Can someone tell me who manufactured the "typically Canadian" headlights used on CNR and CPR steam locomotives?

Are they the same as those used by the N&W prior to the end of WWII, as they appear to be?

What model of headlight did N&W buy when it started replacing these headlights after WWII? (Pyle-National or Sunbeam, just not sure which.)

Finally, two questions for speculation: I'm struck by similarities in appearance of pre-WWII appearance of CPR, CNR and N&W front ends, namely, the big headlight with no indicators and the "slice of pie" to hold the numbers. I can see why CNR and CPR might look alike, but why would N&W, alone among US carriers, adopt this look when it converted from oil to electric headlights?

JAC

> Can someone tell me who manufactured the
> "typically Canadian" headlights
> used on CNR and CPR steam locomotives?

As I recall, these "tomato soup cans" were Pyle-National (or whatever Canandian licensee they had-- McAvity or H.L.Piper?).

> Are they the same as those used by the
> N&W prior to the end of WWII, as they
> appear to be?

That was a standard style of P-N light, so I suspect they were the same.

> What model of headlight did N&W buy when
> it started replacing these headlights after
> WWII? (Pyle-National or Sunbeam, just not
> sure which.)

A friend of mine has an N&W A-class headlight; it's a cast aluminum Pyle-National, with angled number boards and no visor.

> Finally, two questions for speculation: I'm
> struck by similarities in appearance of
> pre-WWII appearance of CPR, CNR and N&W
> front ends, namely, the big headlight with
> no indicators and the "slice of
> pie" to hold the numbers. I can see why
> CNR and CPR might look alike, but why would
> N&W, alone among US carriers, adopt this
> look when it converted from oil to electric
> headlights?

Probably because the headlight without numberboards was cheaper, and the wedge-type number indicator was an easy item to make in the railroad's tin-shop.

> JAC


hpincus@mindspring.com

> As I recall, these "tomato soup
> cans" were Pyle-National (or whatever
> Canandian licensee they had-- McAvity or
> H.L.Piper?).

> That was a standard style of P-N light, so I
> suspect they were the same.

> A friend of mine has an N&W A-class
> headlight; it's a cast aluminum
> Pyle-National, with angled number boards and
> no visor.

> Probably because the headlight without
> numberboards was cheaper, and the wedge-type
> number indicator was an easy item to make in
> the railroad's tin-shop.
I OWN AND CPR headlight,,,off an # 1200 pacific,,and it is pyle-national,,,,as for Mc Avity they made steam whistle's for CNR,,,,not headlight's,,,,if they made these headlight's show me some proof...for either CNR,,or CPR...thank you Pat

cprh1b@concast.net

I have a Sunbeam headlight with the "slice of pie" on the top from the Georgia & Florida Ry, engine unknown. When I was on my honeymoon in 1971, we stopped in Douglas, GA to visit some of my wife's relatives. One of them had owned a blacksmith shop near the G&F shops and had acquired a headlight and mounted it on the roof of his shop. Long closed, he gave me the headlight when i asked what he going to do with it. It is an ugly thing, though.

As for N&W, I don't know if their's were also Sunbeams but they look identical in photos.
The post WWII N&W headlights were definitely P-N as I had one of them, too.

Jim Herron


Herron Rail Video
hrvideo@mindspring.com

Thanks, everyone.

JAC

> Can someone tell me who manufactured the
> "typically Canadian" headlights
> used on CNR and CPR steam locomotives?

> Are they the same as those used by the
> N&W prior to the end of WWII, as they
> appear to be?

> What model of headlight did N&W buy when
> it started replacing these headlights after
> WWII? (Pyle-National or Sunbeam, just not
> sure which.)

> Finally, two questions for speculation: I'm
> struck by similarities in appearance of
> pre-WWII appearance of CPR, CNR and N&W
> front ends, namely, the big headlight with
> no indicators and the "slice of
> pie" to hold the numbers. I can see why
> CNR and CPR might look alike, but why would
> N&W, alone among US carriers, adopt this
> look when it converted from oil to electric
> headlights?

> JAC

GE, Crouse-Hinds, Pyle-National, ESSCo (Electric Services Suppy Co), to name a few. Don't know what CNR or CPR specifically used, but probably more than one nanufacturer.

I recall seeing a collection of headlights from 1920's and 1930's GTW engines. These were not the usual cast-aluminum or cast-iron Pyle-national headlights, but were made of sheet metal, perhaps copper, with bronze castings riveted on for the bezels and feet. I do not recall the manufacturer with certainty, but it may have been Sunbeam. Pretty sure it wasn't Golden Glow. Nor do I know if CN used the same headlights, but they looked very similar. The same collector had one of the V-shaped numberboards, and that seemed to have been homemade.

Aarne Frobom
The Steam Railroading Institute
P. O. Box 665
Owosso, Michigan

Next obvious question----is the collector still with us, and does he have relatives that will appreciate said collection?

TJ

> I recall seeing a collection of headlights
> from 1920's and 1930's GTW engines. These
> were not the usual cast-aluminum or
> cast-iron Pyle-national headlights, but were
> made of sheet metal, perhaps copper, with
> bronze castings riveted on for the bezels
> and feet. I do not recall the manufacturer
> with certainty, but it may have been
> Sunbeam. Pretty sure it wasn't Golden Glow.
> Nor do I know if CN used the same
> headlights, but they looked very similar.
> The same collector had one of the V-shaped
> numberboards, and that seemed to have been
> homemade.

> Aarne Frobom
> The Steam Railroading Institute
> P. O. Box 665
> Owosso, Michigan


tjgaffney@phmuseum.org