Ulrich wrote:phew...good thing the fireman didn't have to bring his own smoke stack...that thing would be hard to sling under your arm at the end of a shift.
Not to mention, probably pretty warm, too.
I believe the concept of owning the headlight, whistle, etc. during the pioneering era is generally true, but it does not follow that the engineer took these items home at the end of every run. This was the period of much pride and ornamentation of locomotives, which were often assigned to a specific engineer over a long period. I suppose ownership of certain appliances meant that they went with the engineer if he changed engine assignment.
I have read of engineers wiping and polishing their their engines on their own time. Headlights, bells, whistles, antlers, candlesticks, etc. were the accent items that really gave the engine and its engineer a personality. Of course, all this happy indulgence abruptly disappeard as railroad companies decided to replace the era of decoration with a more functional look.
I believe ndbprr is right. I think the Fireman was responsible to fill all the "refillables" (oil cans, talow pots, etc.) and the Engineer used them to oil around and refill the engine's containers. The headlight inside the big box was a kerosene lamp (sometimes of enormous proportions) and the Engineer maintained it (and may have experimented with the contents to get more light and longer operating time). Thus it was "his" and he may have taken it with him to different engines if he moved to a different job.
There are lots of early Builder's photos that do not show a headlight at all. They were usually added after the railroad took possession.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Kurn wrote: John Luther "Casey" Jones had at least 5 of his own whistles,which he had shop guys change from time to time.His favorite was one with a "whippoorwill" sound,whatever that is.(I know its a bird,but don't know the sound).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr2IQ2x7uW0
If there are no dogs in heaven,then I want to go where they go.
I couldn't get the pictures in my books to scan right at home, but I did find this among my stuff online:
This is still about half the size of some of the headlights I saw in some of my books at home. Still, I don't think I'd care to drag it around too far with me.
Sorry for the cheesy "antique" look to the shot. I thought it was fun at the time, but now I pretty much think it's contrived.
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
.....No, but Ed's Jeep sometimes gets antlers, and we did observe a late model automobile sporting antlers and a red nose last week.
Quentin
"owning the headlight" is incorrect..
I think the writer of that advertisement was simply a bit confused..in the early days of railroads, an engineer and fireman would have their own, personal engine that they used every day..the engine was assigned to them, they were its only crew, and they ran ONLY that engine every day...therefore the engineer and fireman took great pride in "their" personal engine, always keeping it shiny and clean, adding personal touches, and perhaps even adding personal custom artwork to the headlight! (perhaps that where the headlight misconception came from?)
This practice disappeared as railroads became larger and individual locomotives started to roam the entire system..the practice of "personal locomotives" was probably only in the 1840 - 1870 or so era..
Scot
Virtually everything I've seen about the steam era, especially in the middle portion, was that an engineer had one specific locomotive. There was an article in Trains not terribly long ago to that effect, and it was set in the late steam period. It's not inconceivable that an engineer might actually own his own headlight, adorned to his tastes. It wouldn't be practical today, of course. Anybody seen a locomotive with antlers on the nose lately?
Conductors often had their own caboose as well, IIRC.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
CShaveRR wrote: You shouldn'ta said that, Chris!I just had a thought about a Forum member whose name I can't mention, doing something to a locomotive with spinners and neon lights.
You shouldn'ta said that, Chris!
I just had a thought about a Forum member whose name I can't mention, doing something to a locomotive with spinners and neon lights.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
After looking at some ca. 1880 loco photos at lunch, there's no way that an engineer could take "his" headlight home with him. I had been picturing the headlights to be the size of a large suitcase.
In the ca. 1880 shots I looked at, the headlight "box" (not sure what the technical term is) was enormous...I would venture to say larger than the engineer himself.
I'm thinking it was a case of an engineer getting to customize his own loco. When he got a new loco, he simply took his toys with him.
I guess they had "Pimp My Ride" back then, too!
.....That's what I recall reading Carl. Engines were almost "personal", machines. Yes, whistles and headlights, and perhaps other "stuff" used on his job each time he was in charge running the engine.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
....Perhaps a certain engineer was the prime operator of such engine and it was his choice of what headlight to install on it and of course it was left in place as "his" headlight...{by choice}.
I don't think he carried it home along with his lunch bucket.....ha.
....I have heard that stated before but sorry, can't add any details. Some variation of it must be a fact.
While browsing through a May 1988 copy of Live Steam magazine, I came across an ad by D&C Locomotive Works, that caught my attention.The following is a quote from that ad:
"D&C Locomotive Works, Inc., is now offering three objects d'art from the golden age of railroading - around 1880. Just as the engineer owned the headlight of his locomotive, he also owned his tallow pot, oilcan and coffee cup, all of which he took with him from engine to engine."
The question is, did the engineer own the headlight of his locomotive? If anyone knows anything about this strange claim, please let us know. D&C was selling reproductions of the tallow pot, oilcan and coffee cup only, but I thought the headlight thing was unusual.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.