General Discussion

How good were the headlights on steamers, I remember as a kid seeing plenty of headlights but never from the cab, did they actually light up ahead ? I wonder now what was the use, they couldn't stop if they wanted to, maybe it was to see what you were going to hit. How efficient were these lights, I can't remember seeing a loco with it's light off, even in the day time.

 In my neck of the woods, steamers in the 1940's and '50s never ran with their headlights on in the daytime.  The headlights back then were incandescent bulbs that were much brighter than an automobile headlight because of their much larger reflector, but not nearly as bright as today's diesel locomotive lights.  I doubt they illuminated anything further away than perhaps 1/4 mile, and then simply because they were so much higher up than an automobile headlight.

cacole:

 In my neck of the woods, steamers in the 1940's and '50s never ran with their headlights on in the daytime.  The headlights back then were incandescent bulbs that were much brighter than an automobile headlight because of their much larger reflector, but not nearly as bright as today's diesel locomotive lights.  I doubt they illuminated anything further away than perhaps 1/4 mile, and then simply because they were so much higher up than an automobile headlight.

The Butler:

cacole:

 In my neck of the woods, steamers in the 1940's and '50s never ran with their headlights on in the daytime.  The headlights back then were incandescent bulbs that were much brighter than an automobile headlight because of their much larger reflector, but not nearly as bright as today's diesel locomotive lights.  I doubt they illuminated anything further away than perhaps 1/4 mile, and then simply because they were so much higher up than an automobile headlight.

I have always wondered when it became mandatory for the headlight to be on all the time.  With less ambient light sixty plus years ago, could you figure a little light went further than it does today?   

I can't help with the date when it may have become mandatory, which may have been long after the practice became universal.  My understanding, which I cannot support by any hard evidence, is that the clean running diesels were a lot less visible than a steam locomotive, which often had some sort of smoke plume.  Turning on the diesel headlight in daytime was an attempt to enhance visibility at grade crossings.  Of course nothing helps when a motorist doesn't bother to look, and even ditch lights aren't solving that problem.

John

......My opinion of course is only from the fan side.....Steam engine headlights perhaps had a rather good capability to shine far down the track with the reflector designed to project the "pencil" shaft light concentrated to a narrow area.  Power should not have been a problem with the steam powered generators to supply the power.

The 40's and 50's wasn't quite the "dark ages" in lighting, but of course no way near the technology it is now.  But as an example, automobiles were equiped with sealed beam headlights about 1940....I'm not saying steam engines were using that, but I do remember as a steam engine would be approaching a crossing the headlight was impressive.

Edit:  I don't remember of steamers back in the 40's using headlights in the daytime either.

Modelcar:

......My opinion of course is only from the fan side.....Steam engine headlights perhaps had a rather good capability to shine far down the track with the reflector designed to project the "pencil" shaft light concentrated to a narrow area.  Power should not have been a problem with the steam powered generators to supply the power.

The 40's and 50's wasn't quite the "dark ages" in lighting, but of course no way near the technology it is now.  But as an example, automobiles were equiped with sealed beam headlights about 1940....I'm not saying steam engines were using that, but I do remember as a steam engine would be approaching a crossing the headlight was impressive.

Edit:  I don't remember of steamers back in the 40's using headlights in the daytime either.

 

I never meant to imply the technology wasn't good back then.