Lantern bail

[Anonymous]

Why does the bail on most lanterns have a bend (sort of an S) on one side about half way between the top and the lantern?

[csxengineer98]

what type of lantern you talking about...the starlight brand..or the old old ones with the glass and tin..
a bit more detail might help you get a better responce
csx engineer

[edblysard]

Al,
If you are talking about the starlight lanterns, they come with a round tubular, aluminum bail, oval shaped, which crew members tend to reshape to fit their hands.

Using the handle as it comes is somewhat awkward, bending the s shape into it gives you something to grip.

If you know lantern signals, try them with a bucket, then bend a s grip into the handle, and try them again.

Sounds strange, but its easier to use the lamp with the bend, the light isnt really for you to see with, but a lighted object, to allow your engineer to see where you are at night, and a tool to communicate with him, using the light in place of daylight hand signals.

Ed

[csxengineer98]

well said
i know many crewman that have "re-engineered" lanters... as well as a story of a yard man asking to see his utility mans lantern to try and chock a car to keep it from rolling....lol... needless to say that lantern needed to be replaces..since the bail was flattend into razer blade...
csx engineer

[mvlandsw]

The Deitz kerosene lanterns had this bend from the factory. It gives you a place to put your thumb and allows better control of the lantern when giving signals. Edblysard's yards must be lighted much better than the ones I work in. In some places the brakeman's lantern is the only light source available. Today even though the rules say to use hand signals where possible, the radio is used almost 100% to direct movements. I've had trainmen stand right outside my window and use the radio instead of hand signals.

[edblysard]

Hi mvlandsw,
Our yards are fairly well lighted, but not so great I would go out without a lantern.
And with four or five jobs in the yard working on the same channel, I skip the radio when I can, its hard to "walk" on hand signals.
And yeah, the radio is the means of choice for most of the new guys.

The last rookie we had working with us rode around on a light motor, talking to the engineer on his radio.
Engineer finally stopped, made him come into the cab, and ask him why he was "using the radio to lead a light motor around, after all, I am looking directly at you?"
Kid didnt really have a answer....other than its easier.

Ed

[Mookie]

Ed! You are good! You can now answer my questions before I even ask them!

I am impressed!