[PRR-talk] Marker/Classification Lights

[Richard Roth]

G'day from Australia!
 
The PRR Book of Rules on Mark Bej's site (http://broadway.pennsyrr.com/Rail/Prr/Bor1956/rulebook1956.html) shows rule 19 which defines the use of marker lights. By the Association of American Railroad's definition a train is: "An engine or more than one engine coupled, with or without cars, displaying markers." If a loco is on the rear of a train, such as a pusher or a push-pull operation, the markers will be displayed on the rearwards-facing end of the loco. Class lights are only displayed on the lead loco of a train - green for all but the last section of a scheduled train, white for an extra or non-scheduled train. Class lights on a loco could be used as markers if a loco was running backwards at the rear of a train, but otherwise were separate from markers. 
 
A guess why the NW2 elliptical lens would hold two bulbs would be a safety factor - the light would still be visible if a bulb failed.
 
The red, green, and white classification light colors, therefore would be:
 
White - for an extra;
Green - section of train following;
Red - Loco is rear of train and running in reverse.
 
Class lamps would be switched off or turned to show no indication to the front if running a scheduled, single section train.
 
A guess why the NW2 elliptical lens would hold two bulbs would be a safety factor - the light would still be visible if a bulb failed.
 
Most cab-style and high hood diesels came with class lights installed - either as part of the number boards, or just above them. Low hood units usually had the lights built into the short low hood.
 
The red, green, and white classification light colors, would be: 
White - for an extra;
Green - section of train following;
Red - Loco is rear of train and running in reverse.
 
If you can find it, a good source for info is the book Vanishing Markers by Ralph E Fisher. It may be B&M-oriented, but the concepts apply equally.
 
Hope this helps.
 
Happy New Year,
Richard Roth
 
(Hey, this is my FIRST prr-talk post!!)


From: ARRJERRY at aol.comDate: Tue, 1 Jan 2008 11:50:11 -0500To: PRR-Talk at dsop.comSubject: [PRR-talk] Marker/Classification LightsHappy New Year,I am looking for some expertise on Marker/Clasification Lights. I can't seem to find a good source to reduce my confusion.I am building a 1.5" scale NW2 #9175. This Loco had front and rear "tombstone" Markers. I was able to purchase some drawings of this Marker thru the Society. They were used on the front of several steam locomotives - mainly J1's.1. Do Markers and Classification lights serve the same function?2. Why would you need Markers on the front of a locomotive as opposed to rear markers on a train?3. The elliptical lens seems to hold two (upper and lower) bulbs. Why?4. Is it logical to assume that this one of a kind NW2 received these "markers" as classification lights?5. I have seen factory painted PRR brass with red, green, and white classification (marker?)  lights. Can someone clear up the color rules for me?Thank you for any info you can provide,Jerry Schoenberg**************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004) 
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