Karl -

Can you explain the marker lamp hanging from the middle of the trolley you are leaning against? I usually think of marker lights at the corners of cars (such as on the yellow car behind you) and don't recall seeing one hung from this particular position.

Les

Les,

My reply really didn't come off as intended. No need to apologize, I just wanted to clarify my primary interests.

Paul

Bob Bunge, to clarify, is that telescope steam or Diesel powered?

Great alternative interest, by the way!

Mmm... the telescope is moved by the most complex computer known to man ... hand-eye coordination. There is a laptop computer and other battery powered accessories, so I would have to say it is steam powered.

Bob

Greetings, all! I'm an almost daily lurker and occasional poster for many years. Great thread, by the way. Been enjoying seeing many of the folks I've been reading all of these years.

From my days at the Middletown and Hummelstown. A formal portrait from about 2000, and firing ex-CNR 91, around 2004. I look about the same, except for a few more pounds and alot less hair, and the hair that's left is a tad gray now. But you get the idea.

Wow! Things have changed since I tried to grind a 10" F8 blank in the garage & decided to buy a 4 1/4" mirror from Edmund Scientific & make my own equitorial mount.

You could still see things in NYC back then, sort of.

Les,

I think the use of RR-style marker lights is a MUNI think and maybe even the Market Street Railway did it. My guess is that it has a lot to do with the weather conditions in SF. The markers help prevent collisions in foggy weather, and stay on if the pole de-wires.

Capital Transit and predecessors used oil markers. When the PCCs arrived with 32v those cars did not carry oil lamps.

Wesley

Karl -

Can you explain the marker lamp hanging from the middle of the trolley you are leaning against? I usually think of marker lights at the corners of cars (such as on the yellow car behind you) and don't recall seeing one hung from this particular position.

Les

Hi All,

90 + years ago, these markers were a single red lens variety. They were needed as the Municipal Railway (MUNI) operated over an ICC Railroad, the Ocean Shore Railway on the "H" line on Potrero Ave in San Francisco. The cars also had (and the older MUNI cars still have them) watt hour meters in them to record the power consumed while operating over this line.

Presently, neither the Ocean Shore nor the MUNI operates over Potrero Ave. The markers are used in the evening for protection in the dark and the, occasional fog that we get on the coast. We have made these powered by a battery and LED. The LED is internal to the housing.

Due to some clearance issues, they now hang off the center posts. Also, it makes them hard to steal.

If you look at the very bottom of the green car, you'll see some smaller red and amber LEDs we use to comply with the current Ca. PUC regs. The large marker is added safety margin.

If any one has any of the single red lens markers they'd like to get rid of, let me know !

Cheers--Karl

I hate this picture, but...

Here I am a few years ago on a speeder trip I helped set up. Yes, I was having tons of fun!

CV the civil E in NJ

Yet another from the RMNE in CT...never seem to post very much, but read often. Feel free to drop a note!

Dave Manning
49 CFR 200-299, NY

Dave, those are much more impressive than pics of you driving the computer and updating personnel files!!

Howard P.

Yet which do I get to spend more time doing lately? grrrrrrrr.

OK, I've resisted so far, but here goes... with my good friend, CNR 4-6-0 #1112 at RMEO.

Steve Hunter

http://public.fotki.com/elliottd/sfrmeo/sfrmeo-album--12/1112-steve-sfrm-002.html