A good friend of mine, gave me this neat railroad lamp/lantern. I put a strand of LEDS in it and lit it up.
Now, you all are very knowledgeable about all things railroad.
Is this a single lens classification lamp for the front of a steam engine? Or is it a Semaphore lamp for use behind the colored lenses of a RR semaphore signal?
Any and all help appreciated in the “ID” of this interesting bit of railroadiana.
Thanks. Doc Tom
Tom,
defiantly a semaphore lamp.
Al P.
Thanks Al,
I am glad somebody knew. Now I can tell inquisitive folks what it is.
Doc Tom
I would say it’s is not a semaphore lamp. For one a handle on it 2 it is 3 sided which a semaphore would not have. More like a marker for a caboose or loco marker. Later RJD
I only see a lens on one side, which would make it unlikely to be a marker. This seems like a terrible lamp choice to have for a signal, but I suppose since all the switch stands were quite similar it is possible.
That is pretty neat, Tom. I agree with Al - a semaphore. Here’s a shot of one by itself, and then behind the lens.
Does it have any manufacturer name on it?
Bruce Chandler said:
That is pretty neat, Tom. I agree with Al - a semaphore. Here’s a shot of one by itself, and then behind the lens.
Does it have any manufacturer name on it?
Thanks for all the discussion guys. Bruce it does not have a manufacturer name that I can find. The Fresnel type lens has the letters “MM” followed by some numbers.
It does appear to be a kerosene lamp as the side slides up to change out the kerosene lamp or to refill it.
What a job that would have been to climb up the ladder in snow and ice to fill a little kerosene lamp’s tank or change out the lamp. Wonder how long those kerosene lamps stayed lit?
Doc Tom
I have a lamp exactly like that one, but was made by Piper. It was used, with an amber lense on a yard limit sign, also as bridge lamps. They were also used, as others have pointed out, for double track semaphore signals.
I also have a double lensed lamp just like it that was used on a semaphore signal, on single track, where there was an arm for both directions. The lamp was in the middle, and both arms were painted black on the back side. These were commonly known as “Train order boards”, and were used at stations to let trains know if they had to stop for orders.I also have the “Boards”, along with new material to use to replace them…lovely Ash wood…all I need is to cut the wood to match the well weathered originals, then paint them…another project…
This guy seems to know his lamps. Scroll down. There’s a semaphore lamp exactly like yours
From my limited experience, a Kerosene lamp like that, with the wick properly trimmed would last almost a week. That’s with good oil, and I must emphasis, a well trimmed wick.
There used to be men that patrolled yards, stations and long lengths of the railroad, mostly on foot, later on handcars and speeders, that were dedicated to refueling those lamps, and the ones on switch stands. They carried a 2-3 gallon can, which the replenished at lineside shelters, as they moved along. They also trimmed and replaced the wicks. It was an art to properly trim those wicks.
They also replaced, or arranged to replace any damaged lanterns.
Back in those days; seldom was there any intentional damage done to the lanterns, unlike today when it seems any sign or signal is used as target practice, by the mighty white hunters.
I have a lamp just like it which I put a small lite in it and put it in for power. I always thought it was/is a classification lite for cars and/or Loco. I have a few other lites as well, a switch stand Lamp which is powered and a couple hand lanterns. One my father picked up behind the Durango roundhouse in 1952. It is Red and has all the parts and D&RGW etched in to the globe.
Nice to get some more info on these items.
Paul
P.S. That worked neat, type in Word and paste here as I need a spell checker real BAD.
Fred Mills, BSc, BS, SD (Hons) said:
Back in those days; seldom was there any intentional damage done to the lanterns, unlike today when it seems any sign or signal is used as target practice, by the mighty white hunters.
Fred,
I wish you had said vandals instead of white hunters. That’s just wrong on several counts.
Joe, it was a sarcasm. A mighty hunter would hunt game that could kill him. A punk shooting a stationary object is by no means a mighty hunter.
That’s what I was getting at. Anyone who would shoot a sign/signal is a vandal. A hunter shoots game legally whether he is black or white. Lots of people, including myself, shoot stationary objects (targets) for recreation or competition and are not punks. What Fred posted just hit me as wrong.
Joe, I meant stationary as things like road signs, railroad signals, and windows in unoccupied houses. Not legitimate target shooting. I have killed many paper targets myself.
John Bouck said:
This guy seems to know his lamps. Scroll down. There’s a semaphore lamp exactly like yours
Agree, great site with much info.
Doc Tom
Fred Mills, BSc, BS, SD (Hons) said:
From my limited experience, a Kerosene lamp like that, with the wick properly trimmed would last almost a week. That’s with good oil, and I must emphasis, a well trimmed wick.
There used to be men that patrolled yards, stations and long lengths of the railroad, mostly on foot, later on handcars and speeders, that were dedicated to refueling those lamps, and the ones on switch stands. They carried a 2-3 gallon can, which the replenished at lineside shelters, as they moved along. They also trimmed and replaced the wicks. It was an art to properly trim those wicks.
They also replaced, or arranged to replace any damaged lanterns.
Back in those days; seldom was there any intentional damage done to the lanterns, unlike today when it seems any sign or signal is used as target practice, by the mighty white hunters.
Thanks Father Fred,
I was really wondering how long those kerosene lamps would burn. Really would have been a big job if they only lasted one night on a fuel refill.
Tom