Large Scale Central

rear lights on passenger cars

Prototypes
#1

This has probably been discussed before, but my eyes got bleary reading all the hits my search came up with.

Anyway, what colour should the rear facing lights on a passenger car be? My Aristo streamliners have clear lenses, so the light to the rear would be white. The Markers on cabeese are supposed to be read to the rear. Also, the rear of a train is supposed to be marked with a red light, lantern or flag. If I follow that line of thought, I would think that the rear facing lights on my passenger cars should be red. But I suspect that isn’t the correct answer, or there is more to it than that.

#2

I would tend to agree that the rear lights on passenger cars would be red. When I see Amtrak trains going by, there are usually two red lights on the rear of the last car.

#3

No mater whether it is a freight train or a passenger train; the lights on the rear were called “Marker Lights”. They were RED to the rear…that’s when there were cabooses, and lights used on the rear of trains. Today with new rules, there is usually just a flashing light and box on the rear of freight trains, and sometimes passenger trains too. The box contains equipment used to monitor brake line pressure. Some passenger trains still show red markers to the rear, as in the example of Amtrak, and sometimes on VIA Rail.

Contrary to what a great number of people outside of real railroad workers; the lights that appear on some model locomotives, on their front end, are NOT marker lights, they are/were Classification lights… The common statement is “Markers bring up the rear”, and a train in the old days was not complete without Markers on the rear. (According to operating rules)

Classification lights were used to indicate the class of train. Green indicated a second section of a train was following. White indicated that the train was an EXTRA train, not on the timetable. Red was NOT a normal colour on the front of a locomotive. Usually if a locomotive was to be run backwards for any length of time, a red lantern was hung on the pilot. When Diesel Electric locomotives became standard, there were often two or three extra lights on both sides of the front end. They were usually Green and White, but the third light would be red, if there was a third one. It would only be used if the locomotive was running in reverse on the back end of a train.

#4

The five calabooses I have all have marker lights. They are not lit yet - maybe that could be a winter project: I have the fibre optic filaments to hand.

I often affix two red flags on the last car of my consists - saves a caboose when I am feeling lazy.

#5

Fred, thanks for the explanation. I know about classification lights, and I know many model railroaders get them wrong.

I was wondering about the rear facing lights on my Aristo Observation car. I finally have the consist I want for my dinner train, and adding better lighting and some kind of interior has moved up from the “someday” list, to the “soon” list. I don’t like doing half the job, so when those cars get run through the shop, I want to do it all in one swell foop. Making the marker lights the appropriate colour would be one of those things I want to do.

#6

Fred,

Totally agree with you on the designation of classification lights and marker/rear/or clearance lights. But WHAT ARE THE RED LIGHTS ON THE FRONT OF A DIESEL CALLED? Not yelling, just emphasizing.

You said - “When Diesel Electric locomotives became standard, there were often two or three extra lights on both sides of the front end. They were usually Green and White, but the third light would be red, if there was a third one. It would only be used if the locomotive was running in reverse on the back end of a train.”

I really don’t think the red lights would be called “classification lights”. So many times, the only clarification that a diesel is running forward is the little “f” on the one end.

Wonder what those red lights on the front of an engine are called?

#7

Rick…if and when a locomotive is running in reverse, on the rear end of a train, then those red lights on the front end of the Diesel would be considered, “Marker lights” as that is the use they would be in, in that circumstance.

This could happen if a locomotive was in pusher service, behind the caboose, for one example. Most times in pusher service, the “Pusher” might be two or more locomotives…they seldom got turned, and were set up in such away as the consist would have each loco facing in opposite directions, and didn’t need turning. When returning from such a service, the rear of the two/three locos would carry the Markers, and would be timetabled as a “Train”, when returning to its pusher base

#8

These days, in passenger push-pull service; the red lights would act as “Marker lights” when the loco is pushing…The head light/s would be off. The cab control car is equipped with headlights, for use when in the lead, and red "Marker lights when on the rear.

#9

Very cool! Thanks, Fred. Makes absolute sense.

#10

When Septa was in the transition stage from being operated by the Reading Railroad to being operated entirely by Septa, I noticed that on the rear car of commuter trains, the headlights would be lit. It hasn’t been that way for some time now, but I thought it odd at the time. No red marker lights, just the rear headlight.

#11

Dan Padova said:

When Septa was in the transition stage from being operated by the Reading Railroad to being operated entirely by Septa, I noticed that on the rear car of commuter trains, the headlights would be lit. It hasn’t been that way for some time now, but I thought it odd at the time. No red marker lights, just the rear headlight.

So if you see a headlight ahead, hopefully it is going in the same directions and getting smaller. If it is getting larger, big problem. Maybe trains are spaced far enough apart, that you should never see a headlight and if you do, stop until you don’t see it. Make sure the headlight on the rear of your train is also lit. Nice!