Looking at old photos started me to wonder when the steam RR's started to add electric headlights to their motive power? Was this a "passenger train" first policy like with air brakes, or did they become standard features from the locomotive builders? WJPowers

Like you (working from photographs), it would seem electric headlights were first introduced in the 1890s, though there may have been some earlier installations.

As noted, passenger power seemed to get them first, but more importantly, I think a lot would depend on the railroad and whether it wanted to spend the extra money or experiment.

It's notable that some of the early electric lights were actually carbon ark lights, which would be incredibly bright, but could not be dimmed. These and some other early electric lights were in headlight boxes, much like the oil lamps and some carbide lamps; I seem to recall a Northern Pacific Yellowstone with box headlights, and that was in the late 1920s.

Again, going by photographs, it would seem that electrics became mandatory around 1920; it's very likely some others here would have much more definitive answers.

From the 1922 Locomotive Cyclopedia, page 613.

The earliest documented use of electric lighting on railway rolling stock was in 1887-1888. Indeed most of the early electric headlamps were carbon arc lights. You can tell the period of use on each railroad by referring to their operating rules. Locomotives equipped with carbon arc headlamps were provided with a canvas blind to cover the headlamp when obscuring the beam was desirable without extinguishing the lamp. Most roads required that the fireman place the blind in place when going into a siding to meet an opposing train at night. In some of the better resolution photographs from that era, you may see what appears to be a housing for a roller type blind at the top of the front side of the headlight.

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0SO8ziX ... Ou_qJk82Y-

In my edition of "The Locomotive Up-to-Date" (ca 1900), the author states that while incandescent electric headlights are available, they are not recommended because they are considered injurious to the eyes.

I believe the concept of "golden glow" (a yellowed reflector) was in answer to this belief.

Here is the history of elecrtic lighting, loco are mentioned; http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17625/17 ... tm#image24

Look up Pyle-National headlight.

The Pyle-National "C" and "E" models were about 1920, both preceeded the "K".
see; http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/p ... -136585004

Maybe there was an "A" and a "B" before that.

The "K" was introduced about 1924.

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1 ... -158899646

The Cast alluminum, tapered to the rear case that showed up on the superpower locos of the early 30's, was new in about 1930.

Pacific Electric was still using carbon-arc headlights on some of their interurban cars into the late 1940s.

Here's PE tower car 00157 (PE Los Angeles Shops, 1915) with an arc headlight at Orange Empire. On the other hand, the "Blimps" use "Golden Glow" incandescent lights.

A couple of things on early generators that I've collected and have on my computer.

Part of the text from an ad on Ebay about two years ago and the photo from the ad. Also a drawing from a circa-1904 publication.