Caboose Lighting

[MisterBeasley]

What kind of indicator lights would go on the back of a caboose in the 1960's? Are colored marker lights appropriate?

[cacole]

Red when the train was on the main line; green if it was pulled off onto a siding so another train could safely pass; no lights if it was not in use. The brakeman riding in the caboose, or the conductor, was responsible for the lights, which were removable lanterns.

Originally, kerosene lanterns were used. Later, they became battery powered.

[MisterBeasley]

Any particular locations? Single or double lights?

[cacole]

The ones I'm familiar with had 3 lenses. The fourth side was blanked out because it had the mounting bracket on it. There was a bracket on the caboose near each top corner, low enough that the lantern could be dropped down into it

If the train was on the main line, a lantern with one red lens facing the rear and green lenses facing the sides, was placed into the bracket. When the train was moved onto a passing siding and the turnout was set so another train could safely pass, the lanterns were changed to ones with a green lens facing the rear and red on the sides.

If the caboose was disconnected and out of service, the lanterns were removed and stored inside the caboose.

By typing "railroad cabooses" (without the quote marks) into Google, you can find photos of cabooses for every major North American railroad, and can even see the mounting brackets on the ends of some.

[GN-Rick]

In the 60s, you would also begin to see lighted markers being replaced
by Scotchlite reflective targets on many railroads as a cost-cutting
measure. These would be in the same locations as markers but
be metal flags-red on the rearward facing side and green on the other.
I never liked them-much less character than lights.