily in that category of parts.
I don't use working lights on my locomotives, as don't have any interest in doing night-time running, but I did use MV lenses on all of my locomotives, and wish I could still find more of them, as I have five more steam locos to build.
I also used the MV lenses on tenders, too...
Wayne
Used 8052 images of 25000
Used 4.7 GB of 250 GB
May 11 - Dec 27, 2013
American scale models has a bunch of steam engine parts. You might try them. Greenway products used to have a ton of steam stuff too.
Pete