Howdy,I have a question regarding class lights, on both Steam & Diesel.I have seen Steam Engine Class Lights with three (sided/colored) lenses, however I'm not sure of the exact 'intended' colors: Amber/Clear, Green/Blue, & Red.Pretty much the same on Diesels; specifically Canadian; BC, CN, & CP come to mind, as they have them individualized on their cabs.
My question is this; If i were in the steam era, & the priority train (alone & on the specific rail), what would be my forward (nose) forward facing light color be, & conversely, the 'tender' rear facing light color be? A sub-set of that question would be, what are the leading or trailing illumination options for the color of the lights.
Same questions for modern Diesels, as in 1980ish to more modern, 'if in fact' those roads would use class lights.
I have been told that the bluish lens is actually illuminated 'green', & perhaps the lamp filament has to do with the perceived tone in photographs.Any Thoughts or guidance on that?I'm asking because I may be interested in accurately lighting those in a few upcoming builds.I appreciate the lookover/read, & any answers, Thank You!
The lights at the head end of a train were classification light. The lights at the rear of a train were marker lights.
A white class light meant the train was an extra. Green class lights meant this was a train running in sections and there was another section was following. The last sectioncarried no class lights.
A train without class lights was a regular, scheduled train.
I dont know of any railroads currently using class lights. If the railroad doesnt use them, they remove them, so they dont have to be maintained.
Marker lights showed red to the rear. The side color varied from one road to another.
Check a rulebook from your prototype for specifics.
BillyDee53,
Hey, thanks, that really gives me good perspective on that!
I appreciate it, Thank You!!
And to expand a bit on BillyDee53's reply, a light loco (no trailing cars) would display red markers, as it would have been considered to be "a train". If that same loco were running in reverse (for instance, a helper running light back down a grade), it would, if otherwise required, display class lights on the leading end and red markers on its trailing end. Headlights/back-up lights would be lit, dimmed, or off as per normal practice.
As suggested, checking your prototype's rulebook is a good idea, too.
Wayne
For more than you ever wanted to know about displaying different colors on classification and marker lights during the steam era, find a copy of Peter Josserand's Rights of Trains. There you will learn that, among other things, it was sometimes possible for a caboose to display marker lights of two different colors...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Chuck,
Thanks for that advise, I will look into it, I appreciare the suggestion too.
Two different colors, now that's worth looking into!