The Thursday Proto Photo Thread, 1/19

[GonzoCRFan]

Saturday, my friends and I swung by West Trenton for some shots after looking at layouts all day long. Weather sucked, but at least CSX was putting plenty of trains through: http://sean121982.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=9296


The engineer gets major style points for using the class lights.



Tuesday I was able to run around the Philly and Northern DE areas, my take is here: http://sean121982.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=9294


Local WPSC-01 heads south past the Chester Cogeneration Facility of the Kimberly-Clark paper mill.

[John]

is that a power plant in the last shot?

[GonzoCRFan]

Yes.

[John]

Interesting .. the fully enclosed conveyors are wht caught my eye .. this makes it easier to model with PVC pipe , rather than having ot use costly walthers conveyor kits ..

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I thought that was part of their mill operation.

[GonzoCRFan]

I thought that was part of their mill operation.

It is. I edited my post to say it's their private power plant.

[3rdrail]

A mood shot. Enola, PA, at dusk, August 4, 1957.



Geez, has it been almost 50 years?  :-\ :-\

[Red Rock]

Here is another paint scheme for Intermountain.

[Iain]

Some more of Gary Mann's A&EC pics:




How old are you, Gregg?

[Lenny53]

[3rdrail]

That's a great shot of CSXT 8759, Sean. The reflections on the rails and the long hood really set it off. I'll agree that the engineer should get a bonus for turning on the class lights, too. 

Iain, I'll be eligible for Medicare in two months.

[up1950s]

Ok , about that great shot with the class lights . Are they also called markers ? On the LIRR it was either Head lights , or markers . Sometimes both if the train was fewer cars than normal , this way the Dashing Dans on the platform would know to not stand in the last 2 car positions as the train came to a grinding halt , therefore making a quicker loading of passengers . But that's a freight , so whats the rules governing those lights ?

[Bama Red]

An SD40u leased to CSX coming thru Decherd, TN. You can see the local feed mill in the left background.

[3rdrail]

Ok , about that great shot with the class lights . Are they also called markers ? On the LIRR it was either Head lights , or markers . Sometimes both if the train was fewer cars than normal , this way the Dashing Dans on the platform would know to not stand in the last 2 car positions as the train came to a grinding halt , therefore making a quicker loading of passengers . But that's a freight , so whats the rules governing those lights ?

Richie, class lights are on the front of an engine. markers are at the rear of a train or the rear of a locomotive. On class lights, dark is a scheduled train, white is an extra train, and green means there is another section of the same scheduled train following. Most class lights on Diesels also had red, to be used when pushing at the rear of trains. Then they would be markers.

[cv_acr]

Richie, class lights are on the front of an engine. markers are at the rear of a train or the rear of a locomotive. On class lights, dark is a scheduled train, white is an extra train, and green means there is another section of the same scheduled train following. Most class lights on Diesels also had red, to be used when pushing at the rear of trains. Then they would be markers.

Class lights of course mean nothing now that railroads don't use timetables to operate their trains. The green and white indications that 3rdrail mentioned complement the green or white flags displayed on the train. Some engines still use red marker lights when used as rear end of train distributed power, or push pull service. I've seen GO Transit engines display the red lights when pushing a commuter train.

Another use of these classification lights is around christmas. I've seen CN GP9rms in yard service and even VIA F40PH-2s on passenger trains display one light green and one red during the Christmas season.