Cab and Ground lights on steam locomotives

Wed Aug 30 17:08:41 EDT 2023

Hey Ken, thanks for doing a search. After poking around through my personal photos, I found what appears to be an under cab lamp fixture on 475 at Strasburg (this wasn’t the subject of my photo, so it’s hard to say conclusively) and on 1218 at VMT (see attached). Maybe late steam or excursion-era additions? The wedge-shaped hood around 1218’s lamp is similar to 1309’s, which makes it feel like a commercial product at some point. 

I grabbed my 1930 Locomotive Cyclopedia and found Pyle National and Sunbeam ads for various in-cab lamp fixtures, and the attached suggested wiring diagram. The diagram doesn’t show anything electrical below the cab windows. Given vendors tend to show all possible usages of a product, the fact that the wiring diagram is silent on under-cab lights implies they weren't a thing yet in 1930.

So as far as my model goes, I’m starting to lean against...

Matt Goodman  

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> On Aug 30, 2023, at 12:41 PM, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> Matt
> 
> I can find zero reference to any kind of ground lights (steps and such) like you are referring to on any steam. Lights for gauges and such were definitely used in the cabs, and I seem to remember seeing a deck light on the roof of the cab. 
> 
> The back up lights will definitely have some spill onto the ground, but not as much as it was a more focused beam for backing the locomotive to wherever.
> 
> Crewmen would use lanterns to see what they were doing, and places to climb. There are a few drawings covering conduit and such, as early as 1917, but none show anything for ladder or step lights.
> 
> Best
> Ken Miller
> 
>> On Aug 30, 2023, at 9:37 AM, NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Thanks Jim and Mike.
>> 
>> Matt Goodman
>> 
>>> On Aug 29, 2023, at 9:59 PM, NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Matt
>>> 
>>> Just do it. I agree with your thoughts that ground lights have been around since they put electric on steam.
>>> 
>>> Jim
>>> 
>>> On Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 07:18:24 PM EDT, NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Hi everyone.
>>> 
>>> When were electric “ground” lights commonly applied to steam locomotives? I remember these under-cab lights on LS&I #33 (in the 1970’s), and I have recent photos of them on C&O #1309, NKP #765, Cass Shay #2, and Steam Town’s #26. I’m wondering if these were a post-steam (or late steam) additions, or if they have been around since steam had electric headlights? 
>>> 
>>> My working theory is that they have been around as long as electric; I see light fixtures for gauges in the excellent blackhead photos in the V&T collection that date from the late twenties, and found a drawing for the stoker light and conduit dated 1927, 
>>> 
>>> Attached is a photo of #26, with a very dim ground light by the fireman’s left shin, as reference - in case I’m not using the right term.
>>> 
>>> The reason for the question is that I’m planning a locomotive lighting project for my 1938-era layout. 
>>> 
>>> Matt Goodman
>>> 
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