Large Scale Central

Question regarding caboose lanterns/safety lights.

General Discussion
#1

On my Bobber Caboose’s there are those safety lanterns. You know the red and green lanterns which are posted just at each corner of the caboose on one end.

My question is: Which side of the caboose should these lanterns face? In other words, should they be in front or back?

It occurred to me that, even though the lights can be seen because they do protrude outwards, that it seems logical that they are on the back side facing the rear of the caboose. The smoke stack being in front and not in the rear.

Thanks

#2

Andrew

#3

Maybe I was not clear about my question. I meant, if the train is moving, how should the caboose actually be positioned when on the consist? Should those lights be aft or forward?

Thanks for the picture.

#4

You are referring to marker lights. During the steam era, it’s what designated a train. By definition, railroads considered a train to be a locomotive displaying marker lamps. Tenders had brackets on the rear corners to display markers when running as a train and on the tender ladder to store them when they weren’t such as when they were helping another train. A caboose would have markers on both ends and the markers placed on whatever end was to the rear of the train. There is no “front” or “rear” of a caboose and I doubt railroads would of taken the time to turn a caboose just to put the cupola or smoke stack to the rear.

Patrick

#5

There are brackets at each end, the crew would move them to the rear before leaving the yard.

Most all were Red to the rear and green/yellow to the front. Other roads wrote their own rulebooks for colors.

Wooden cabooses were usually positioned behind pusher locos on the train’s end. The markers out on the caboose and lit on the tender.

Rarely were cabeese turned, the smoke jack doesn’t matter.

John

#6

Thanks Patrick for the info. I agree, why turn the whole caboose around just so the marker lights are at one end of the caboose.

I guess with the Bobber caboose, it looks funny with the stack running forward. That is just me though and I realize that in real life or even in scale, it really doesn’t matter which way these caboose’s face.

Stacy

#7

John Caughey said:

There are brackets at each end, the crew would move them to the rear before leaving the yard.

Most all were Red to the rear and green/yellow to the front. Other roads wrote their own rulebooks for colors.

Wooden cabooses were usually positioned behind pusher locos on the train’s end. The markers out on the caboose and lit on the tender.

Rarely were cabeese turned, the smoke jack doesn’t matter.

John

Thanks John for the info too.

It never occurred to me about caboose’s because I have been used to the FRED device on my modern stuff, but now that I have some steam era stuff I am now getting into it.

Thanks

Stacy

#8

The lights helped the crew know which way the train was moving at night and where the end was, most helpful when you need the steps to get aboard. Too easy to get discomboobulated in the dark!

#9

You’re right about that. Those lights would be a blessing at night. Especially in places where you cannot see your own hands in front of you.

Actually, I was really curious because I just started to buy steam era stuff. Couple of 0-4-0 from the PRR with those Bobber Caboose’s. It got me thinking when I started running them a little. Which way do they face. Now I know.

With FRED, its easy. LOL

Stacy