Red aspect loco Headlamps

[52D]

I have just read an accident report from East Linton in 1906 and am intrigued by a statement that one of the locos involved (An NER D20 on a goods working) was detatched from its derailed train and run forward with warning lights to warn an oncoming passenger train. Apparently red lamps were used.
I had never heard of this. Can any forum member tell me where they would get red lamps from as i thought that headlamps only showed white and were not multi aspect. Also what position were the lamps placed in.

A mistified 52D

[Mickey]

Deleted

[2512silverfox]

The standard LNER Loco headlamp had a red shutter which rotated in front of the bullseye when required. For example when running as light loco or on pilot duty. I am pretty sure that the old NE and GN pattern lamps were the same.

Nick (photo available if it would help!)

[52D]

First part of the query regarding the red aspect is now explained can anyone shed light (excuse the pun) on the lamp(s) position.
Was there more than one meaning depending on amount and position of red lamps.

[James Brodie]

Dear Sirs,
As mentioned above the loco headlamps did have a red shade which could be turned to naturally give a red light, there were other coloured shades. When I started our headlamps had a colour selector either side of the lamp body but later on there was only one to shew red. Pilots in a yard had a red and white over each buffer and station pilots the same.
Re an incident the rule book dosn't state where the red light should be placed but comon sense would dictate that the side nearest the oncoming line would have the red that side.or even both lights to red-one over each buffer, the fireman would also be shewing his handlamp and waving that about to attract attention.detonators would have been placed on the oncoming line.
One at a quarter of a mile,,one at a half,, and three ten yards apart at three quarters of a mile. (later in high speed days the distances were increased.If the full distance hadn't been reached and a train was coming then three detonators down as quick as possible. Night time red lamps shewing or being waved and daytime a red flag would be waved in leiu of the handlamp.Once a drivers engine cracked any detonators then the crew would be looking out for signals from staff on the linesde to guide them.
On one examination the inspector kept adding problems such as a tunnel or more than one, this would use up six detonators and we only carried twelve. The inspector said to the fireman "where are you getting all the detonators from?" and the replt-"the same place you are getting the tunnels!"
Hope this is of some help.
Yours Jim Brodie.

[52D]

Thanks James its becoming clearer now.

[James Brodie]

Dear Mickey, Re tail lamp on the engine. As already explained above the loco headlamps could with the turn of a switch display a red aspect. Locos wouldn't normally carry a guards tail lamp on the rear.(There are exceptions to everything).
The fireman wouldn't have gone back to the re\ar of the train for a side or tail lamp.
Rule 179-it's over forty years since I last looked at the old rule book, When I find where I have stored it I can make a quote. I think it says turn the head lampS to red.
On a train being pulled to a stop the fireman and guard come towards each other on the side where approaching trains would travel. If it was noted that the line was fouled then the fireman went forward to protect ie detonators and the guard went to the rear also protecting with detonators but he placed an extra detonator 100yds to the rear of the rain the one at a quarter etc. An engine coming in from the rear would crack the detonators and when the 1ooyds one cracked would stop then the fireman or guard walked the engine to the rear of the train.
Jim Brodie.
Yes in the areas where trains ran without a van in the rear (brakevan) the guard rode on the engine and during the hours of darkness his tail lamp would be on the engine in the cab. If it was a light engine movement then the lamp on the rear end would be a loco lamp.

[Mickey]

Deleted

[52D]

East Linton was a station between Berwick and Edinburgh on the ECML and the driver of the D20 knew an express was due.
I will refind the article and link to it.

[52A]

That is also where the main line crosses the River Tyne!

[52D]

Not by way of the KEB though
Loco involved was D20 No.592 later 62371 report in full here http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docume ... on1906.pdf

[52A]

Reading through the report there appears to have been more than two lights available with red shades, unless the fireman brought one of the headlights back into the cab. Footplatemen were not provided with hand lamps right up to the 1960s, normal equipment was two headlamps and a gauge lamp, all paraffin lamps. Even in the early days of diesels paraffin lamps had to be carried as tail lamps for light engines.

[manna]

G'Day Gents
Firemen/secondmen were never issued a lamp! but were expected to run forward with a lamp?? to place Dets. on the track and use the lamp to stop oncoming trains (red Flag, not much use at night) so would have had to use drivers lamp!! Always a point of contention
manna

[52A]

Similarly with watches, the driver with hand on throttle and brake expected to time the train had no watch, while the guard riding in the van at the back of a long long train had one provided!

[52A]

Quiz time! We all know that the royal train carried four lamps, one on each bracket at the front so the loco needed four lamps, or shunters had one over each buffer front and rear, when would a loco need to have three lamps?