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Switch lamps
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43092		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  EWrice [ Wed Feb 27, 2019 11:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Switch lamps
One of the Adlake lamps I have aquired (square top, 1270 base) had green and lunar lenses in it. That was part of the reason I bought it. If it is not the original configuration then it has been set up this way for many, many years. Does anyone know of a railroad that would have used these colors? The few rule books and signal books I have access to show nothing of the sorts.

The next question is concerning a Dressel switch lamp. This one is marked SOO inside the base socket, but has a UPRR tag soldered to the housing. Did UP acquire a part of the Soo at some point during the use of switch lamps? Could it be OOS , some obscure shortline that was absorbed by UP?

History is mysterious.
Thanks in advance,
E
Author:  HudsonL [ Thu Feb 28, 2019 10:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Switch lamps
Quote:
he next question is concerning a Dressel switch lamp. This one is marked SOO inside the base socket, but has a UPRR tag soldered to the housing. Did UP acquire a part of the Soo at some point during the use of switch lamps? Could it be OOS , some obscure shortline that was absorbed by UP?


The UP and SOO didn't even connect until a few years ago through mergers, I would call it a Frankenstein.

-Hudson
Author:  Pat Fahey [ Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Switch lamps
Hi
According to my New York Central rules of the operating department Oct 1956
the reason why you have the lunar white lens, and green to the other side of the switch lamp is this.
The lunar or white lens target was to show that the track is either set for a straight track or lead.
The green lens would show that the signal is set, against, the straight track or lead, or going into a siding. as per Rule 294 of the rule book.
Also, my New Haven book of rules shows the same rule. I hope this answers your question.
Author:  EWrice [ Thu Feb 28, 2019 10:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Switch lamps
Hudson,
That was my thought as well. I just wanted to make sure I didn't miss something. I believe somebody soldered the UPRR tag on a SOO lamp after the fact. The solder job is less than professional. Certainly not what I would expect to see from a RR signal dept.

Pat,
That is very interesting info, and exactly the opposite of what I expected. Do your rule books happen to mention in what application those indications were used (ie. main track switch, siding, or dead end siding, etc)? Could you possibly post a picture of the page from the rulebook?

Thanks again.
Author:  TrainDetainer [ Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Switch lamps
E -
I'm not sure how Mr. Fahey is reading his rule book, but modern NYC switch signals have always been green/red for main track and white/yellow for other than main track (from the 20s on, IIRC). Green and white for normal position, red and yellow for reverse.
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I don't remember off hand who used green and white as a pair, although I have seen quite a few switch lamps with green day target and green lens paired with yellow day target and lunar lens at auctions. There are plenty of RRs that used white and red paired, with various target shapes.
Author:  Pat Fahey [ Fri Mar 01, 2019 9:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Switch lamps
Hi All
The rule book that TrainDetainer did post is the same rule book, that I also own.
Yes, I do admit and agree with the last post by TrainDetainer, about the switch lamp lenses, Green on White or lunar lens.
Yes, you would think, that the green lens would be RED, but sometimes the railroads change things for some unknown reason.
So it could be possible that off the straight track, or yard, lead, that the Green Lens could also mean, that the straight or yard lead, track, also lined for the main track, instead of a siding.
Author:  EWrice [ Fri Mar 01, 2019 10:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Switch lamps
I did manage to find an article about NYC signals that stated their predecessors used lunar for normal route and green for diverging (or caution) sometime prior to 1912. A copy of the 1912 rule book seems to be the earliest to use red/green and yellow/lunar indications. I'm not sure when Adlake started making the square top lamps, but I don't think it is that old. I could be wrong though.
E
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