Color of lens in marker lanterns on steam engines and tenders

[Anonymous]

I would like to know the correct colors of the lens on the front of steam engine (front, side and rear)
Also the same information on the lanterns on the rear of the tenders so I can add the correct color of jewels to them.

[dehusman]

The lights on the front of an engine are called classification lights or signals:

If its on a regular train or the last section of a regular train - unlit (dark)
If its a section (other than the last section) - green
If its an extra train - white
If its running backwards - red

The markers on the rear of tenders or cabooses varies from era to era, from railroad to railroad and from situation to situation. Marker lamps were way less standard than class lights. Best bet is to find a rule book for your railroad and your era and follow it.

Generally red to the rear and red or yellow to the sides. Trains in the clear in a siding sometimes showed yellow to the rear.

Dave H.

[mvlandsw]

Some railroads used green instead of yellow.

[kenneo]

The SP, for both diesel and steam, it is white, red and green.

White for Extra and last section of Regular trains. If a regular train is operated as a single section only, it is white. White means "Nothing else is following on my schedule authority."

Green for all sections of a regular train except the last section and means "There is at least one more train following on my schedule authority". Can not be used by an extra.

Red is used when the locomotive is operating backward as the last car (here the definition of car includes a locomotive). It is the marker, and without the marker on a train, it can not be said to have arrived.

Train-order rules stated that a train could not be listed as arriving unless the entire train, including class lights and markers had come to a complete stop at a location where time applies; or where such train has proceeded into a siding or spur and both ends are past the FP (passed being figured from (normally) the switch toward the train); or the train, including signals and markers has come to a dead stop on a yard track controlled by a yardmaster and will not make any further move under its originating schedule or current train order authority.'

That means that if the marker has not arrived, the train has not either. Part of it may have, but all of it has not. So, if you are to meet Extra 1234 West at Tiddleywinks, you need to see his headlight, class lights displaying the proper signals AND its little red lights on the rear. If no little red lights or improper signals displayed in the class lights, you best anchor it. Real fast.

Now, for the back end of things, the markers we had red, green and yellow.

Red - The back end. Please stop before you get here.

Yellow - Use banned verrrrrry many years ago, but was used when a train was operating against the current of traffic on track not signalled for each direction, or multiple main tracks not signaled at all. On double track, the marker away from the "right way" would remain red. The marker next to the "right way" would be yellow to tell any overtaking train operating the "right way" that you were not a block signal, but a train operating the "wrong way" and to use caution ahead.

Green. Now banned. Generally used only in dark territory and use prohibited in lit territory by rule. When using two markers and a train is overtaking you and you are in the clear on a siding or spur, that your train IS in the clear and that they may proceed on their schedule or train order authority. When using one marker (electric single marker such as in use on many roads after the mid 1960's), there would be one red light and one green light in the marker unit. Use is the same as two markers. Eventually the green ones were banned also. So, if you were overtaking a train and found two red ones looking at you, time to throw out the anchor.

More than you were looking for? Now add to the above how each other road did it. But I'll bet, that if you use the basic colors with white forward and read to the rear, no one will notice if your jewels are not proto-perfect for your railroad. Trust me.

[dehusman]

NO. White class lights mean an extra. Regular trains and the last section of a regular train have the class lites unlit, or dark.

An arrival was the marker, not the class lights.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

White flags replace white lights during the day. Do green flags replace green lights?