Signal oil versus kerosene lanterns

[NW Mailing List]

At 11:00 AM 5/16/2009, you wrote:

>2)      What is the design difference between a "signal oil" and a 

>kerosene lantern?  This seems to be around the time that railroads 

>shifted from tall-globe to short-globe lanterns.  Is that the 

>principal difference?

>3)      How different is "Kerosene Oil ... Specification F-22" from 

>the kerosene commercially sold at present-day gas stations?



2) Signal oil on the RF&P in the early 1950's is what is called light 
lard oil to day

3) From what I can gather from the directions the Kerosene they used 
back then, is called API K-1 today
True K-1 looks like very clean water, where K-2 and above is yellow 
with black spots floating in it.

API No 1. oil comes in 3 or more grades and is called by some people 
coal oil which is Kerosene. True Coal Oil
is a by-product of Water Gas.

API No. 2 oil is called Diesel Oil, Fuel Oil, or Furnace Oil.

Jet Aircraft Fuel in a mix of No.1 and No.2 oils.

                                     HB Lyon