[N&W] Re: Class Lights and Markers

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

 > Gary Rolih wrote:
 >
 > Locos:  The class lights are CLEAR.  The lenses in the class lamps are
 > normally NOT LIGHTED if the train is a "regular" train.  If the train has
 > two or more sections the class lamps are lit showing the WHITE lamps.  The
 > extra sections are indicated by flipping the green lenses down in the class
 > lamps.
----------------
Gary -

Read more closely that part of the rule books relating to sections.  You'll 
find that "all sections except the last will display green classification 
lights".

The use of white lights was reserved for extra trains.

N&W didn't use white lights in CTC or Rule 251 territory.

EdK

----------------
Rick Stone responds:

Gary's answer on class lights in not correct.  An extra train will show
white flags by day and white flags and lamps by night.  All sections but
the last (of a scheduled train) will display two green flags and, in
addition, two green lights by night in the places provided for that
purpose on the front of the engine.

The marker light combinations get really convoluted.  Running on single
track or in two track territory with the flow of traffic the two rear
lenses will be red.

-----------------
Jerry Kay adds:

This is just not so.  The use of the term "extra section" is confusing and
inaccurate.  Trains are either "regular" trains or they are "Extra" trains.
Regular trains may be run in more than one "Section" as prescribed by the
rules.  Extra trains display the white lamps / flags.  Trains that have
second or third sections following display the green lamps / flags.  The last
section displays no lamp or flag.

Here's a quote from the N&W operating rules dated January 1, 1967:

"Classification Signals

20.  All sections except the last will display two green flags or two green
lights by day and two green lights by night in the places provided for that
purpose on the front of the engine.

21.  Unless otherwise provided, extra trains will display two white flags or
two white lights by day and two white lights by night in the places provided
for that purpose on the front of the engine."

Per the rule book:

"Train - An engine or more than one engine coupled, with or without cars,
displaying markers.  (Remember -  Markers 'mark' the end of the train.
Classification lights identify the type or class of the train.)

Regular Train - A train authorized by timetable schedule.

Section - One of two or more trains running on the same schedule displaying
signals or for which signals are displayed.

Extra Train - A train not authorized by a timetable schedule."

Therefore, based on these rules and definitions, a regular train will display
no classification lamps unless there is another section following it.  If
there are more than one section of a train being run, then each section
(except for the last section) will display the green lamp / flag to indicate
that there is another section following it.  The last section does not
display the green lamp / flag because there are no more sections behind it.
If a regular train is being run without any additional sections, then it will
not display any classification lamp / flag.

All extra trains will display the white classification lamps / flags.

I hope this clears things up.  Jerry Kay, Portsmouth, Virginia