Steam Locomotive Lighting Question

[seppburgh2]

Example of a stack light on the link below.  What we have on the K4 is an oversize junction box, which I suspect (the PRR experts can jump right in here) was due to the relocation of the turbo steam generator to the smoke box front.

Here is the link, cut & past to access, from RailPictures.Net:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=483081&nseq=5

[rfpjohn]

That is a very interesting shot. I've never noticed a junction box like that before on a K4s. Hopefully some pennsyphile can shed some light on the subject!

[pajrr]

Hi, This is not my picture.   http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=274205&nseq=69. On the fireman's side of the stack is a junction box that feeds power to the class lights and the headlights. On some K-4s I have seen in pix this is a smaller. squarer box. This one has a longer box that I have seen in most pix which makes me think it has a bulb in it. Anyway, whether the K-4 actually had one or not, my question "were there such things as attack lights has been answered." Thank you everyone for your input.

[Overmod]

Can you post the picture of the K4 with stack light?

I don't recall hearing of a stack light for anything that wasn't oil-fired, but there may have been conditions (for example, communities or municipalities with very strict smoke ordinances) where stack lights to monitor 'emissions' from coal firing might have made sense.  A stack light was a very important accessory when adjusting oil-firing at night, though, and a number of roads used them.

[rfpjohn]

I've never seen a picture of a K4 with a stack light, however, I believe many oil burners had them. I seem to recall seeing photos of SP engines with such a light by the back of the smokestack rim.

 

[pajrr]

Hi, I have a question concerning steam locomotives. Did some have a stack light so that the fireman could see the smoke at night so he could monitor the combustion? It looks like a PRR K-4 had such a light. Was there a light? If so, did other railroads use them too? Thanks for any info you can provide.