my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

Additions welcome. Other List Subjects also solicited.

This page has been compiled from listings to the sp mailing list, and personal material.

Contributors:

• Ken Harrison
• Richard Percy

Question: Was wondering which set of lights are headlights and which are the markers. There was mention of red lens in the markers, how were these used on the prototype?

The SP rulebook specifically refers to the display of signals on the locomotive as "train indicators". The generic terminology in the industry is classification lamps. Their use has been more or less abandoned in the last dozen years.

Markers do NOT appear on the front of a train. A marker delineates the END of a train. The drawings of their use in rulebooks will illustrate these applications.

From Ken Harrison:

May I quote two rules from the 1960 rulebook:

19: Markers must be displayed while train is authorized and be removed when train arrives at destination, except that lights of markers permanently installed must be extinguished.

One of the following lighting arrangements (with instructions covering their use) will fulfill the requirements for markers:

1. Oil burning......
2. Side electric lights or roof-line lights permanently installed on certain passenger cars, or portable single unit electric red light.
3. Combination electric oscillating red light and auxiliary green light. Red light must be extinguished and green light displayed when train has stopped clear of main track to be met or passed by another train.
4. Combination portable...
5. Electric red and green lights permanently installed on tops of cabooses. Red light must be extinguished and green light displayed when train has stopped clear of main track to be met or passed by another train.

Electric marker lights must be lighted by day and by night, and display red to the rear except as otherwise provided in (3) and (5)

the other part of Ken's post properly belongs on another page on Passenger Car practices, this will appear shortly...

From my material - for general consumption:

from the SP Western Division Timetable effective October 28, 1979.

Rule 19. is revised to read:

A marker must be continuously illuminated while train is authorized and be extinguished when train arrives at destination

When light engine is being operated as a train or when helper engine is entrained behind caboose of train, headlights must be displayed on dim to the rear to serve as marker.

Conductor (engineer if no conductor), upon taking charge of train, must know that inspection is made to determine that marker light is in proper operating condition.

In the event of marker light failure, a red flag by day and a white light by night will be displayed in place of marker light to indicate rear of train. Conductor must notify the train dispatcher as soon as possible of marker light failure.

Question: What colors were showing in what direction on the little lights on the smoke box for steam locomotives in use around 1910?

from the SP Transportation Co. Rules and Regulations of the Transport Department
Effective October 31, 1976, revised Oct. 26 1980.

Rule 20. All sections of trains, except the last, will display two green lights in the place provided for that purpose on the leading end of the lead locomotive when so equipped. When not so equipped, they will be displayed on the opposite end of lead locomotive.

Note: If both green lights fail en route, unless other means of communication are available, train must stop and notify inferior trains that are met or passed, including trains at train-order meeting points

Rule 20-A. Extra trains will display two white lights in the place provided for that purpose on the leading end of the lead locomotive when so equipped. When not so equipped, they will be displayed on the opposite end of lead locomotive.

Rule 20-B. One light displayed where two are prescribed by Rules 20 and 20-A will indicate the same as two; but proper display of all train signals is required.

Special Instructions - San Francisco Subdivision

Rule 21. Train indicators will be used on commute trains operating between San Francisco and San Jose when engines are so equipped. These trains must not leave their initial station until train number is displayed. Enginemen must not put up, take down nor change indicators while engine is in motion.
Engines of passenger trains may display indicator between Seventh St. engine storage track and Fourth St. Station, San Francisco; and between San Jose passenger station and roundhouse but must be removed immediately on arrival at roundhouse.

Special Instructions - Salinas Subdivision

Rule 21. Identification of superior trains in CTC limits between Santa Margarita and San Luis Obispo must be made and such identification will apply at Santa Margarita or San Luis Obispo.

Identification of superior trains in CTC limits between Watsonville Jct. and Salinas must be made and such identification will apply at Salinas.