Floodlight car

fwdguy

Member since
October 2004
From: MP76-Houston, Texas
364 posts

Floodlight car

Posted by fwdguy on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 4:37 PM

Do railroads use floodlight cars like the ones offered by various HO companies?

And if so what are they used for? Any photos anywhere on the web?

Thanks,

Mark

Reply

cefinkjr

Member since
October 2004
From: Allen, TX
1,320 posts

Posted by cefinkjr on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 4:43 PM

I don't recall ever seeing a prototype floodlight car. Lots of floodlights on wrecking cranes. Lots of portable floodlights on tripods. But no cars dedicated to carrying a floodlight.

Chuck
Allen, TX

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 4:44 PM

I was wondering the same thing the other night. Don't have an answer either.

Reply
Edit

fwdguy

Member since
October 2004
From: MP76-Houston, Texas
364 posts

Posted by fwdguy on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 4:53 PM

I was thinking maybe they are used for night work for rail repair or a wreck sent along with the crane or work train.

Mark

Reply

chutton01

Member since
December 2001
3,139 posts

Posted by chutton01 on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 6:48 PM

There may or may not have been prototypes (probably were, in the 1890s or so), but the floodlight car is a rather simple to design and manufacture (add a light to a flatcar, make it so it can turn and swivel, and power it off the rails) and yet fun 'action' operating accessory

Reply

gvdobler

Member since
November 2014
595 posts

Posted by gvdobler on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 7:22 PM

Lionel made a Search light car.

It had a light similar to the ones you see at a Hollywood opening.

Maybe that's what you are thinking of.

Infact go to item #5959104951

on ebay and you can see one.

Jon - Las Vegas

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 8:57 PM

I've never seen one, but i would imagine that when there is a wreck (ouch) that they would need floodlights for night cleanup. Also, they might be used for track survey or something.

Reply
Edit

Anonymous

Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 10:24 PM

A history of searchlights on the web indicates that searchlights were put on flatcars in WWII on the West Coast to support anti-aircraft installations. Says they were usually put in a shelter during the day and pulled out at night, so they must not have moved much. The current army field manual for rail operations describes rail ops during combat and describes armored cars with rotating searchlights mounted on top.

This link http://www.sylvania.com/AboutUs/PressAndNews/PressAndVideoReleases/Horseshoecurve.htm describes a recent commercial use of rail mounted searchlights for a celebration.

Reply
Edit

Anonymous

Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 24, 2005 6:38 AM

As noted, other than wartime the searchlight cars are not a regular railroad item, mostly a toy train thing.

Bob Boudreau

Reply
Edit

fwdguy

Member since
October 2004
From: MP76-Houston, Texas
364 posts

Posted by fwdguy on Thursday, February 24, 2005 4:46 PM

I had one years ago by Lionel I believe in grey MW. Im not sure what happened to it.

Anyway I just bought one on Ebay in Burlington Northern since I model the BN.

Just as a conversation piece or for some night running.

Just something to ad to my every growing layout.

Mark